 Most viewed - Nishi-Azai: Maruko-bune Museum, Sugaura, Oku Biwako Parkway 丸子船・菅浦・奥琵琶湖パークウェイ・西浅井町 |
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Sugaura is a small settlement in 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. Akasaki Maruko-bune park152 views赤崎丸子船
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One entrance to Oku Biwako Parkway is at Sugaura. It's not a toll road. The most trying part of bicycling around Lake Biwa. MAP143 views
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Omi-Shiotsu Station JR近江塩津駅131 views
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Maruko-bune, a traditional wooden boat mainly for shipping cargo across Lake Biwa in the old days. This used maruko-bune was donated by a local resident. 丸子船129 views
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View from Oku Biwako Parkway127 views
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Nagahara Station on the JR Kosei Line. A nice, loghouse station building. JR湖西線、永原駅122 views
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View from Oku Biwako Parkway122 views
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121 views
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117 views
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116 views
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Maruko-bune Museum (Maruko-bune no Yakata). The maruko-bune was commonly used to transport cargo over the lake from the Hokuriku region to the Kyoto-Osaka region during the 17th and 18th c. MAP114 viewsThe museum is a short bicycle ride from Nagahara Station (JR Kosei Line). 滋賀県西浅井町大浦582 丸子船の館
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Maruko-bune wooden boat which was a common sight on Lake Biwa in the old days before trains came to fore. Near this area was a major maruko-bune port called Oura.112 views
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The bow's tip is studded.104 views
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Scenic point at end of trail. Notice the hut.103 views
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Diorama of Oura Port. MAP102 views
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Scenic point at end of trail100 views
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Maruko-bune were a vital transportation link between northern Japan and Kyoto/Osaka. Goods coming and going via the Sea of Japan also went over the lake.98 views
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Maruko-bune crew.96 views
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Rudder hangs down from a torii-like brace (かさ木), also used as a mast rest when the mast is laid down. Most of the wood is Japanese conifer (槇の木).96 views
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Maruko-bune boat hands.93 views
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Maruko-bune's trademark is this half-round cedar or cypress log on both sides. おも木92 views
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Black copper plates decorate the bow (ダテカスガイ). This checkered pattern was unique to Lake Biwa boats. The wood seams are stuffed with conifer fiber (槙縄) to repel water.92 views
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Adjacent museum called Oura Furusato Shiryokan. A museum of local artifacts and knicknacks.91 views
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Large maruko-bune displayed outdoors, without a mast.91 views
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Entrance to Sugaura, a quaint lakeshore village on a peninsula. It is will be designated as an Important Cultural Landscape. A pleasant trail goes along the lakeshore trail.90 views
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Panorama at end of trail87 views
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Large wooden paddle of a maruko-bune boat. The boat also had a sail. The boat had a round log on both sides.85 views
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Lookout point, Chikubushima island in the distance85 views
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The sail is made of thick cotton material, replacing the old straw mat that didn't last long.84 views
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The wooden maruko-bune boat was a common sight on Lake Biwa before railroads were built. They were mainly used for shipping cargo between Kyoto and the northern region of Fukui, Kanazawa, etc.84 views
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Sugaura is a length-wise town hugging the shore of the lake.84 views
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Thatched-roof gate, called Shisokumon 四足門, on the west end used to monitor outsiders entering the village. Another one is at the east end. MAP84 views
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84 views
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Suga Shrine, dedicated to Sugaura's patron god. The shrine also has a connection with Emperor Junnin (733-765). 淳仁天皇. 須賀神社83 views須賀神社
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Swimming area83 views
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Sugaura as seen from Lake Biwa. The Oku Biwako Parkway Road can be seen going up the mountain.83 views
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Way to Suga Shrine. Emperor Junnin supposedly once lived in this area in secret.82 views
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Suga Shrine82 views
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81 views
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Trail goes further.81 views
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Maruko-bune exhibits.80 views
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80 views
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Sugaura is one of the best areas of northern Shiga and northern Lake Biwa. Quiet, clean, and scenic.80 views
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80 views
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80 views
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80 views
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The big maruko-bune boat (17 meters long) was donated by a native of Nishi-Azai. It could hold 13 tons of cargo.80 views
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80 views
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Trail going up the mountain.80 views
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80 views
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79 views
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Adjacent museum showing things from Oura.79 views
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79 views
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Beyond the east end of Sugaura (beyond the east thatched-roof gate) is a scenic walking trail along the peninsula's shore.78 viewsAfter you pass through the town, there is a hiking/bicycle trail along the peninsula.
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78 views
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Some scenery from the road between Nagahara and Sugaura.77 views
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77 views
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77 views
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Thatched-roof gate, called Shisokumon 四足門, on the east end used to monitor outsiders entering the village.77 views
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Old Hokuriku Line train75 views
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Chikubushima island in the distance75 views
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The maruko-bune boat is a symbol of Nishi-Azai town which is now part of the city of Nagahama.75 views
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Sugaura Local History Museum 菅浦郷土史料館. Contains historical documents related to the town. But it was closed when I went.75 views
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Hydrangeas74 views
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They row in a fixed-seat, wooden boat based on a traditional design circa 1917. Off Sugaura. Oku Biwako Parkway Road going up the mountain.73 views
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73 views
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Omi-Shiotsu Station with an old 111-series JR train.72 views
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Imazu Junior High School rowers on the shore of Sugaura. They row across the lake between Imazu and Nagahama every summer.72 views
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Nagahama City Hall, Nishi-Azai Branch. An incredibly large and beautiful town hall for a small town (Later merged with Nagahama.)71 views
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Omi-Shiotsu Station corridor to the tracks upstairs.71 views
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71 views
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Going down to the lake shore of Sugaura.71 views
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Sugaura as seen from Lake Biwa.71 views
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Tickets please70 views
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Near Nagahara Station69 views
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Omi-Shiotsu Station platform JR近江塩津駅69 views
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Looking at Sugaura in Nishi-Azai.68 views
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But the views can be marvelous. There is an alternate and less strenuous bicycling route behind the mountains, but there's no scenery like this.68 views
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Omi-Shiotsu Station66 views
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Nishi Azai-cho Town Hall66 views
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66 views
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Tunnels66 views
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Omi-Shiotsu Station and old trains65 views
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65 views
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Top view of maruko-bune.65 views
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Bicycling to Sugaura.64 views
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Bicycle rental sign. Most stations along Lake Biwa offer bicycles for rental.64 views
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This maruko-bune is 17.2 meters long.64 views
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Nagahara Station in the distance.63 views
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Nishi Azai-cho Town Hall in winter63 views
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At the top of the Oku Biwako Parkway road is a lookout point.63 views
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Top view with roof partially removed for viewing.63 views
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Nagahara Station in winter61 views
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There's a large parking lot at the top.61 views
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Nagahara Station60 views
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During the 17th and 18th-centuries, over 1,000 maruko-bune sailed on the lake. The busiest ports were Shiotsu in the north and Otsu. After railroads were built, maruko-bune dwindled. Today, there are no maruko-bune on Lake Biwa.60 views
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60 views
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Maruko-bune transported rice, fish, kelp, and many other northern Japan goods bound for Kyoto/Osaka. From Kyoto, came cotton, confections, soy sauce, sake, kimono, textiles, tobacco, and more.59 views
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Nagahara Station on the JR Kosei Line.57 views
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A few pretty good views from the top.56 views
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Nishi-Azai scenery from the train toward Nagahara Station.54 views
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54 views
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Omi-Shiotsu Station platform.54 views
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Omi-Shiotsu Station platform.54 views
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