Most viewed - Hama-Otsu Lakefront and Zeze Castle Park |
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.376 views
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Lakeside at Zeze Castle Park.175 views
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Different boats on Lake Biwa.174 views
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Lakeside at Zeze Castle Park with Omi Ohashi Bridge in the distance.169 views
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Otsu manhole showing Lake Biwa, Omi Ohashi Bridge, Otsu mascot Hikaru-kun, rowing, yachting, and Michigan boat.155 views
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Zeze Castle Park, Otsu.152 views
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About the No. 4 High School (Yonko) cherry blossoms planted in 1977. 四高桜146 views
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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. 145 views
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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 1941.145 views
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Zeze Castle's main path to the lake shore is lined with cherry trees.135 views
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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133 views
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Approaching Otsu Prince Hotel, major landmark visible from afar.130 views
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Central Otsu lakefront is rocky most of the way, with no beaches.125 views
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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.125 views
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Nightly water fountain show at Otsu Port. MAP124 views
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Central Otsu lakefront121 views
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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116 views
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Gate to Zeze Castle Park 膳所城跡公園115 views
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Omi Ohashi Bridge at the southern tip of Lake Biwa. 近江大橋114 views
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Biwako Motorboat race114 views
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Artificial shoreline is actually not good for the lake ecologically. They should grow reeds instead. Reclaimed land.113 views
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109 views
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Biwako motorboat race in Otsu.108 views
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Biwako Hall, Shiga's most modern concert hall. This area is also reclaimed land.104 views
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103 views
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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.102 views
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Lakefront100 views
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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.85 viewsBe 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.
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Otsu Prince Hotel MAP85 views
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Michigan paddlewheel boat is based at Otsu Port. Daily cruises offered.84 views
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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.82 views
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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.81 views
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Fishing in summer.79 views
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Biwako Motorboat Race Course. Biwako Kyotei びわこ競艇場78 views
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Otsu lakefront as seen from Top of Otsu.77 views
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Otsu Castle marker75 views
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View from Biwako Bunkakan museum, looking south toward the city.74 views
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View from Biwako Bunkakan museum, looking east where Biwako Hall can be seen.74 views
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73 views
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Entrance to Biwako Bunkakan museum. A lookout deck is on the top of this tower.73 views
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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.73 views
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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.72 views
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72 views
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72 views
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Inside Biwako Bunkakan museum.71 views
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70 views
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Otsu and Lake Biwa as seen from the top of Otsu Prince Hotel.70 views
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Otsu Port and this area is reclaimed land.69 views
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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.69 viewsUpon 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.
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Michigan cruising on Lake Biwa.69 views
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Central Otsu as seen from Top of Otsu. The right half of this picture is basically reclaimed land.69 views
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Zeze Castle Park69 views
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Panoramic photo of the southeastern shore of Lake Biwa as seen from Top of Otsu.69 views
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Stoney beach69 views
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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.69 views
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68 views
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It used to be a lake fish aquarium as well before the Lake Biwa Museum opened in Kusatsu.68 views
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68 views
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68 views
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68 views
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Gate to Zeze Castle Park with cherry blossoms in full bloom in April. 膳所城跡公園 MAP68 views
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67 views
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Piazza Omi contains a hotel, passport office, and the Shiga Intercultural Association for Globalization. 67 views
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Zeze Castle wall67 views
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Omi Ohashi Bridge and Mt. Mikami66 views
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Find some gamblers here inside the Biwako Kyotei stands. It's a modern and comfortable indoor facility.66 views
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Old postcard showing the pine trees of Awazu.66 views
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Scoreboard66 views
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66 views
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Zeze Castle monument 膳所城跡公園66 views
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66 views
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View from Biwako Bunkakan museum, looking west.65 views
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65 views
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Southern Lake Biwa65 views
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Rocky shore65 views
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Go!65 views
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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.65 views
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65 views
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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. 65 views
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65 views
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64 views
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Omi Ohashi Bridge 近江大橋64 views
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Lake front near Zeze Castle Park. Finally we see reeds.64 views
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A lot of older women were also there.64 views
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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.64 views
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63 views
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Omi Ohashi Bridge63 views
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Now on the lake shore heading toward Omi Ohashi Bridge.63 views
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Pine trees of Awazu. This road is near the lakeshore. 粟津63 views
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Zeze Castle gate and cherry blossoms.63 views
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Lookout deck in Biwako Bunkakan museum.62 views
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62 views
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More rocky lakeshore62 views
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62 views
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Local community center designed after Zeze Castle.62 views
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Views from Biwako Bunkakan museum.61 views
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Approaching Zeze Castle Park61 views
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61 views
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61 views
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Place your bets.61 views
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61 views
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61 views
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61 views
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Hiroshige's woodblock print of Clearing Storm at Awazu from his "Omi Hakkei" (Eight Views of Omi) series.61 views
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At Hama-Otsu, shopping mall Aqus, also built on reclaimed land.61 views
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Keihan Line Ishiba Station near the Biwako Hall and Nagisa Terrace.61 views
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Leaving Zeze Castle60 views
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You can also watch the motorboat races outside.60 views
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60 views
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Too many Otsu condos block lake views.60 views
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Pine trees of Awazu. One of the Eight Views of Omi is now a non-scenic, semi-industrial road.59 views
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59 views
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59 views
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Bridge going to Zeze Castle Park58 views
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58 views
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58 views
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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.58 views
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Walking path along Zeze Castle Park.57 views
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Omi Ohashi Bridge 近江大橋50 views
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Omi Ohashi Bridge 近江大橋49 views
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Otsu Prince and Omi Ohashi Bridge 近江大橋49 views
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Nagisa Terrace49 views
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Nagisa Terrace47 views
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Otsu lakefront as seen from the lake. Biwako Hall can be seen.46 views
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Keihan Line Ishiba Station46 views
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Nagisa Terrace is a few cafes and shops along the lakefront in Otsu.44 views
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Nagisa Terrace41 views
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40 views
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