 Last additions - Hama-Otsu Lakefront and Zeze Castle Park |
Otsu manhole showing Lake Biwa, Omi Ohashi Bridge, Otsu mascot Hikaru-kun, rowing, yachting, and Michigan boat.Jun 20, 2017
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Keihan Line Ishiba StationJun 20, 2017
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Keihan Line Ishiba Station near the Biwako Hall and Nagisa Terrace.Jun 20, 2017
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Nagisa TerraceJun 20, 2017
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Nagisa TerraceJun 20, 2017
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Nagisa TerraceJun 20, 2017
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Nagisa Terrace is a few cafes and shops along the lakefront in Otsu.Jun 20, 2017
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Jun 20, 2017
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Otsu Prince and Omi Ohashi Bridge 近江大橋Sep 17, 2016
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Omi Ohashi Bridge 近江大橋Sep 17, 2016
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Omi Ohashi Bridge 近江大橋Sep 17, 2016
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Otsu lakefront as seen from the lake. Biwako Hall can be seen.Sep 17, 2016
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Too many Otsu condos block lake views.Mar 24, 2016
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At Hama-Otsu, shopping mall Aqus, also built on reclaimed land.Mar 24, 2016
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Hiroshige's woodblock print of Clearing Storm at Awazu from his "Omi Hakkei" (Eight Views of Omi) series.Apr 24, 2011
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Hiroshige's woodblock print of Clearing Storm at Awazu from his "Omi Hakkei" (Eight Views of Omi) series. Zeze Castle can be clearly seen.Apr 24, 2011
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Lakeside at Zeze Castle Park with Omi Ohashi Bridge in the distance.Jul 12, 2009
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Gift coupons in exchange for black bass and blue gill fish. If you catch a non-native fish like black bass and blue gill fish in the lake, don't throw it back into the lake. This was at Zeze Castle park.Jul 12, 2009
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Local community center designed after Zeze Castle.Jul 12, 2009
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Jul 12, 2009
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About the No. 4 High School (Yonko) cherry blossoms planted in 1977. 四高桜Jul 12, 2009
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Zeze Castle was built in 1601 upon the order of Tokugawa Ieyasu after he won the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600. He dismantled Otsu Castle and assigned Zeze Castle as a guard for the Tokaido Road.Jul 12, 2009
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Zeze Castle's main path to the lake shore is lined with cherry trees.Jul 12, 2009
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Jul 12, 2009
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The first Zeze Castle lord was Toda Kazuaki who moved from Otsu Castle. The Zeze-han domain was thereby established. The castle was abolished in 1870. 戸田 一西.Jul 12, 2009
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Jul 12, 2009
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Zeze Castle monument 膳所城跡公園Jul 12, 2009
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Jul 12, 2009
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Zeze Castle monument. This park was part of the Honmaru. The castle was on a peninsula jutting into Lake Biwa. It was one of Japan's greatest lakeside castles. 膳所城跡公園Jul 12, 2009
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Jul 12, 2009
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Zeze Castle was controlled by a fudai daimyo, a lord with close ties to the Tokugawa. It was considered a strategic location being close to the Tokaido Road and Seta-no-Karahashi Bridge. Jul 12, 2009
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Zeze Castle Park, Otsu.Jul 12, 2009
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Jul 12, 2009
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Jul 12, 2009
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Lakeside at Zeze Castle Park.Jul 12, 2009
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Walking path along Zeze Castle Park.Jul 12, 2009
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Jul 12, 2009
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Jul 12, 2009
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Zeze Castle Park also has No. 4 High School cherry blossoms planted here in memory of the college rowers from Kanazawa University who died in a rowing accident on Lake Biwa in April 1941.Jul 12, 2009
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Jul 12, 2009
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Gate to Zeze Castle Park with cherry blossoms in full bloom in April. 膳所城跡公園 MAPJul 12, 2009
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Gate to Zeze Castle Park 膳所城跡公園Jul 12, 2009
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Zeze Castle wallJul 12, 2009
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Zeze Castle gate and cherry blossoms.Jul 12, 2009
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Different boats on Lake Biwa.Jan 06, 2009
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Jan 06, 2009
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Jan 06, 2009
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Jan 06, 2009
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Biwako Motorboat raceJan 06, 2009
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Jan 06, 2009
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Jan 06, 2009
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Start line. Note that you will need to apply for and obtain a permit to photograph the motor boat races. Otherwise, they will stop you from shooting.Jan 06, 2009
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Go!Jan 06, 2009
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ScoreboardJan 06, 2009
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Jan 06, 2009
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Jan 06, 2009
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Old postcard showing the pine trees of Awazu.Jan 06, 2009
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Jan 06, 2009
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Find some gamblers here inside the Biwako Kyotei stands. It's a modern and comfortable indoor facility.Jan 06, 2009
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Biwako motorboat race in Otsu.Jan 06, 2009
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Place your bets.Jan 06, 2009
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A lot of older women were also there.Jan 06, 2009
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You can also watch the motorboat races outside.Jan 06, 2009
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Pine trees of Awazu. This road is near the lakeshore. 粟津Jan 06, 2009
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Jan 06, 2009
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Jan 06, 2009
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Biwako Motorboat Race Course. Biwako Kyotei びわこ競艇場Jan 06, 2009
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Pine trees of Awazu. One of the Eight Views of Omi is now a non-scenic, semi-industrial road.Jan 06, 2009
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More rocky lakeshoreJan 06, 2009
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Leaving Zeze CastleJan 06, 2009
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Lake front near Zeze Castle Park. Finally we see reeds.Jan 06, 2009
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Jan 06, 2009
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Jan 06, 2009
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Now on the lake shore heading toward Omi Ohashi Bridge.Jan 06, 2009
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Omi Ohashi Bridge and Mt. MikamiJan 06, 2009
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Omi Ohashi BridgeJan 06, 2009
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Jan 06, 2009
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Stoney beachJan 06, 2009
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Approaching Zeze Castle ParkJan 06, 2009
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Omi Ohashi Bridge 近江大橋Jan 06, 2009
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Rocky shoreJan 06, 2009
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Bridge going to Zeze Castle ParkJan 06, 2009
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Panoramic photo of the southeastern shore of Lake Biwa as seen from Top of Otsu.Jan 06, 2009
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Zeze Castle ParkJan 06, 2009
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Omi Ohashi Bridge at the southern tip of Lake Biwa. 近江大橋Jan 06, 2009
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Central Otsu as seen from Top of Otsu. The right half of this picture is basically reclaimed land.Jan 06, 2009
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Southern Lake BiwaJan 06, 2009
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Otsu lakefront as seen from Top of Otsu.Jan 06, 2009
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Michigan cruising on Lake Biwa.Jan 06, 2009
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Otsu Prince Hotel MAPJan 06, 2009
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Otsu and Lake Biwa as seen from the top of Otsu Prince Hotel.Jan 06, 2009
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At the top of Otsu Prince Hotel is a restaurant called Top of Otsu. See grand views of the city and Lake Biwa on sunny days. Order a soft drink which should be affordable. It's worth the views to be had.Jan 06, 2009
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Otsu's nice lakefront walking promenade in an area called Nagisa Koen Park in Nionohama. Notice the box on the right... なぎさ公園Jan 06, 2009
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Artificial shoreline is actually not good for the lake ecologically. They should grow reeds instead. Reclaimed land.Jan 06, 2009
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Piazza Omi contains a hotel, passport office, and the Shiga Intercultural Association for Globalization. Jan 06, 2009
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Fish disposal box for black bass and blue gill and other invasive species. If you catch one, don't throw it back into the lake. Dispose of it in this box or take it home.Be sure to close the cover to keep cats out. If you catch a non-native fish like black bass and blue gill fish in the lake, they urge you to bring it in and throw it away in this bin. They don't want you to throw it back into the lake.Jan 06, 2009
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Monument where Akechi Mitsuhide's son-in-law and retainer Samanosuke (Mitsuhide) rode his horse on the lake to Sakamoto Castle in June 1582. Now a legend.Upon hearing of his brother's defeat and death by Hideyoshi at the Battle of Yamazaki, Samanosuke rushed back to Sakamoto Castle where he committed suicide.Jan 06, 2009
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Jan 06, 2009
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Approaching Otsu Prince Hotel, major landmark visible from afar.Jan 06, 2009
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Jan 06, 2009
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Inside Biwako Bunkakan museum.Jan 06, 2009
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Biwako Hall, Shiga's most modern concert hall. This area is also reclaimed land.Jan 06, 2009
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Jan 06, 2009
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View from Biwako Bunkakan museum, looking east where Biwako Hall can be seen.Jan 06, 2009
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View from Biwako Bunkakan museum, looking south toward the city.Jan 06, 2009
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Entrance to Biwako Bunkakan museum. A lookout deck is on the top of this tower.Jan 06, 2009
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Views from Biwako Bunkakan museum.Jan 06, 2009
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Jan 06, 2009
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Lookout deck in Biwako Bunkakan museum.Jan 06, 2009
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Biwako Bunkakan museum closed in March 2008. The museum was known for Buddhist art, including National Treasures. It has been here for as long as most Otsu residents can remember. Jan 06, 2009
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View from Biwako Bunkakan museum, looking west.Jan 06, 2009
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LakefrontJan 06, 2009
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Fishing in summer.Jan 06, 2009
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Jan 06, 2009
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It used to be a lake fish aquarium as well before the Lake Biwa Museum opened in Kusatsu.Jan 06, 2009
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Biwako Bunkakan museum is right on the shore, even over the water. It's a landmark, but a tacky-looking castle replica housed a cultural and art museum and gallery.Jan 06, 2009
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Nightly water fountain show at Otsu Port. MAPJan 06, 2009
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Map of central Otsu and lakefront. It is quite easy to walk or bicycle along the lake shore in central Otsu, starting from Hama-Otsu.Jan 06, 2009
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Jan 06, 2009
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Jan 06, 2009
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Central Otsu lakefront is rocky most of the way, with no beaches.Jan 06, 2009
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Otsu Castle markerJan 06, 2009
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Central Otsu lakefrontJan 06, 2009
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Biwako Hama-Otsu Station (renamed from Hama-Otsu Station) on the Keihan Line. Most of the land north of the Keihan Line along the lake has been reclaimed.Jan 06, 2009
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Otsu Castle site. There's a lot of open land here, so it would be great if they decided to reconstruct the castle. A perfect location for a castle.Jan 06, 2009
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Otsu Port and this area is reclaimed land.Jan 06, 2009
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Michigan paddlewheel boat is based at Otsu Port. Daily cruises offered.Jan 06, 2009
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Otsu Castle site. This area had many moats, but they have been filled in and much of Otsu's waterfront land has been reclaimed.Jan 06, 2009
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