Fun things to do in Shiga-ken

3 more images

The area around Lake Biwa had been called 'Omi' until the Meiji era (until 1867). So there are many cities and towns whose names begin with 'Omi'. Omihachiman is one of those cities.
Omihachiman was very prosperous during the Edo era and there were lots of rich merchants. In the center of Omihachiman, you will enjoy the streets and buildings which remain even today and conveys nostalgia to all the visitors to the city.
Along the Hachimanbori Canal there are old Japanese houses and warehouses with white walls and those things make the scenary really special.
Himure Shrine is very very old. It was built about 2000 years ago. You will feel the solemn atomosphere there. And in this shrine Sagicho Festival is held in the middle of March. I want to visit it in that season. The ropeway station to Zenryuji Temple is next to this shrine.

In Omihachiman you can enjoy the beautiful scenary of Lake Biwa and a lot of rivers and canals which run into and out of Lake Biwa. In Omihachiman these rivers and canals are making a really wonderfrul scenary. The reedy shores of them are so nice. I love those scenary.
You can rent a bicycle and enjoy riding it ( there is a nice cycling road just by Lake Biwa, too ). You may go through the reedy riverside in a traditional Japanese gondora-like boat (You must reserve seats. Tel.0748-32-7003 ) You can take the boat at several places in Omihachiman.

The stone is a beige limestone from France. The Chinese-American architect, I.M. Pei used this stone for all surfaces in the museum. The museum is celebrating its 5th anniversay in 2002 with several special exhibits.

Inside looking out towards the tunnel and the bridge. The bridge received an award in 2002 from the International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering [phew!].

The area the museum is set in is called the Peach Valley. According to the legend of Peach Valley -- "If you seek happiness, look at beautiful things” The museum helps that along :)