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
Experience Traditional Crafts and the Hikone-jo Castle National Treasure
Explore Omi Merchant Houses and Tarobogu Shrine
Cycle Through Time Along Historical Roads & Canals
National Treasure Hikone Castle and Sacred Places
The Mystery of the Vanished Castle… and Shopping!
Let’s make your own OMAMORI “Lucky charm” in Higashi-omi city
Your Complete Travel Guide to Lake Biwa, Japan’s Largest Lake
Hachiman Moat Festival
Lanterns placed around the town and along the Hachiman Moat bring out a sense refinement and emotion.
Aikyo-no-Mori
Aikyo-no-Mori (Aikyo Forest) is located amid a natural pine forest that spreads along the Shibukogawa River, a tributary of the Echigawa River.
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.
Chikubushima Sea Route (Omi Marine)
A route between Hikone Port and Chikubushima.
Omi-Hino Rural Life Experiences
Proactively accepts educational tours, study tours and other groups of visitors.
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.
Omi-Hino Rural Life Experiences
Proactively accepts educational tours, study tours and other groups of visitors.
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.
Hikone Castle Resort & Spa
Provides a full range of souvenirs from Shiga, including confections, traditional art and local sake!
Machiya Inn
Omihachiman is a quiet place of history and tradition, located in the lake-land of Shiga.
Guesthouse En
Guesthouse En is located in a small settlement a little distance from the center of Omihachiman, allowing you to enjoy lodging in a real Japanese countryside.
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.
