Events-Shiga

10 Nature Experience Activities in Shiga 🌿✨ Fun outdoor adventures around Lake Biwa, perfect for international visitors. Each activity comes with highlights, tips, Kyoto access, and a map. Fresh lake-blue meets coral pop design 🎨. From kayaking on Japan’s largest lake to forest bathing in cedar groves, Shiga is your outdoor playground only one hour from Kyoto. 🗺️ Inline Maps 🚆 Easy Access 🎒 Gear Tips 🍃 Pop Vibes Contents 🚣 Kayak & SUP on Lake Biwa ⛰️ Hiking Mt. Hiei 🌸 Wildflower Trekking on Mt. Ibuki 🚲 Cycling Metasequoia Avenue 🎣 Fishing on Lake Biwa 🏕️ Camping & River Play in Kutsuki ✨ Glamping at Makino Highland 🌾 Rice […]

Top 10 Kid-Friendly Spots in Shiga (with Hours & Fees) Here’s the ultimate family guide to Shiga! Each spot includes why kids love it, opening hours, admission fees, and access info so you can plan stress-free. 1. Shiga Prefectural Kid’s Land (Kibōgaoka Cultural Park) Huge playgrounds, slides, climbing nets, and open fields. Great picnic area for families. Hours: 9:00–17:00; Closed Dec 29–Jan 2, and Mon (Dec–Feb, next day if holiday) Admission: Free (some activities charged) Parking: Paid (~¥500) 2. Biwako Valley (Kids Adventure & Zipline) Ride the ropeway, enjoy playgrounds, and try seasonal ziplines. Popular for outdoor fun. Hours: 9:30–17:00 (summer); varies by season & weather Admission: Ropeway ~¥3,000 adults

Rainy-Day Shiga: 10 Indoor (or Mostly-Indoor) Spots ☔ Theme-safe, centered guide with access from Kyoto Station for every spot and embedded Google Maps. Lake-blue accent, slightly kawaii, family-friendly. Rain doesn’t have to cancel your plans—Shiga has aquariums, museums, hot springs, and hands-on studios that shine on wet days. Each pick below includes highlights, rainy-day tips, access from Kyoto, and an embedded map. 🗺️ Inline Maps 👶 Kids & Stroller Notes ♿ Weather-Proof Options Contents Lake Biwa Museum (Kusatsu) Sagawa Art Museum (Moriyama) Shiga Prefectural Art Museum (Ōtsu) Miho Museum (Kōka) Nagahama Railway Square (Nagahama) Kurokabe Glass Studio & Square (Nagahama) Mizunomori Water Botanical Garden (Kusatsu) Ogoto Onsen Day-Use Baths (Ōtsu)

Summer in Shiga — 10 Must-Visit Spots ☀️🩵 Lake breeze, swim beaches, lotus mornings, cool mountains, and night fireworks. Each spot includes Kyoto access and an embedded map. Lake-blue accent, theme-safe, slightly kawaii. Use this list to plan a chill summer day from Kyoto. Mix a swim beach with cafés, ride a ropeway to mountain air, or catch lotus flowers at sunrise. Hydrate, wear hats, and avoid mid-day heat. 🗺️ Inline Maps 🏖️ Swim & Cool-Down 🎆 Festivals & Fireworks Contents Omimaiko Beach (Ōtsu) Makino Sunny Beach (Takashima) Biwako Valley & Terrace (Ōtsu) Chikubushima Island Cruise (Nagahama) Metasequoia Avenue (Makino) Harie “Shozu-no-Sato” Springs (Takashima) Shirahige Shrine & Lakeside (Takashima) Mizunomori

Family-Friendly Spots in Shiga 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Clean, centered guide with access from Kyoto Station for every spot and embedded Google Maps. Lake-blue accent, theme-safe, slightly kawaii. Shiga is lake views, hands-on museums, gentle hikes, and sweet treats—perfect for kids. Each place below includes highlights, practical tips, access from Kyoto, and an embedded map. 🗺️ Inline Maps 🍼 Stroller & Kids Tips 🌦️ Rainy-Day Options Contents Biwako Kodomo-no-Kuni (Takashima) La Collina Ōmihachiman Blumen Hügel (Shiga Agricultural Park, Hino) GranSnow Okuibuki (Maibara) Sagawa Art Museum (Moriyama) Nagahama Railway Square (Nagahama) Lake Biwa Museum (Kusatsu) Kōka Ninja Village (Kōka) Ibukiyama Driveway (Maibara) Mizunomori Water Botanical Garden (Kusatsu) 1) Biwako Kodomo-no-Kuni — Takashima Lakeside kids’

# Create a single, theme-safe, centered, responsive article block (no DOCTYPE/body/html), # so you can paste directly into a WordPress “Custom HTML” block. html = r””” Recommended Date Spots in Shiga 💖 Clean, centered guide with Kyoto Station access for every spot and embedded Google Maps. Slightly kawaii, lake-blue accent—theme-safe. Shiga—home to Japan’s largest lake—mixes panoramic views, living history, design-forward spaces, and sweet café stops. Each venue below has highlights, access from Kyoto, and an embedded map. 🗺️ Inline Maps 🌤️ Warm & Simple 🌸 Slight Kawaii Contents Biwako Terrace (Ōtsu) Biwako Fountain (Ōtsu Port) MIHO MUSEUM (Kōka) Hikone Castle (Hikone) Kurokabe Square (Nagahama) La Collina Ōmihachiman Metasequoia Avenue (Makino)

Explore Shiga Prefecture: Top 15 Scenic & Historical Spots Explore Shiga Prefecture: Top 15 Scenic & Historical Spots 1. Hikone Castle (彦根城) How to get there: From JR Kyoto Station, take the JR Biwako Line towards Maibara and get off at Hikone Station (about 45 min). From Hikone Station, it’s a 15-minute walk north to the castle grounds. Alternatively, local buses (Hikone City Bus) run from the station to the castle. History: Built in 1622, Hikone Castle is one of Japan’s original wooden castles still intact. It offers spectacular views of Lake Biwa and showcases samurai-era architecture and gardens. Best season: Spring (late March to early April) for stunning cherry

Hikone and Kita-Biwako Summer Fireworks Festival (彦根・北びわ湖夏花火大会) The Hikone and Kita-Biwako Summer Fireworks Festival is a beloved annual event held on the northern shores of Lake Biwa, particularly at Matsubara Swimming Beach in Hikone City. It blends the scenic beauty of the lake with a vibrant fireworks display, creating a magical atmosphere that attracts both locals and tourists. Nagahama and Kita-Biwako Great Fireworks Festival (長浜・北びわ湖大花火大会) The Nagahama and Kita-Biwako Great Fireworks Festival is a multi-day event held in early September that showcases one of the largest and most spectacular fireworks displays in the region. The festival’s location at Nagahama Port allows for expansive views of Lake Biwa illuminated by thousands

History of the Lake Biwa Fireworks Festival (びわ湖大花火大会) The Lake Biwa Fireworks Festival, held annually in Ōtsu City, Shiga Prefecture, is one of Japan’s most iconic and spectacular summer events. With a tradition dating back over a century, it showcases a breathtaking display of artistry and community spirit around Japan’s largest freshwater lake, Lake Biwa. Origins and Early History The festival began in 1899 as a small local event meant to honor those lost at sea and to pray for safety and good fortune. Fireworks were launched over the waters of Lake Biwa as a symbolic gesture of remembrance and celebration. Over the years, the event grew steadily in scale