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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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Travel Plans
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- Shiga sightseeing plan in Hikone’s castle town through Omihachiman
![Shiga sightseeing plan in Hikone’s castle town through Omihachiman]()
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- 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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- A drive through the pottery village of Shigaraki in Shiga Prefecture and a visit to a large art museum in a forest
![A drive through the pottery village of Shigaraki in Shiga Prefecture and a visit to a large art museum in a forest]()
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- This drive plan squeezes in a lot. It takes you to the home of Shigaraki pottery, known in Japan for its tanuki figurines, and on to a huge art facility that combines nature and architecture. A visit to some local pottery galleries is just one of the many highlights of this stimulating day out.
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Shiga Photo Album
Shiga Overviews
Climate
What to Wear
- Jan
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- Warm Cloth
- Feb
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- Warm Cloth
- Mar
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- Warm Cloth
- Apr
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- Jacket
- May
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- Long
- Jun
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- Long
- Jul
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- Short
- Aug
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- Short
- Sep
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- Long
- Oct
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- Long
- Nov
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- Jacket
- Dec
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- 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.
