Guide to Eastern Shiga
Overview of Eastern Shiga
Eastern Shiga is home to Hikone, Higashi-omi, and Omi-Hachiman, where castles and traditional culture thrive.
Hikone City is a castle town that retains its historic charm, allowing visitors to experience local traditions through its streetscape and cultural sites.
Higashi-omi offers a mix of historic temples, traditional industries, and beautiful rural landscapes, providing a glimpse into authentic Shiga life.
Omi-Hachiman is famous for its historic canals, merchant houses, and traditional crafts, a town known for its cultural heritage and timeless atmosphere.
Trip Ideas in Eastern Shiga
See Hikone-jo Castle National Treasure and Become Lucky in Love
Explore the Core Values of Japan Through the Life and Legacy of the “Omi Merchants”
Cycle Through Time Along Historical Roads & Canals
Experience Traditional Crafts and the Hikone-jo Castle National Treasure
National Treasure Hikone Castle and Sacred Places
Reveal the Roots of Japan’s Spiritual & Cultural Heritage
Let’s make your own OMAMORI “Lucky charm” in Higashi-omi city
Cycling trip in Shiga, Japan
Hachiman Moat Tour
The Hachiman Moat Tour allows you to take to the stunning Hachiman Moats in a Japanese-style boat.
Cobbled Lanes
The “Ishitatami no Komichi” (Cobbled Lanes) is a commercial area that offers everything from shopping through to dining, preserving the historical scenery of Hachiman waterways while letting you experience what it must have been like to walk those streets in olden times.
Hachimanyama Ropeway
This ropeway takes around four minutes to transport you from the base of the mountain to the top, from where you can enjoy a sweeping panorama that includes Lake Biwa, Lake Nishinoko and the old town below, all wreathed in the glory of the current season.
Roadside Station Higashi Omi City Aito Marguerite Station
Aito Marguerite Station, always bustling with visitors, functions as a rest spot for travelers on the road and a base for imparting information about the local region.
Fujii Honke
Founded in 1831, Fujii Honke uses water from the Echigawa River and locally produced rice to brew their sake.
Ashifuse-no-some
A horse racing ceremony held at a shrine with a long connection to horses.
Yokaichi Royal Hotel
This Higashiomi hotel aims to provide a relaxed, at-home atmosphere along with a warm and complete welcome and close attention to detail, bringing a smile to the face of every guest who stays here.
Machiya Inn
Omihachiman is a quiet place of history and tradition, located in the lake-land of Shiga.
Eigenji Onsen Happuno-Yu
Eigenji Onsen “Happuno-Yu,” located in front of the gates to Eigenji Temple, allows you to enjoy outdoor bathing amid incredible natural beauty.
Kyukamura Omi-Hachiman
Kyukamura is located amid the rich natural environment of the Biwako Quasi-National Park, and features beautiful cherry blossoms in the spring and popular lake swimming and camping spots in the summer.
Hotel Sunroute Hikone
A hotel located just one minute on foot from Hikone Station, making it extremely conveniently located for visiting such National Treasures as the Hikone-jo Castle or Taga Taisha Shrine.
Omi-Hino Rural Life Experiences
Proactively accepts educational tours, study tours and other groups of visitors.
Explore More Things to Do in Eastern Shiga
Wondering what to pack for your trip?
Check Shiga’s year-round weather and climate trends to help you prepare for your trip.
