Experience Shiga in Spring
Overview of Spring in Shiga
Shiga Prefecture is home to many places where brilliant cherry blossoms bloom in the springtime.
Immerse yourself in the stunning beauty of the cherry blossoms on a Lake Biwa cruise or a traditional boat ride through the canals to really enjoy spring in Shiga.
Temple Stay – Guesthouse Ko-Rai-Gen
Experience a quieter and deeper side of Japan at Guesthouse Ko-Rai-Gen, a private temple stay beside a 600-year-old Buddhist temple near Lake Biwa in northern Shiga.
Oogoya Co., Ltd
A great place to enjoy some shopping, with tableware, vases, sundry items, glass goods and gardening products all on offers, centered around the historical Shigaraki-yaki ceramics of Japan.
Biwako Valley
A ski slope that also lets you look out over Lake Biwa, the largest lake in Japan, from a mountain peak at 1,174m.
Chikubushima Sea Route (Omi Marine)
A route between Hikone Port and Chikubushima.
Ikehara Soba Dojo
A refurbished old house that lets you experience authentic soba noodle making for yourself.
Kanou Shoujuan Sunai no Sato
Experience making Japanese confections for yourself while observing a master at work, and then eat your handiwork with some tea after you are finished.
Roadside Station Aguri Park Ryuo
The experience and exchange style agricultural park “Aguri Park Ryuo” is a facility where you can enjoy everything the outdoors has to offer, through “looking, picking and eating.
Hikone Castle Cherry Blossom Festival
As spring blooms once again it is joined by the 1,200 cherry trees in the vicinity of Hikone Castle, marking the most beautiful time of year to visit the castle and its grounds.
Shigaraki Ceramic Cultural Park
A verdant green cultural park with a “ceramics” theme, located in the town of ceramics Shigaraki.
Chikubushima (Hogonji Temple)
This small island, with a circumference of just 2km, is located in the offing of Lake Biwa, approximately 6km from shore.
Kohoku Wild-Bird Center / Biwako Waterfowl & Wetland Center
Facilities based in the Kohoku water bird park, the largest habitat for wild birds in the prefecture.
Kaizu-Osaki Peninsula
The Kaizu-Osaki peninsula is a particularly famous region of scenic beauty in the Biwako Quasi-National Park, and is one of the Eight Views of Lake Biwa.
Ashiura-kannon-ji Temple
This temple has been responsible for the safety of travel on the waters of Lake Biwa since the Azuchi Momoyama period.
Omi Kenketo Festival / Ritual of Cutting Funazushi with a Long Knife
Shimoniikawa-jinja Shrine holds a regular spring festival in the form of the Omi Kenketo Festival, during which the Long Knife ritual takes place.
Namura-jinja Shrine
The large, holy forest in the center of the town is the location of the Namura-jinja Shrine, a National Treasure.
Saikyo-ji Temple
Saikyo-ji Temple is the head of the Tendai Shinsei Sect, which has more than 450 branch temples across Japan.
Daitsuji Temple Omotesando
Daitsuji Temple Omotesando developed as the temple town for Daitsuji Temple.
Looking for more seasonal experiences?
Wondering what to pack for your trip this spring?
Check Shiga’s year-round weather and climate trends to help you prepare for your trip.
Other Seasons
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