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Otsu

Main port of Lake Biwa, the largest lake in Japan

About Otsu
View of cherry blossom and blue hills over the tiled roof tops (Photo: Cathy Cawood / JT)

Things to do in Otsu

Shiga Top 10

Where to eat in Otsu

Places to stay in Otsu

Latest Otsu Reports

Amazing Hieizan

Amazing Hieizan

Arlene Bastion

Hieizan, the home of the awesome Enryakuji, with its immense, luxurious forests, emanates its own sacred and spiritual feeling...

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Muddled in Miidera

Muddled in Miidera

Arlene Bastion

Getting to and around Miidera is a bit puzzling. But persevere. The temples are embedded in verdant forests, and emanate a sense..

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About Otsu

Ōtsu is the capital city of Shiga Prefecture, Japan. Ōtsu is known as the main port of Lake Biwa, the largest lake in Japan. It briefly served as the capital of Japan during the Asuka period.

This large Heian Era temple in the foothills of the mountains between Kyoto and Shiga has beautiful views over Otsu City to Lake Biwa. Its formal name is Onjo-ji, but it is usually called Miidera, which means the temple of three wells. There is a building containing the scrolls of the entire Buddhist scriptures and a legendary bell. These photos were taken on a cold day in spring. Sadly it was too early to catch the full glory of this temple's famous cherry blossom season.

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