Spots in Otsu Area

  • Yumotokan
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    4.0
    288 Reviews
    Accommodations / Hot Spring
    Shiga Pref. Otsushi Nouka 2-30-7
    A hot spring inn located in 2 Chome Noka, Otsu City. The inn has seven bath facilities, including an outdoor bath with a scenic view on the top floor, a large indoor bath which looks out on Lake Biwa and Mt. Hiei, and two private reservable outdoor baths. The inn also serves cuisine made with select Omi beef and other tasty ingredients. There’s also the adjoining Hanare Karoi building, all of whose guestrooms have own outdoor bath.

    One of the best hotel experiences Ive ever had! We stayed in a private bath western style room, and it was spacious and the bathroom was so nice! The semi-outdoor private bath was very relaxing...

  • Omi Jingu Shrine
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    4.0
    165 Reviews
    Travel / Tourism
    Shiga Pref. Otsushi Jinguchou 1-1
    A Shinto shrine located in Jingu-cho, Otsu City. The shrine was established in 1940. The shrine is dedicated to Emperor Tenji, who implemented various policies and reforms, and accordingly the shrine is believed to grant worshippers better fortunes and guidance; because of the shrine’s large “rokoku” water clock, time is also believed to fall under the shrine’s domain. A poem by Emperor Tenji appears as the first entry in the ancient “Ogura Anthology of 100 Tanka by 100 Poets,” and in turn the shrine is also viewed as a mecca for players of the Japanese game karuta—a card game which involves hearing the first half of a poem and racing to find the correct card inscribed with the second half; a “Karuta Opening Ceremony” is held at the shrine and a national karuta competition is also held here.

    Few people know but otsu Kyo was a capital very short period. Recently because of manga / TV movie , Japanese card game what we called karuta is getting popular among youth. Now youth have...

  • Hiyoshi Taisha Shrine
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    4.0
    191 Reviews
    Travel / Tourism
    Shiga Pref. Otsushi Sakamoto 5-1-1
    A Shinto shrine located in Sakamoto, Otsu City. The shrine was founded some 2,100 years ago. The shrine is also the head shrine of all 3,800 Hiyoshi, Hie, and Sanno shrines in Japan. Positioned in the unlucky direction northeast of the ancient capital of Heian-kyo, the shrine is believed to provide protection from misfortune and disaster and even today worshippers come here to receive these benefits. 3,000 maple trees grow on the shrine’s grounds, making it a renowned destination for autumn foliage in the fall as well.

    This shrine locates at the foot of the mountain which accommodates the Enryakuji. We stopped by on our way and find it very relaxing but sorry to say that the Enryakuji overwhelmed us. But I was...

  • Biwako Otsu Prince Hotel
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    4.0
    741 Reviews
    Accommodations / Hot Spring
    Shiga Otsu-shi Nionohama 4-7-7

    We stayed a night in the Sky Floor Twin Room after taking the Michigan Cruise... Love the room layout so much so much! Four beds were neatly set up side by side for my family, there was a door...

  • Ukimido
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    4.0
    126 Reviews
    Travel / Tourism
    Shiga Pref. Otsushi Honkatata 1-16-18
    A temple building located on the grounds of the Mangetsu-ji Buddhist temple in Honkatata, Otsu City. The temple building was built on the waters of Lake Biwa by the priest Genshin in the Heian period to pray for safety on the lake as well as the salvation of the masses. The current building is a reconstruction erected in 1937. The temple building is also known for being depicted in one of the traditional picturesque “Eight Views of Omi”—in this case, the view titled “Geese Alighting at Katata.”

    Nice view, nice area, but not worth paying an entrance fee for. Could get a photo through the fence to the side.

  • Lake Biwa Cruise Michigan
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    4.0
    104 Reviews
    Travel / Tourism
    Shiga Pref. Otsushi Hamaotsu 5-1-1
    A pleasure cruise ship which operates out of Otsu Port in Hamaotsu, Otsu City. The cruise began operating in 1982. The ship is modeled after an American Mississippi riverboat; inside, touches like chandeliers and luxurious carpets engender an atmosphere that is out of the ordinary. The ship has two restaurants, a bar, VIP room, and sky deck offering sweeping views of Lake Biwa. The ship offers three types of cruises as well as seasonal event cruises. The ship can also be rented out and using for weddings and other special events.

    We happened upon this paddle boat cruise so decided to take it. Being from the US, the idea of cruising on a paddle boat named Michigan would be novel. The cruise took 80 minutes, cost 2780 yen...

  • Roadside Station Imoko no Sato
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    3.5
    51 Reviews
    Transportation
    Shiga Pref. Otsushi Waninaka 528
    A roadside station situated along the Biwako-Nishi Jukan Expressway in Waninaka, Otsu City. The station sells local vegetables, processed goods, sweets, breads, souvenirs, and more. The station’s restaurant buys A5 grade Omi beef by the head, enabling it to serve top quality Omi beef sukiyaki and steaks at reasonable prices. There’s also a convenience store open 24 hours.

    湖西道路”わにIC”隣接する道の駅。規模は小さいですが特産品販売、レストラン、コンビニなど充実、キッチンカーも出店しており連休中で混雑していました。

  • Takebe Taisha Shrine
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    4.5
    66 Reviews
    Travel / Tourism
    Shiga Pref. Otsushi Jinryou 1-16-1
    A Shinto shrine located in Jinryo, Otsu City. The shrine is one of the oldest in the country dedicated to Yamato Takeru no mikoto, god of scholarship, and some even call it the “most important shrine in Omi.” After Minamoto no Yoritomo, who later became shogun, prayed here for the restoration of the Minamoto clan, the shrine came to be known for blessing worshippers with fortune in war among samurai warriors.

    京阪石坂線の唐橋前から徒歩で、「急がば回れ」のことわざ語源の瀬田の唐橋を徒歩で渡り約15分です。 滋賀に近江富士「三上山を七巻きした大蛇を俵の藤太がここから弓で退治した伝説がある

  • Biwako Otsu
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    4.0
    65 Reviews
    Travel / Tourism
    Shiga Otsu-shi Yanagasaki 5-35

    Beautiful old building with English gardens around and good view on Lake Biwa, especially from the restaurant. They have a nice souvenir shop with all kinds of rose products and others.

  • Enryakuji
    Travel / Tourism
    Shiga Pref. Otsushi Sakamotohonmachi 4220
    The temple is the head temple of the Tendai sect of Buddhism, founded by Saicho, and is located at the foot of Mt. Hiei.
  • Iwamasan Shohoji Temple (Iwama-dera Temple)
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    3.5
    36 Reviews
    Travel / Tourism
    Shiga Pref. Otsushi Ishiyamauchihatachou 82
    A Buddhist temple located in Ishiyamauchihata-cho, Otsu City. The temple was founded in 722 by Empress Gensho. The 12th temple on the Saigoku Kannon Pilgrimage, since ancient times this temple, along with Kumano and Yoshino, has been counted as one of the three most sacred places in Japan. The temple’s principal object of worship, a 1,000 armed figure of Kannon, is known by many names, including the “Sweating Kannon,” the “Daftness-Preventing Kannon,” and the “Lightening Protection Kannon.” There is also a pond located on the grounds known as “Basho’s Pond” because it is said that the celebrated ancient haiku poet Matsuo Basho composed his “Frog Poem,” one of his most famous, here.

    無料シャトルバスが運行しない日だった為、車で参拝しました。週末であっても普段の参拝者は少ないようで、西国三十三ヶ所巡りと思われる参拝者が時々訪れる程度となっていました。

  • Biwako Hall Center for the Performing Arts, Shiga
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    4.0
    6 Reviews
    Travel / Tourism
    Shiga Otsu-shi Uchidehama 15-1
    "This is a Shiga Prefectural theater specializing in the performing arts. In addition to the main hall with the largest class four-sided stage in western Japan, there is also a medium hall for stage drama and a small hall for smaller indoor concerts. Placed in a beautiful location on Lake Biwa, the theater is praised highly by international artists coming to perform in Japan. The hall has been selected as one of the ""hundred best halls"" in Japan by the Sound Engineers & Artists Society of Japan. A variety of performances, predominantly opera, ballet and classical concerts, are regularly held."

    子供のチアダンスの発表会で訪問しました。 開演前に各フロア回りましたが、4階は傾斜もあり、舞台からも遠いので、イマイチかと思います。 待合からすぐ近くに琵琶湖も眺めること出来ました。

  • Otsumatsuri Exhibition Pavilion
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    4.0
    41 Reviews
    Leisure / Hobbies
    Shiga Pref. Otsushi Chuou 1-2-27
    "The Otsumatsuri Exhibition Pavilion is located around five minutes' drive from the Otsu Interchange on the Meishin Expressway. The exhibits displayed in the Pavilion include artifacts and materials relating to the Otsu Matsuri (Otsu Festival), which is held in Otsu City, to the southwest of Lake Biwa, and which has been designated as a National Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property, as well as life-size replicas of the Hikiyama floats used in the festival. The emphasis in the displays within the Pavilion is on ""enabling visitors to experience the fun and excitement of the Otsu Matsuri,"" and visitors can view video footage of the actual festival. The ""Ohayashi Experience"" area, in which visitors can try their hand at playing ohayashi festival music using such traditional instruments as gongs and Taiko big drums and so on, is very popular with children."

    無料で見られる大津祭の展示館です。大津祭の写真や山車なども館内に有りました。写真から祭りの熱気も感じられます。スタッフの方も親切ですよ。尚館内は撮影OKです。

  • The Biwako Terrace – THE MAIN Terrace Café
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    4.5
    23 Reviews
    Gourmet / Alcohol
    Shiga Pref. Otsushi Kido 1547 - 1 Biwako Valley
    The Biwako Terrace is an observation terrace located within the Biwako Valley nature resort, around five minutes' drive from the Shiga Interchange of the Nishi Otsu Bypass (Kosei Road), from which visitors can enjoy superb views of Lake Biwa. The terrace is situated around 10 minutes' walk from the ropeway summit station, on the summit of the 1,174 meter-high Mt. Horai. The terrace features an open, spacious design that makes use of large arches; visitors can enjoy a spectacular panorama, with views of Lake Biwa, the Ibuki Mountains, and even as far as Hira Mountains. Beverages and snacks are available from Cafe 360. Premium seats are available (for an additional charge). The terrace is open between April and October each year.

    快晴の日でしたがロープウェイで標高1100mの山頂につくとモヤがかかっていて、ぼんやりとした景色しか見えませんでした。それでも琵琶湖を一望できる景色は素晴らしかったです。水盤が琵琶湖と一体化するようにデザインされていて美しいです。 レストランとカフェがありましたが土産物店はありませんでした。お土産はロープウェイの下の駅で少しだけ売っていました。

  • Ishiyama-dera Temple
    Travel / Tourism
    Shiga Pref. Otsushi Ishiyamadera 1-1-1
    This is a temple of the To-ji Temple Shingon sect which is located in Otsu City. It was founded in 747 at the request of Emperor Shomu. It is known as one of the most famous Kannon temples in Japan, also being the stamp office for temple number 13 of the Saigoku Sanjusansho Kannon Pilgrimage. In addition, it is said that this was the place where Murasaki Shikibu got her inspiration for the idea of the Tale of Genji, and it also appears in literary works such as “Makura no Soshi” (the Pillow Book) and “Sarashina Nikki” (The Sarashina Diary). In the temple, there are many National Treasures and Important Cultural Properties such as the oldest Taho-to (a pagoda that enshrines the Buddha) and the oldest main temple building in Japan, so there is no shortage of highlights. It is also a famous place for its autumnal leaves and the illumination in the evening is worth seeing.
  • Otsu City Museum of History
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    3.5
    21 Reviews
    Leisure / Hobbies
    Shiga Pref. Otsushi Goryouchou 2-2
    A museum located in Goryo-cho, Otsu City. The museum’s collection spans 82,000 items relating to the history and culture of Shiga and Omi, eight of which have been designated Important Cultural Properties. The museum has a standing exhibit which includes a model showing what the ancient capital of Otsu no Miya once looked like, displays covering the eight picturesque sights of Omi, and a chronology of the history of Omi City; the museum also holds special exhibits on themes such as Buddhist culture.

    京阪の大津市役所前駅から徒歩5分ほど。 1990年開館。入館料は330円。京阪電車の「びわ湖1日観光チケット」などを提示すると260円(団体料金)に割引となる。展示室は1階と2階にあり、大津の歴史・文化・産業について実物資料、ジオラマ・模型などを展示するとともにパネル解説が行われている。建物は山の中腹にあるため、エントランスや2階からは遠く琵琶湖を望むことができる。

  • Gichuji Temple
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    4.0
    34 Reviews
    Travel / Tourism
    Shiga Pref. Otsushi Bamba 1-5-12
    A Buddhist temple located in 1 Chome Bamba, Otsu City. The name of the temple is derived from an alternate reading of the characters used to write the name of the ancient general Kiso Yoshinaka, who is buried here. The temple is also famous as the location of the grave of the renowned haiku poet Matsuo Basho, and there are monuments inscribed with his poems on the grounds as well as exhibits on the artist. The entire grounds have been designated a National Historic Site.

    JRの膳所駅から少し歩いた旧東海道沿いに、木曽義仲と松尾芭蕉の墓がある。義仲は平家追討のため、京都まで快進撃したが、味方であるはずの頼朝に疎まれてこの辺りで戦死したらしい。芭蕉は義仲を慕っていて、遺言で義仲の墓の側に葬ってもらうように言い残した。

  • Hiratopia
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    3.5
    21 Reviews
    Accommodations / Hot Spring
    Shiga Pref. Otsushi Kitahira 1039-2
    A hot spring bathhouse located in Kitahira, Otsu City. The bathhouse has an outdoor bath with a view of the natural beauty of the Hira area as well as two large indoor bath areas. There’s also a restaurant which serves renowned ayu soba noodles, set meals, and other noodle dishes; a shop; a mallet golf course; multipurpose plaza; and activity workshop.

    比良とぴあは温泉施設ですが、隣接する広場でマレットゴルフというパターゴルフのようなものが楽しめます。 しかもお値段なんと220円(18ホール)! 綺麗な芝などしっかり整備されているところではありませんが、奥さんと2人1時間半程度楽しめました。 家族でも楽しめそうです。 我々はこの後、温泉旅館に行く予定でしたので温泉は入らなかったですが、温泉は登山客やロードバイカーなど引っ切り無しに人が来て...

  • The Museum of Modern Art, Shiga
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    3.5
    16 Reviews
    Leisure / Hobbies
    Shiga Pref. Otsushi Setaminamiogayachou 1740-1
    An art museum located in Biwako Culture Park in Setaminamiogaya-cho, Otsu City. The museum’s collection and standing exhibition consists of modern Nihonga Japanese paintings, works of art by Nihonga painter Yuki Ogura and other artists connected to the local area, and other works of post-WWII American and Japanese modern art. The museum also holds permanent exhibitions and workshops and rents out exhibition spaces to city residents.

    スタイリッシュでオシャレな空間が広がります。 せっかくの環境なのに、来館者が少ないですね。 ポイント毎に女性スタッフが立っておられるのが多過ぎに感じてしまうほど。 カフェやショップも楽しみの一つだったのですが、少々期待はずれ。滋賀のこだわりの品が並ぶというものの、見せ方、演出の仕方がどうなのかな?という感じ。何よりショップが箱でなくオープンスペースなのが落ち着きませんでした。 また、名前まで...

  • Spa Resort Ogoto Agaryanse
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    3.0
    1 Reviews
    Accommodations / Hot Spring
    Shiga Pref. Otsushi Nouka 3-9-5
    A hot spring resort facility located in 3 Chome Noka, Otsu City. The resort has a variety of baths supplied by two different privately-owned source springs, including outdoor baths and an excursion bath. Other facilities include a sauna with loyly. The adjoining World Performance Castle is a bedrock bath with a variety of spas. There are also four restaurants, including a French dining bar and Japanese-style yakiniku barbecue joint; plus a salon offering massages and other beauty treatments.

    日帰り温泉施設のあがりゃんせの本館二階の階段を上がったところにあるイタリアレストランです。昼のランチをいただきましたが、ピザが選択でき、割とお得感がありました。

Shiga Areas

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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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