Category: Activities

Ragtag Taga

We go deep into the mountains to explore a wind cave and then visit one of the oldest Shinto shrines in Japan.

Old Tokaido Road, Take Me Home! Pt. 2

Leaving the Seta River behind, we go to Kusatsu. The city is where the two great Edo-period highways, the Tokaido and Nakasendo, fused before continuing to Kyoto; Kusatsu-juku was the second-to-last stop on the road between the two capitals.

Old Tokaido Road, Take Me Home! Pt. 1

During the Edo period, two great highways linked the old capital, Kyoto, to the new one, Edo: the Tokaido and Nakasendo roads. They had to pass through Shiga to avoid mountains, following the south shore of Lake Biwa. You can still find remains of that time in Otsu and Kusatsu.

Michigan Cruise ミシガンクルーズ

Enjoy a slice of classic Americana with a Japanese twist on the Michigan. ミシガンクルーズでは日本にいながら伝統的なアメリカ文化を楽しむことができます。 You might be confused as to why, of all things, a Huckleberry Finn-esque paddle steamer offers cruises on Lake Biwa in Shiga Prefecture. The answer is rather simple and heartwarming – it is a show of the sister state bonds that…

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The Modern Eight Views of Omi 7: Autumn Moon at Ishiyama　現代の近江八景7：石山秋月

Author’s note: This is the seventh installment in a series about the Eight Views of Omi. (Read part six here) Please enjoy and follow along as we deconstruct the modern-day landscape of Shiga and examine its vibrant history and culture. Thank you for reading! – Maddie 著者メモ: 近江八景にかかるシリーズの第七稿です。（第六稿はここです） 現代の滋賀県の景色を解体したり、豊かな歴史と文化を調べたりしているので、楽しんで読み進めてください！ご読了ありがとうございます。 – マディ The days were hot now…

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The Modern Eight Views of Omi 6: Wild Geese Returning Home at Katata　現代の近江八景6：堅田落雁

Author’s note: This is the sixth installment in a series about the Eight Views of Omi. (Read part five here) Please enjoy and follow along as we deconstruct the modern-day landscape of Shiga and examine its vibrant history and culture. Thank you for reading! – Maddie 著者メモ: 近江八景にかかるシリーズの第六稿です。（第五稿はここです） 現代の滋賀県の景色を解体したり、豊かな歴史と文化を調べたりしているので、楽しんで読み進めてください！ご読了ありがとうございます。 – マディ About a thirty minute walk…

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Biwako Valley びわ湖バレイ

Southern Shiga Prefecture may be devoid of snow, but that doesn’t stop us from hitting the slopes. The last weekend in January, a friend and I headed up to Biwako Valley, a ski resort just north of Otsu on the west side of Lake Biwa. At around 10am we boarded the Kosei Line at Otsukyo…

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