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.381 views
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Different boats on Lake Biwa.177 views
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Lakeside at Zeze Castle Park.176 views
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Lakeside at Zeze Castle Park with Omi Ohashi Bridge in the distance.170 views
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Otsu manhole showing Lake Biwa, Omi Ohashi Bridge, Otsu mascot Hikaru-kun, rowing, yachting, and Michigan boat.158 views
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Zeze Castle Park, Otsu.156 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 1941.150 views
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About the No. 4 High School (Yonko) cherry blossoms planted in 1977. 四高桜150 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. 146 views
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Zeze Castle's main path to the lake shore is lined with cherry trees.139 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136 views
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Approaching Otsu Prince Hotel, major landmark visible from afar.131 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.127 views
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Central Otsu lakefront is rocky most of the way, with no beaches.126 views
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Nightly water fountain show at Otsu Port. MAP125 views
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Central Otsu lakefront122 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121 views
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Gate to Zeze Castle Park 膳所城跡公園119 views
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Omi Ohashi Bridge at the southern tip of Lake Biwa. 近江大橋115 views
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Biwako Motorboat race115 views
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Artificial shoreline is actually not good for the lake ecologically. They should grow reeds instead. Reclaimed land.114 views
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110 views
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Biwako Hall, Shiga's most modern concert hall. This area is also reclaimed land.109 views
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Biwako motorboat race in Otsu.109 views
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104 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.103 views
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Lakefront101 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.86 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 MAP86 views
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Michigan paddlewheel boat is based at Otsu Port. Daily cruises offered.85 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.83 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.82 views
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Fishing in summer.80 views
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Biwako Motorboat Race Course. Biwako Kyotei びわこ競艇場79 views
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Otsu lakefront as seen from Top of Otsu.78 views
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Otsu Castle marker76 views
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75 views
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Entrance to Biwako Bunkakan museum. A lookout deck is on the top of this tower.75 views
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View from Biwako Bunkakan museum, looking south toward the city.75 views
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View from Biwako Bunkakan museum, looking east where Biwako Hall can be seen.75 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.74 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.73 views
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73 views
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73 views
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Inside Biwako Bunkakan museum.72 views
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Otsu Port and this area is reclaimed land.71 views
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71 views
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Otsu and Lake Biwa as seen from the top of Otsu Prince Hotel.71 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.71 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.70 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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Piazza Omi contains a hotel, passport office, and the Shiga Intercultural Association for Globalization. 70 views
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Michigan cruising on Lake Biwa.70 views
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Central Otsu as seen from Top of Otsu. The right half of this picture is basically reclaimed land.70 views
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Zeze Castle Park70 views
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Panoramic photo of the southeastern shore of Lake Biwa as seen from Top of Otsu.70 views
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Stoney beach70 views
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70 views
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69 views
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It used to be a lake fish aquarium as well before the Lake Biwa Museum opened in Kusatsu.69 views
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69 views
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69 views
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Gate to Zeze Castle Park with cherry blossoms in full bloom in April. 膳所城跡公園 MAP69 views
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68 views
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Old postcard showing the pine trees of Awazu.68 views
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Zeze Castle wall68 views
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Rocky shore67 views
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Omi Ohashi Bridge and Mt. Mikami67 views
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Find some gamblers here inside the Biwako Kyotei stands. It's a modern and comfortable indoor facility.67 views
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Scoreboard67 views
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67 views
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Zeze Castle monument 膳所城跡公園67 views
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67 views
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View from Biwako Bunkakan museum, looking west.66 views
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66 views
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Southern Lake Biwa66 views
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Go!66 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.66 views
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66 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. 66 views
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66 views
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65 views
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Omi Ohashi Bridge 近江大橋65 views
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Lake front near Zeze Castle Park. Finally we see reeds.65 views
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A lot of older women were also there.65 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.65 views
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Lookout deck in Biwako Bunkakan museum.64 views
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64 views
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Omi Ohashi Bridge64 views
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Now on the lake shore heading toward Omi Ohashi Bridge.64 views
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64 views
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Pine trees of Awazu. This road is near the lakeshore. 粟津64 views
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Zeze Castle gate and cherry blossoms.64 views
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Keihan Line Ishiba Station near the Biwako Hall and Nagisa Terrace.64 views
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Views from Biwako Bunkakan museum.63 views
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More rocky lakeshore63 views
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63 views
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63 views
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63 views
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Local community center designed after Zeze Castle.63 views
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Approaching Zeze Castle Park62 views
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Place your bets.62 views
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62 views
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62 views
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62 views
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Hiroshige's woodblock print of Clearing Storm at Awazu from his "Omi Hakkei" (Eight Views of Omi) series.62 views
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At Hama-Otsu, shopping mall Aqus, also built on reclaimed land.62 views
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Leaving Zeze Castle61 views
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You can also watch the motorboat races outside.61 views
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61 views
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Too many Otsu condos block lake views.61 views
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Pine trees of Awazu. One of the Eight Views of Omi is now a non-scenic, semi-industrial road.60 views
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60 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.60 views
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60 views
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Bridge going to Zeze Castle Park59 views
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59 views
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59 views
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Walking path along Zeze Castle Park.58 views
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Omi Ohashi Bridge 近江大橋51 views
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Otsu lakefront as seen from the lake. Biwako Hall can be seen.50 views
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Omi Ohashi Bridge 近江大橋50 views
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Otsu Prince and Omi Ohashi Bridge 近江大橋50 views
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Nagisa Terrace50 views
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Keihan Line Ishiba Station49 views
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Nagisa Terrace48 views
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Nagisa Terrace is a few cafes and shops along the lakefront in Otsu.45 views
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Nagisa Terrace43 views
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41 views
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