2026 Shiga Prefecture Travel Guide: must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transport & travel experiences (updated in February)

Biwako Ski Resort will open on Saturday, December 20, 2025, with skiing activities expected to start on the 27th. If snow conditions are good, there is a chance for an earlier opening. The resort is conveniently located just two hours from Osaka and one hour from Kyoto by car, making it easily accessible by both driving and public transportation. It is an excellent choice for experiencing skiing during your trip. The ski resort offers stunning scenery, allowing you to ski with a view of Lake Biwa, Japan's largest lake. Even friends who don't ski can enjoy visiting. For transportation, take the JR train to Shiga Station, then transfer to a 15-minute shuttle bus that goes directly to the cable car station. Come to Biwako Ski Resort and start an exciting journey filled with skiing and beautiful views!

#SummerThemePark Mentai Park is a mentaiko-themed park operated by Kanefuku, a long-established mentaiko manufacturer. It offers a variety of activities, including a factory tour where you can learn about mentaiko and see the manufacturing process, a direct sales store where you can purchase freshly made mentaiko and other mentaiko products, and a food corner where you can enjoy snacks made with mentaiko. It also has a free kids' park and a terrace overlooking Lake Biwa, making it a popular spot for families and couples on weekends. Opening hours: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM *The food court is open until 5:30 PM. Factory hours: 9:00 AM - 5:30 PM Admission is free 4187 Yoshikawa, Yasu City, Shiga Prefecture 520-2401

The Otsu Festival, one of Lake Biwa's three major festivals, takes place October 11th and 12th. From the nighttime array of lanterns to the daytime puppet performances on the floats, the sheer spectacle is truly breathtaking and worth experiencing! The Otsu Festival, established in the early Edo period and designated an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property, is held every autumn around Tenson Shrine near Otsu Station. Thirteen large, two-story floats carry mechanical puppets, which stop at 20 locations along the parade for performances. The day before the main festival, there's a festival called "Yogumi" (Yoya Palace), where the puppets are removed from the floats and illuminated rows of lanterns are displayed throughout the streets. Although the Otsu Festival is relatively close to Kyoto, it's only a 50-minute Shinkansen ride from Nagoya Station! For those interested in traveling to Kansai, traveling via Chubu Centrair International Airport (Central Japan International Airport) is a great option to avoid the airport's crowdedness and surrounding traffic. Attraction Information Otsu Festival Address 3-3-36 Kyomachi, Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture (Tenson Shrine) October 11, 2025 (Saturday), evening until approximately 9:00 PM Main Festival: October 12, 2025 (Sunday), 9:00 AM - 5:30 PM Access From Nagoya: From JR Nagoya Station, take the Shinkansen for 34 minutes to Kyoto Station. Transfer to the Tokaido and Sanyo Main Lines and proceed to Otsu Station for approximately 10 minutes. From there, walk about 5 minutes to the destination. (Total approximately 50 minutes)

Shiga Hikone Castle, like a serene yet sharp-edged samurai, lies quietly by Lake Biwa. Time has not worn it down; instead, it has imbued the castle with a sense of calm and grace. Unlike the splendor of Kyoto or the dominance of Edo, Hikone exudes a rustic and profound charm. Beneath its white walls and black tiles, the textures of the stone walls seem to record the footsteps and contemplations of ancient samurai. As the wind brushes past the castle keep, it feels as though whispers of old friends linger in the air. The most captivating spot within the castle is undoubtedly "Genkyuen Garden." A pond and a bridge, like the moon reflected in a mirror and a path in a dream, create a tranquil scene. And the unhurried mascot "Hikonyan," resembling the castle's reincarnated guardian spirit, playfully conveys that history should not remain lofty and distant but should instead resonate with the hearts of people. Hikone Castle is a poetic blend of history and whimsy.

🍃🍰 【Shiga - La Collina Omihachiman】 A Sweet Forest to Stroll, Savor, and Relax. It feels like stepping into a Studio Ghibli world. Inside the mysterious building with a roof covered entirely in grass lies the enchanting world of "Taneya" and "Club Harie," two renowned confectionery brands representing Shiga. From freshly baked Baumkuchen and made-to-order Dorayaki to Castella and seasonal sweets, you'll find exclusive flavors here that will satisfy both your heart and your appetite. The grounds also feature rice fields, forests, and winding paths, making it more than just a "confectionery shop"—it's a **"nature and sweets theme park."** ⸻ 📍 Access 615-1 Kitanocho, Omihachiman City, Shiga Prefecture 🚃 By train: From JR Omihachiman Station, take a bus and get off at "La Collina Mae." 🚗 By car: About 30 minutes from either Ryuo IC or Yokaichi IC on the Meishin Expressway. ⸻ 🕐 Hours: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM (Food court: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM) 🎟️ Admission: Free ⸻ 🔖 Sweets Journey #SweetMomentsInNature #DiscoverWithTRIP

If you are planning a day trip to Shiga Prefecture or a short trip from Kyoto, La Collina Omihachiman is a healing spot that is well worth visiting. It is not just a dessert store, but an entire dream park that combines architecture, nature, shopping and art. Whether you like photography, walking or buying souvenirs, you can find your own fun here. 🚶Transportation and walking suggestions From JR Omihachiman Station, it takes about 30 minutes on foot to reach "La Collina". Travelers who like walking are recommended to walk slowly along the way. I also bought some famous local "Omi beef fried meat cakes" and visited a small shrine. Taking photos and exploring at the same time made this journey rich and free, which is the charm of traveling alone. 📍 If you don’t want to walk, there is a bus in front of the station. Get off at "La Collina" and it’s about a 10-minute ride away. It is recommended to check the return bus schedule after arrival to avoid waiting for a long time. 🍰 Architecture × food × aesthetics all at once Upon arrival, you will first see the most famous "thatched roof main building", which was designed by the famous architect Terunobu Fujimori. The exterior looks like a forest house in a fairy tale. It changes with each season and has different styles. It is perfect for taking photos! Not only is the exterior stunning, the park also has: 🏡 CLUB HARIE: You can buy the best-selling Baumkuchen on site 🍬 Desserts and souvenirs area: biscuits, candies, and packaging are all very stylish 🍵 Enjoy black tea and desserts in the dining area: I ordered strawberry cake and hot black tea, and sat by the window watching the raindrops falling and passers-by passing by, which was super healing. Other areas of the park also feature modern-style buildings, natural landscape trails, and limited-time merchandise. It is recommended that you allow 1.5 to 2 hours to explore the area. 🎁 La Collina Omihachiman tips and tips: 📸 Recommended photo spots: the reflection of the pond in front of the main building of the thatched house, the transparent glass house and the corner of the trail 🚌 Recommendations for the return trip: You can take the bus (about 15-20 minutes per bus), the bus stop is on the side of the road, please pay attention to the time 🛍️ Recommended souvenirs: Baumkuchen, handmade biscuits, and snacks with exquisite packaging designs 🕰️ Business hours: 10:00–17:00 (Please refer to the official website announcement) 📌 Who is La Collina Omihachiman suitable for? 🔸 Travelers who like the fusion of architectural aesthetics and nature 🔸 Find hidden spots in Japan that are not popular tourist spots 🔸 Dessert lovers who want to buy souvenirs and find a quiet indoor space 🔸 People who like to explore on foot and have flexible schedules This is not just a dessert shop, but a wonderful interlude in a slow-paced journey. Whether it is sunny or rainy, La Collina can make you feel the "purity and texture of travel". 📷 #近江八幡 #LaCollina近江八幡 #Shiga Attractions #Shiga Free Travel #Japanese Desserts #Japanese Architectural Attractions #Baumkuchen #ラコリーナ近江八幡 #CLUBHARIE #日本私房景点 #japantravel #japanarchitecture #Shiga Day Tour #AprilGoodDestinations2025

#100 Ways to Travel Lake Biwa is located in Shiga and has a vast area. Mount Hira is a great place to enjoy the view of Lake Biwa. Take a bus from Kyoto to Shiga Station, then take a bus to take the cable car to the top of the mountain, which is over a thousand meters high. The mountain cable car only takes 5 minutes! As soon as you arrive, you will be greeted by beautiful views of grass and blue sky! There are several restaurants on the mountain that overlook Lake Biwa. The venue is also very spacious. You can take the free small cable car shown in the picture. It is very stable and even children can ride it. There are also many recreational facilities, such as grass sliding, swings, and recreational games. Both children and adults have a lot of fun! The scenery is really beautiful, but it was very windy that day and the temperature on the mountain was only about 15 degrees. I had to bring a coat because it was too windy. I only stayed for more than an hour. Tips: 1. Check the weather. The Lake Biwa Cable Car has an official website where you can view the mountain weather map in real time. A cloudy day should be really gray... 2. The round trip cable car is 3,500 yen. I heard it’s cheaper if you pre-order online. 3. After buying tickets online, you have to redeem them on site. I didn’t redeem them first and had to queue up for the cable car team again, but it didn’t take too long. 4. Bring a coat, and for girls, tie your hair in a way that won’t get messy, or it will blow so hard that you can’t take photos. 5. The scenery at Shiga Station is beautiful! After getting off the train, you'll see an unforgettable view on the platform! Hayao Miyazaki style! 🤣 #JapanTravel #BiwaLake

The 2.5-kilometer-long Metasequoia Tree-lined Avenue is hailed as a hidden autumn foliage gem in Japan. The road stretches from Makino Highland to Makino Agricultural Park, with 500 tall and dense Metasequoia trees planted in orderly intervals along both sides. During the autumn foliage season, the trees transform into a tunnel of red and yellow leaves, creating an endless view of autumn colors. Whether driving through this vibrant universe or strolling along the road to admire and photograph the foliage, the sight of towering Metasequoia trees ablaze in orange-red hues is a breathtaking spectacle.

#Fritabi #Shiga #Kusatsu #Bakery #Bakery #Croissant 📍1-3-14 Kusatsu City, Shiga Prefecture 8 minutes walk from Kusatsu Station 🕰️7am - 7pm (closes when sold out) Closed on Tuesdays L'esprit du Pain is a bakery near Kusatsu Station. It is made by the owner who trained for 6 years in France, the home of bread. The interior of the store is a replica of a French bakery, and you tell the staff what bread you want to buy and they will bring it for you. I bought a few this time, and all of them were breads that made the most of the taste and flavor of the ingredients. The Danish bread was crispy and delicious. The store is near Kusatsu River Atochi Park, so it would be nice to take some bread out and eat it in the park.

A shopping mall with a beautiful lawn near Otsukyo Station in Shiga Prefecture [BRANCH] The site is very large, and about half of it is a grassy park, so it feels good just to take a walk on a sunny day 🙆 That was the day I happened to go, but It seems that they also hold an event called Handmade Marche once a month. Handmade accessories and bags are on sale, and I never got bored looking at them. There is also a BRANCH food street, so dinner is perfect 👍 There is a parking lot on the second floor, so it doesn't seem to be crowded with cars. Opening hours 7:00-23:00 Address 1-1 Nihonmatsu, Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture 520-0021 #Shiga#BRANCH

This time it is a very good parent-child travel skiing experience for us #琵琶湖 ski resort 🎿Hakodate Mountain. It is also our first time skiing⛷️From the kid who was very nervous to loving and taking the initiative to complete the goal alone, it is also a good experience and growth process for him... Hope to have a chance to play again next time👍🏻🙏🏻

I visited during Christmas time, and was impressed by the size of the restaurant, the seasonal decorations, and the deliciousness of the food. The restaurant is dark, but that's what makes it so great. First of all, I was excited just choosing the menu book! I definitely want to go again (*ˊ˘ˋ*) 3-9-27 Kokaki, Ritto City, Shiga Prefecture, 520-3024 #cafe #trip2022 #coupletrip

●Name Yakiniku Banban ●Access 507 Arakawa, Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture 🚗Private parking available ●Points A great value for money yakiniku restaurant In addition to beef, pork, and chicken, the yakiniku also has a wide variety of side dishes such as ramen, curry, and rice bowls This is a yakiniku restaurant that Kyoto restaurants go out of their way to visit When you leave the restaurant, you'll be satisfied and think, "Is this all for this price after eating all this?" It's about 30 minutes from Kyoto on the free Kosai Road It's close to Shirahige Shrine, so please stop by #KyotoTrip

Shaun the Sheep Farm Garden 🐑✨ "Shaun the Sheep Farm Garden" in Maibara City, Shiga Prefecture is the first permanent outdoor facility of "Shaun the Sheep" in Japan. In addition to meeting the main character Shaun and his friends, the farmer's house and the sheep's huts that appear in the story are also realistically reproduced, so it is a place where you can experience the world of "Shaun the Sheep" in a realistic way. There are also many photogenic spots. 📷💖 There is also a place where you can feed the sheep. 🐑 The cakes at Shaun the Sheep Cafe were so cute that it was a shame to eat them. The park is very large and it is nice to walk around, but it is also easy to take the paid train. 🚂💭💭💭 Shaun the Sheep Farm Garden Address: 605-10 Tawada, Maibara City, Shiga Prefecture Opening hours: 10:00-17:00 #Travel #Shiga Prefecture #Cute #Farm #Recommended

I stayed at a bath cafe where you can relax 24 hours a day! 📍Bath Cafe New Biwako Hotel 📍Otsu Onsen Bath Cafe Biwakoza ┈┈┈┈┈┈┈❁⃘┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈ ✈︎Plan name New plan♪1 night with 2 meals Bamboo basket meal (Japanese or Western) plan ✈︎Room name Hollywood twin room ✈︎1 night rate Lowest price 10,600 yen per person ✈︎Check-in/check-out 15:00-25:00/10:00 #Cost-effective hotel #Shiga

The Metasequoia trees continued for a longer distance than I had imagined. 😳 It felt good to drive through it. ✨ There is a parking lot, so you can park your car and take photos. 📷 #Shiga #Autumn leaves #Breathtaking view

Speaking of Baumkuchen, this is the place to go ✨ La Collina Omihachiman in Shiga Prefecture. It's a theme park-like facility, and there are plenty of photo spots ♪♪ The freshly baked Baumkuchen is delicious 😋 #Shiga #ThemePark #Gourmet #Souvenir #GourmetTrip

NO-MA is a Borderless Art Museum in Omihachiman. It's located in a traditional shopping street, and has a lovely atmosphere🍃 You can enjoy art at your leisure in a calm space♪ #Shiga #retrotownscape #art

When I went to Shiga Prefecture to see the autumn leaves, I visited the shrines and temples on the east side of Lake Biwa that are famous for their autumn leaves, and the one I particularly liked was Kongorinji Temple. The red carpet and guest room at the main temple Myojuin were very atmospheric and lovely. Address: 874 Matsuo-dera, Aisho-cho, Aichi-gun, Shiga Prefecture Admission fee: 600 yen Parking: Free Opening hours: 8:30-17:00 #autumn leaves #maple #shrine

La Collina at Club Harie, famous for its Baumkuchen in Shiga Prefecture I've been there a few times, and although it's beautiful when the greenery is lush, I personally recommend the atmosphere during the autumn leaves season. You can buy freshly baked Baumkuchen, and they also sell bread and hot dogs, so you'll end up buying a lot. Address: 615-1 Kitanosho-cho, Omihachiman City, Shiga Prefecture 523-8533 #AutumnLeaves #Maple

Kongorinji Temple in Shiga Prefecture I went there when I went to see the autumn leaves around Shiga Prefecture. One of the three mountains in the eastern part of Koto. It is a Tendai sect temple and is a popular spot for beautiful autumn leaves. It is a famous spot for viewing autumn leaves, called "blood-stained maples." The grounds are very spacious, and there is a very large parking lot, so that security guards will guide you. Admission fee: 600 yen #autumn leaves #maple #shrine

I went to the hotel "The Grand Resort Omi Maiko" in Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture. The rooms, lobby, and large public bath were all clean and very comfortable😆 You can see Lake Biwa from the guest rooms✨ The large public bath has a sauna and an open-air bath, so you can relax while looking out at Lake Biwa😊 #StayingAtHome

We stayed at GLAMPDOME Shiga Takashima in Shiga Prefecture! 💖 It's a dome-shaped glamping site, and although it's a bit pricey, it's really worth it!! 🥰 Everything from the facilities to the cleanliness was 100% perfect🌷 #stayhome #glamping #GRANDDOMEShigaTakashima #greatview #gourmettrip #triptoenjoyspring #coupletrip #gourmet

I went to Flyboard Lake Biwa Shirohige Beach in Takashima City, Shiga Prefecture 🌴 Unlike the ocean, the lake doesn't have waves, and since it's fresh water, your body doesn't get sticky, so you can enjoy it like you're in a pool! ☀️ Recommended for those who want to go wild and get back to their childhood! 🔥 #themepark#greatview #gourmettrip #triptoenjoyspring #coupletrip #gourmet

When you think of Shiga, you think of Lake Biwa!! It has the largest lake in Japan, covering one-sixth of the prefecture✨ There are many tourist spots around Lake Biwa, and many places with great locations◎ You can also meet Hikonyan, the idol of the mascot world✨ Shiga is full of tourist spots, and I hope this will be helpful when you go😊 [𝕚𝕟𝕗𝕠𝕣𝕞𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟𓏗𓏗] ❶ Metasequoia Tree Line 📍Makino-cho Makino, Takashima City, Shiga Prefecture ❷ Shirahige Shrine 📍 215 Kamogawa, Takashima City, Shiga Prefecture ❸ Kurokabe Square 📍12-38 Motohama-cho, Nagahama City, Shiga Prefecture ❹ La Collina Omihachiman 📍 615-1 Kitanosho-cho, Omihachiman City, Shiga Prefecture ❺MIHO MUSEUM 📍 300 Tashiro Momodani, Shigaraki-cho, Koka-shi, Shiga ❻ Ofuro Café Biwakoza 📍 1-9-18 Tsukinowa, Otsu-shi, Shiga ❼ Biwako Terrace 📍 1547-1 Kido, Otsu-shi, Shiga [Other recommendations] Thank you so much♥ Sorry I couldn't include them all🙏 ・Charle Mizugahama ・Hikone Castle ・Chikubushima ・Shaun the Sheep Farm Garden ・Yanmar Museum ・Hiyoshi Taisha Shrine #Amazing view #Free spot

I went to Taga Service Area in Shiga Prefecture! There are famous shops such as Lotteria and Starbucks Coffee, and the food court is spacious☺️ Another nice point is that it is very new and clean overall❤️ If you are not sure which service area to stop at for a toilet break, be sure to visit Taga Service Area! #FreeSpot #Shiga #GourmetTrip #SpringEnjoyTrip #CoupleTrip #Gourmet

On a clear day, the view of Lake Biwa from Lake Biwa Terrace is spectacular. There are many exciting spots with unique impacts, such as swings and zip lines that will make you envious. This is a theme park where you can experience something out of the ordinary. Address: 1547-1 Kido, Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture #Theme Park

It's a very large square with a lot of play equipment, including bouldering, unicycles, stilts, horseshoes, and target practice. All are free to play with. It's so fulfilling that an hour will fly by if you play around with everything. There are many things for children, but adults can also enjoy it. Address: 1547-1 Kido, Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture #Free Spot