Nagahama Castle (reconstructed) in Nagahama, Shiga Prefecture is a lakeside castle within Hokoen Park. The original castle was built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi in the 16th century who lived in Nagahama Castle until 1582. The current building was reconstructed in 1983. It serves as a history museum. Hokoen Park fronting Lake Biwa is noted for cherry blossoms and plum blossoms. Near JR Nagahama Station. Also see my YouTube video here. More about Nagahama here.
99 files, last one added on Jul 13, 2009 Album viewed 136 times
This is the heart of Nagahama's popular shopping district. "Kurokabe" means black wall. A glass shop and workshop, the Otemon-dori shopping arcade, the Hikiyama Museum, and the Ando House are the main attractions.
41 files, last one added on Jan 12, 2008 Album viewed 95 times
Held by the Nagahama Hachimangu Shrine, the Nagahama Hikiyama Matsuri is Nagahama's most famous festival featuring authentic kabuki plays performed by boys around April 15. Several ornate floats on wheels serve as the stage for talented young actors. The floats are paraded along the main street as they a few stops to put on the kabuki plays. These photos were taken in 2009. Also see my YouTube video.
171 files, last one added on Jul 11, 2009 Album viewed 81 times
The city's most popular shrine on New Year's Day. About 150,000 people worship at the beginning of the new year. It also holds the annual Hikiyama Float Festival in April.
29 files, last one added on Jan 11, 2008 Album viewed 20 times
Chikubushima is an island in northern Lake Biwa, Shiga Prefecture. Easily accessible by boat from Nagahama and Imazu, the island has a large temple complex called Hogonji which includes buildings designated as National Treasures.
90 files, last one added on Oct 03, 2007 Album viewed 205 times
The site of a historic battle between Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Shibata Katsuie, Mt. Shizugatake today provides grand views of Lake Biwa and Lake Yogo. Take a bus from Kinomoto Station on the JR Hokuriku Line, get off at Ooto. Then go up the chair lift. The mountain also has a few hiking trails. More about Kinomoto here.
66 files, last one added on Oct 16, 2009 Album viewed 127 times
Nagahama Sengoku Taiga Furusato-haku, or Nagahama Warring States Hometown Expo, is a feudal history expo held from March 24 to Dec. 2, 2012. The expo highlights three areas of interest in Nagahama: Odani Castle and Azai, Kinomoto and Mt. Shizugatake, and central Nagahama and Chikubushima island. The main expo pavilion is in Kinomoto. The expo focuses on the Battle of Shizugatake and Anegawa River.
98 files, last one added on May 14, 2012 Album viewed 68 times
In concert with NHK TV’s year-long Taiga Drama called Go–Himetachi no Sengoku (Go–Noble Ladies of Feudal Japan), Nagahama is holding a year-long mini expo called Go and Azai Sister Trio Expo (Go–Azai Sanshimai Hakurankai 江・浅井三姉妹博覧会) from Jan. 15 to Dec. 4, 2011.
58 files, last one added on Jun 30, 2011 Album viewed 323 times
Odani Castle in northern Nagahama, Shiga Prefecture, was originally built in 1524 atop Mt. Odani (495 m). The Azai clan called it home for three generations until Azai Nagamasa was defeated by Oda Nobunaga in 1573. Nobunaga bestowed the castle to Hashiba (Toyotomi) Hideyoshi. However, Toyotomi built and occupied a castle in Nagahama, abandoning Odani. No buildings have survived, but there are many rock walls and foundations remaining. Odani Castle is set to enjoy the spotlight in 2011 when NHK TV will broadcast a year-long period drama centering on one of Nagamasa's daughters named Go.
164 files, last one added on Jun 30, 2011 Album viewed 284 times
Nagahama Station, new and old. Nagahama's first train station building is also preserved as Nagahama Railroad Square. The new train station (opened in Oct. 2006) is modeled after the first one.
106 files, last one added on Mar 24, 2007 Album viewed 41 times
Dedicated to Toyotomi Hideyoshi, this shrine is a 3-min. walk from Nagahama Station. It holds the Toka Ebisu Festival on Jan. 9-11. Ebisu is one of the seven gods of good fortune.
22 files, last one added on Jan 13, 2006 Album viewed 33 times
Lake Yogo is a small but scenic and serene lake north of Lake Biwa. It is famous for the legend of the swan maiden. You can walk or bicycle around the lake. Near Yogo Station on the JR Hokuriku Line. Rental bicycles available at Yogo Station.
154 files, last one added on Oct 16, 2009 Album viewed 119 times
One of Shiga's rarest and unusual festivals was held for the first time in six years on May 4, 2009. Held by Niu Shrine deep in a mountain valley of Yogo in northern Nagahama, the festival featured sacred dances by boys dressed as girls, three floats topped with lofty "balancing act" decorations, and a procession of colorful dancers. Also see my YouTube video here.
146 files, last one added on May 06, 2009 Album viewed 77 times
This temple is noted for its giant statue of Jizo, one of Japan's three largest Jizo statues. Jizo is the guardian deity of children and travelers. The temple's real name is Joshinji (浄信寺). It's along the old Hokkoku Kaido road going to the Hokuriku region. The temple's Kinomoto Jizo Ennichi Festival held on Aug. 22-25 is one of Kinomoto town's major events.
85 files, last one added on Aug 24, 2008 Album viewed 93 times
Kinomoto in northern Nagahama is a former lodging town along the old Hokkoku Kaido Road going to the Hokuriku region. It was Kinomoto-juku's main street. It is also known as the place where Lord Yamauchi Kazutoyo's wife Chiyo bought a fine horse for her husband. Other sights include Shakudoji temple and Kinomoto Station.
71 files, last one added on Feb 23, 2010 Album viewed 29 times
Sugaura is a small settlement in the former town of Nishi-Azai along the northern shore of Lake Biwa. It is a quiet and scenic area with a nice lakeshore road and trail almost to the tip of the peninsula.
43 files, last one added on Oct 03, 2007 Album viewed 27 times
Near JR Takatsuki Station are several notable sights. Doganji Temple (Kogenji) is the keeper of the town's symbol: A beautiful 11-face Kannon statue designated as a National Treasure. Nearby is the Kannon Folk History Museum (Kannon no Sato Rekishi Minzoku Shiryokan) with numerous Kannon statues on display. And the Deai-no-Mori local public library has an exhibition room for famed novelist Inoue Yasushi who visited Takatsuki many times. Further away is Amenomori Hoshu-an museum, dedicated to Takatsuki native and Confucian scholar Amenomori Hoshu (1668-1755) who was Japan's main diplomat to Korea in the mid-Edo Period. Also, Kita-Omi Resort is a natural hot spring facility complemented by a few restaurants and even the Egypt Pavilion from Aichi Expo 2005.
126 files, last one added on Jul 07, 2008 Album viewed 92 times
The Azai area has historic ties to nearby Odani Castle and Anegawa River (battle). This unique museum complex (also called Oichi-no-Sato) consists of three buildings including two thatched-roof houses with interesting displays including silk production. Learn more about the Azai Clan, Odani Castle, and the Battle of Anegawa. Well worth a trip. 滋賀県長浜市大依町528
112 files, last one added on May 14, 2012 Album viewed 51 times
The Kohoku-cho area has a lake shore where birds gather. A convenient waterfowl observation center makes it easy to observe the birds. You can also see birds on Mt. Yamamoto-yama on the opposite side.
26 files, last one added on Feb 15, 2009 Album viewed 26 times
Nishi-Azai's symbol is the maruko-bune wooden boat which was a common sight on the lake in the old days before trains came to fore. There is a museum dedicated to this boat. 滋賀県西浅井町大浦582
18 files, last one added on Oct 20, 2005 Album viewed 16 times
Torahime's sights include Mt. Toragozen-yama with its low hills, ancient tumuli, shrines, and campgrounds. It also affords a fine view of the town. Beautiful in spring with numerous cherry trees. Near the foot is also the Jiyukan Hall for exhibitions, tourist info, and a place to relax and meet. Torahime also has noted temples Gomura Betsuin, Gyokusenji (Gansan Daishi), and the Wooden Seated Kannon Statue in the Kannon-do Hall.
129 files, last one added on Jan 12, 2010 Album viewed 52 times
Hayasaki (Hayazaki) Naiko was an attached lake to Lake Biwa until it was filled in as reclaimed land in 1970. A number of attached lakes in Shiga were reclaimed to make rice paddies amid a shortage of food after the war. This has proven to be detrimental to Lake Biwa's ecology, and now Shiga wants to restore Hayasaki's reclaimed land back to an attached lake. In Nov. 2001, part of the land was flooded with water as an experiment, and the ensuing plant and wildlife were observed.
35 files, last one added on Feb 15, 2009 Album viewed 47 times
Every Jan.-Mar., the Keiunkan, a former guesthouse originally built in 1887 to accommodate Emperor Meiji when he visited Nagahama, holds the Nagahama Bonbaiten exhibition of bonsai plum trees. The Keiunkan is near Nagahama Station's west exit, toward the south end.
21 files, last one added on Feb 28, 2007 Album viewed 45 times
Lord Ishida Mitsunari was born in 1560 in Ishida village in Shiga Pref. The area can be reached by bus from Nagahama Station. His birthplace and former residence have monuments dedicated to this fallen but revered leader of the Western Forces which lost to Tokugawa Ieyasu at the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600. Take a bus from Nagahama Station and get off at Ishida bus stop. 長浜市石田町
47 files, last one added on Jan 19, 2007 Album viewed 76 times
Anegawa River was the site of a major battle with Oda Nobunaga and Tokugawa Ieyasu defeating Azai Nagamasa and the Asakura clan on Aug. 9 1570. The area was left with so many dead that the river ran red, and local place names such as Chibara (Blood Field) stuck.
59 files, last one added on Mar 07, 2007 Album viewed 71 times
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