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What is Shiga?
Visitors to Shiga prefecture are almost always hopping east across the prefectural border from Kyoto, and they are almost certainly Lake Biwa-bound. Covering an area of 670 square kilometers, Lake Biwa makes up the bulk of Shiga prefecture, with beautiful lakeside paths that offer myriad walking and cycling opportunities, connecting a string of museums, shrines, and picturesque views that finally lead you to Hikone Castle on the eastern side of the lake.
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Itineraries
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- Shiga sightseeing plan in Hikone’s castle town through Omihachiman
- 1days
- This is a day plan starting with a tour of Hikone Castle—a rare castle with an existing castle tower. Stroll through the castle town, where an atmosphere of the Edo period remains, and then move on to historic Omihachiman. Feel the atmosphere of days gone by in this area.
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- 7 days: Chiba, Osaka, Kyoto, Shiga, Mie, Aichi, Tokyo, Kanagawa
- 7days
- Start: Narita Int'l Airport Day 1: Chiba, Osaka Day 2: Osaka Day 3: Osaka, Kyoto Day 4: Kyoto, Shiga Day 5: Shiga, Mie, Aichi Day 6: Aichi, Tokyo, Kanagawa Day 7: Tokyo Popular spots in this itinerary: Shinsekai, Sanrio Gallery Shinsaibachi Branch, Dotonbori
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- 11 days: Chiba, Tokyo, Kanagawa, Yamanashi, Aichi, Kyoto, Shiga, Hyogo, Osaka
- 11days
- Start: Narita Airport Terminal 1 Day 1: Chiba Day 2: Chiba, Tokyo, Kanagawa Day 3: Kanagawa, Yamanashi Day 4: Yamanashi, Aichi Day 5: Aichi, Kyoto, Shiga Day 6: Kyoto Day 7: Kyoto, Hyogo Day 8: Hyogo, Osaka Day 9: Osaka Day 10: Osaka Day 11: Osaka Popular spots in this itinerary: Senso-ji Temple, Tsurugaoka Hachimangu, Kotoku-in Temple (Kamakura Daibutsu)
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Travel Guide
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Climate
What to Wear
- Jan
- Warm Cloth
- Feb
- Warm Cloth
- Mar
- Warm Cloth
- Apr
- Jacket
- May
- Long
- Jun
- Long
- Jul
- Short
- Aug
- Short
- Sep
- Long
- Oct
- Long
- Nov
- Jacket
- Dec
- Warm Cloth
Getting Around
The two best places to commence your Shiga journey are Kyoto and Hikone. The Tokaido-Sanyo Line runs the circumference of Lake Biwa, which makes a day trip from Kyoto to the great freshwater lake an easy option. Alternately, head directly to Maibara Station from Tokyo Station on the Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen in 2.5 hours. Found on the eastern side of the lake, Maibara is just five minutes from Hikone by train.