Shiga travel guide: top sights, food, festivals, hot springs & where to stay (2026)

By World Lens EditorsUpdated November 2, 20263 min read

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This translation was generated by AI and may contain wording that differs from the facts. Please check the Japanese original or official sources for anything important. Japanese original

Quick facts

Region: Kinki
Capital: Otsu
Population: 1.4 million
Climate: Inland
Cherry blossom (average): 1 April
No. 1 in Japan: Lake Biwa, Japan's largest lake — Covers a sixth of the prefecture. Water source for 14.5 million people in Kinki

⭐ Top sights

🏯

Hikone Castle★

National Treasure. Seat of the 350,000-koku Ii clan. Home of the mascot Hikonyan and Genkyu-en Garden

Find a hotel nearby

🍲 Local food

Funazushi, Omi beef, duck hotpot

Funazushi, Lake Biwa's nigorobuna carp fermented with rice, is said to be the ancestor of sushi

🏮 Festivals & events

Nagahama Hikiyama Festival — April 13–16. Children perform kabuki on the stages of the floats. Began when Hideyoshi was lord of Nagahama Castle

🏨 Where to stay in Shiga

The area around Otsu, the capital, has the best transport links and the widest choice of hotels; a night at a hot-spring town is also worth it.

Other prefectures in the region

Mie · Kyoto · Osaka · Hyogo · Nara · Wakayama · 47 prefectures

Frequently asked questions

What is Shiga famous for food-wise?

Shiga's best-known local dishes are Funazushi, Omi beef, duck hotpot. Funazushi, Lake Biwa's nigorobuna carp fermented with rice, is said to be the ancestor of sushi

What are the top sights in Shiga?

Top picks in Shiga include Hikone Castle★.

When do cherry blossoms bloom in Shiga?

In Shiga (Otsu), Somei-yoshino cherry trees usually start blooming around 1 April, reaching full bloom about a week later.

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