11 Kaeru-Iwa Rapids on the Seta River Cathy Cawood White water at Kaeru-Iwa on the Seta River, with beautiful scenery and fantastically shaped rocks.
Culture Otsu Festival 2026 Mid Oct Otsu Matsuri takes place in early October and features thirteen ornate floats with ingenious mechanical puppets.
14 On the way to Hiyoshi Shrine Cathy Cawood The approach to Hiyoshi Taisha Shrine passes mossy stone walls and three ancient stone bridges across the Omiya River.
9 Culture Ishiyamadera's Muyu-en Pond Garden Cathy Cawood Muyu-en, a beautiful Japanese pond garden at Ishiyamadera in Otsu, has koi ponds, red bridges and a small waterfall.
Culture Ishiyama-dera Ash Ishiyama-dera is a beautiful, peaceful temple Shiga Prefecture.It is said that Murasaki Shikibu, author of The Tale of Genji, began..
14 Manhole Art in Shiga Prefecture Cathy Cawood The intricate and beautiful manhole cover art of Shiga Prefecture features flowers and birds as well as other attractions of Shiga..
16 Red Spider Lilies Around Lake Biwa Cathy Cawood Red spider lilies bloom in Shiga Prefecture in September, adding splashes of color to the landscape.
Activities Omimaiko Beach at Lake Biwa Alexandra Dorovici Are you looking for a way to take advantage of the warm weather of Kansai? Try Omimaiko beach on lake Biwa, a clear-water peac..