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Shiga
Shiga
City Overview
Lake Biwa is the largest freshwater lake in Japan. The harmony with the lakeside landscape is so beautiful that it is known as "Lake Biwa Hakkei" and "Omi Hakkei". You can also see the famous old shrine temples, such as Mii-ji and Ishiyama-ji in Otsu, and Enryaku-ji and Hiyoshi Taisha in Sakamoto. Omi-Hachiman is a popular castle town for its Hachiman moat and nostalgic cityscape. Nagahama, which flourished as one of the post towns on the Hokukoku Kaido, is a castle town built by Shōgun Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Many excellent statues of Kanyin remain in Takatsuki and Kinomoto, and Shigaraki ware, widely known for its Tanuki figurine, is a specialty.
Basic Information
- Address:
- 4-1-1 Kyomachi, Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture
- Region: Kinki
- Prefecture: Shiga
Demographics
- Total Population:
1,410,534
- Number of Households:
617,522
Other Info
● The total population of municipalities and the total number of households is the figures of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Internal Affairs Basic Residents' Register survey of 2024.
● The information listed under “Rail Access” applies to use of the Japan Rail Pass for ordinary cars. With the “Green Car” pass, both ordinary cars and green cars can be used without any additional charge. For further details, please refer to the information below.
https://japanrailpass.net/about_jrp/vehicle/
● For “Rail Access,” the travel time from Tokyo Station to Ueno Station is approximately 5 to 9 minutes via the JR Yamanote Line, Keihin-Tohoku Line, Takasaki Line, Utsunomiya Line (Tohoku Main Line), or Ueno-Tokyo Line.
● The information listed under “Rail Access” applies to use of the Japan Rail Pass for ordinary cars. With the “Green Car” pass, both ordinary cars and green cars can be used without any additional charge. For further details, please refer to the information below.
https://japanrailpass.net/about_jrp/vehicle/
● For “Rail Access,” the travel time from Tokyo Station to Ueno Station is approximately 5 to 9 minutes via the JR Yamanote Line, Keihin-Tohoku Line, Takasaki Line, Utsunomiya Line (Tohoku Main Line), or Ueno-Tokyo Line.
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Access Info
■ From Tokyo
[Railway]
Take the JR Tōkaidō Shinkansen "Nozomi" train from Tokyo Station to Kyoto Station approximately 2 hours 7 minutes to 2 hours 15 minutes. Transfer from Kyoto Station to JR Tōkaidō/Sanyo Main Line approximately 9 minutes to Otsu Station. Total about 2 hours 35 minutes. The Japan Rail Pass requires an additional fee when using Nozomi.
[Car]
Tokyo IC to Otsu IC at Tomei Expressway/Shin-Tomei Expressway/Ise Bay Expressway/Shin-Meijin Expressway/Meijin Expressway for about 4 hours and 50 minutes.
[High-speed bus]
It takes about 6 hours and 25 minutes from the Tokyo Station Blackbridge parking lot to Minami Kusatsu.
■ From Osaka
[Railway]
On the JR Tōkaidō Sanyo Main Line, Shin-Osaka Station to Otsu Station, approximately 35-51 minutes; Japan Rail Pass is available.
[Car]
About an hour from Suita IC to Otsu IC by Meishin Expressway.
[Railway]
Take the JR Tōkaidō Shinkansen "Nozomi" train from Tokyo Station to Kyoto Station approximately 2 hours 7 minutes to 2 hours 15 minutes. Transfer from Kyoto Station to JR Tōkaidō/Sanyo Main Line approximately 9 minutes to Otsu Station. Total about 2 hours 35 minutes. The Japan Rail Pass requires an additional fee when using Nozomi.
[Car]
Tokyo IC to Otsu IC at Tomei Expressway/Shin-Tomei Expressway/Ise Bay Expressway/Shin-Meijin Expressway/Meijin Expressway for about 4 hours and 50 minutes.
[High-speed bus]
It takes about 6 hours and 25 minutes from the Tokyo Station Blackbridge parking lot to Minami Kusatsu.
■ From Osaka
[Railway]
On the JR Tōkaidō Sanyo Main Line, Shin-Osaka Station to Otsu Station, approximately 35-51 minutes; Japan Rail Pass is available.
[Car]
About an hour from Suita IC to Otsu IC by Meishin Expressway.