View source for Ritto, Shiga

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{{City |
 Name = Ritto |
 JapaneseName = 栗東市 |
 RomanName = Ritto-shi |
 Prefecture = Shiga |
 Region      =  Kinki |
 Island         = Honshu |

 Photo = <HTML><a href="https://photoguide.jp/pix/index.php?cat=104" target="window"><img src="https://photoguide.jp/pix/albums/shiga/ritto/jra/029-IMG_3442.jpg" alt="JRA" width="320" align="middle"></a></HTML> |
 Photocaption = JRA Ritto Training Center. |
 pixLink      = https://photoguide.jp/pix/index.php?cat=104 |
 Map   = Mapshigaritto2.png |
 GoogleMapLink = http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&ll=35.020578,135.988941&spn=0.07001,0.123768&z=13&om=1&msid=105501786212832952601.000442bea79b93f16e3d2 |
 Logo  = Logoshigaritto.gif |
 Logocaption = 3D image based on the Meishin expressway interchange in Ritto. |

 Neighbors  = Yasu, Konan, Koka, Otsu, Kusatsu, Moriyama  |
 Majorareas  = An'yoji, Ritto Station, JRA Training Center |
 Sights  = JRA Training Center, tumuli |
 Gateways    = [[JR Tokaido Line]] [[Ritto Station]] [[Tehara Station]] |
 Trains    = JR [[Tokaido Main Line]] [[Ritto Station]]; JR [[Kusatsu Line]] [[Tehara Station]] |
 Time    = 25 minutes from JR Kyoto Station to Ritto Station, 40 minutes from Maibara Station to Ritto Station, 5 min. from Kusatsu Station to Tehara Station, 30 min. from Kusatsu Station to JRA Training Center by bus.  |
 Fame       =  Home of JRA Ritto Training Center, major debate on constructing a new shinkansen station |
 Products  =    |
 OldName  =    |
 Keywords     = JRA training center, thoroughbred, horse, new shinkansen station |
 Persons     = Take Yutaka |
 Sister      =  Birmingham, Michigan; Hengyang City 衝陽市, Hunan, China |

 TotalArea    = 52.75 |
 PopDate      = 2014-06-01 |
 Population   = 65,875 (802 foreigners) |
 Founded = 2001 | 

 ISOCode      = wiki |
 Flower       = Pot Marigold キンセンカ |
 Tree          = Kaizuka 貝塚伊吹 |
 Bird           = Japanese White-eye メジロ |

 OtherSymbols  = Racehorses, Kuri-chan |
 Address      = 〒520-3088滋賀県栗東市安養寺一丁目13番33号
Anyoji 1-13-33, Ritto-shi, Shiga 520-3088 JAPAN |
 Phone        = 077-553-1234 |
 Website      = [http://www.city.ritto.shiga.jp/ Japanese] |
 Website-e      = |
 TouristAddress  = 〒520-3088滋賀県栗東市安養寺一丁目13番33号
栗東市役所観光振興室
Anyoji 1-13-33, Ritto-shi, Shiga 520-3088 |
 TouristPhone  = 077-551-0126 Fax: 077-551-0148 | 
 TouristLink  = [http://www.ritto-kanko.com/ Tourist Ass.] |
 Kokusai  = [http://www.rifa.jp/ Web site] Tel: 077-551-0293 Fax: 077-552-9320 | 
 VolunteerGuide = Tel: 077-551-0126
}}
</div>

''Last updated: June 9, 2019''

by [[Philbert Ono]]

'''''Thoroughbred Town'''''

'''Ritto''' (栗東市; Ritto-shi) is a city in [[Shiga Prefecture]].

Landlocked city in southeastern Shiga and best known for the JRA (Japan Racing Association) horse-racing training grounds and home base of Take Yutaka, Japan's winningest jockey. Ritto is also known to be one of Japan's most livable cities.

Express trains do not stop at [[Ritto Station]] on the Biwako Line. You have to take a local train to reach Ritto.

<HTML><iframe src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d52295.20244046737!2d135.9746586901256!3d34.995435060383976!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x60016e506aebc779%3A0x1b9d2d6274b62ea6!2sRitto%2C+Shiga+Prefecture!5e0!3m2!1sen!2sjp!4v1470152101918" width="600" height="450" frameborder="0" style="border:0" allowfullscreen></iframe></HTML>

== Sights ==
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<table>
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</td><td><span class="plainlinks"><a href="https://photoguide.jp/pix/thumbnails.php?album=175" class="external text" title="https://photoguide.jp/pix/thumbnails.php?album=175" rel="nofollow"><img src="https://photoguide.jp/pix/albums/shiga/ritto/daihojinja/thumb_07-IMG_3334.jpg" alt="thumb_07-IMG_3334.jpg" /></a></span>
</td><td><span class="plainlinks"><a href="https://photoguide.jp/pix/thumbnails.php?album=470" class="external text" title="https://photoguide.jp/pix/thumbnails.php?album=470" rel="nofollow"><img src="https://photoguide.jp/pix/albums/shiga/ritto/tumuli/thumb_052-IMG_2858.jpg" alt="thumb_052-IMG_2858.jpg" /></a></span>
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<td> <a href="https://photoguide.jp/pix/thumbnails.php?album=469" class="external text" title="https://photoguide.jp/pix/thumbnails.php?album=469" rel="nofollow">JRA Ritto</a>
</td><td> <a href="https://photoguide.jp/pix/thumbnails.php?album=175" class="external text" title="https://photoguide.jp/pix/thumbnails.php?album=175" rel="nofollow">Daiho Jinja Shrine</a>
</td><td> <a href="https://photoguide.jp/pix/thumbnails.php?album=470" class="external text" title="https://photoguide.jp/pix/thumbnails.php?album=470" rel="nofollow">Wada Tumuli</a>
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<td><span class="plainlinks"><a href="https://photoguide.jp/pix/thumbnails.php?album=470" class="external text" title="https://photoguide.jp/pix/thumbnails.php?album=470" rel="nofollow"><img src="https://photoguide.jp/pix/albums/shiga/ritto/tumuli/thumb_062-IMG_2855.jpg" alt="thumb_062-IMG_2855.jpg" /></a></span>
</td><td><span class="plainlinks"><a href="http://photoguide.jp/pix/thumbnails.php?album=471" class="external text" title="https://photoguide.jp/pix/thumbnails.php?album=471" rel="nofollow"><img src="https://photoguide.jp/pix/albums/shiga/ritto/naturewalk/thumb_070-IMG_2765.jpg" alt="thumb_070-IMG_2765.jpg" /></a></span>
</td><td><span class="plainlinks"><a href="http://photoguide.jp/pix/thumbnails.php?album=176" class="external text" title="https://photoguide.jp/pix/thumbnails.php?album=176" rel="nofollow"><img src="https://photoguide.jp/pix/albums/shiga/ritto/others/thumb_04-IMG_3391.jpg" alt="thumb_04-IMG_3391.jpg" /></a></span>
</td></tr>
<tr style="font-size: 80%;">
<td> <a href="https://photoguide.jp/pix/thumbnails.php?album=470" class="external text" title="https://photoguide.jp/pix/thumbnails.php?album=470" rel="nofollow">Wada Tumuli</a>
</td><td> <a href="https://photoguide.jp/pix/thumbnails.php?album=471" class="external text" title="https://photoguide.jp/pix/thumbnails.php?album=471" rel="nofollow">From Anyoji</a>
</td><td> <a href="https://photoguide.jp/pix/thumbnails.php?album=176" class="external text" title="https://photoguide.jp/pix/thumbnails.php?album=176" rel="nofollow">Ritto Station</a>
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* [https://photoguide.jp/pix/thumbnails.php?album=469 JRA Ritto Training Center JRA Ritto Training Center 栗東トレーニング・センター] - Since 1969, the government-run Japan Racing Association (JRA) has trained jockeys and race horses in Ritto. It offers free tours (telephone reservations required) of this large, impressive facility on Sunday afternoons (1 pm - 2:30 pm) and early Wednesday mornings (when you can see horses running on the track). [http://goo.gl/maps/JWMBr Map]

* [https://photoguide.jp/pix/thumbnails.php?album=470 Tumuli 古墳] - Ritto is dotted with numerous ancient tumuli. Painstaking work is being conducted to unearth and clean ancient artifacts. There is even an archeaological museum next to the Wada Tumuli, a group of small tumuli. [http://www.ex.biwa.ne.jp/~r-shutudo/ Website] | [http://goo.gl/maps/TUSCM Map]

* [https://photoguide.jp/pix/thumbnails.php?album=175 History/Nature Walk] - Ritto tourist pamphlets show a map of a history and nature walk from Tehara Station taking you to see the History Museum, nature forest, Mt. Anyoji, tumuli, etc. You don't need to walk much of the route drawn on the map (take a bus instead). And there are very few signs showing the way to the sights. Mt. Anyoji has no legible signs nor map. [http://www.city.ritto.shiga.jp/mori/ Website] | [http://goo.gl/maps/gu1Rk Map]

* [https://photoguide.jp/pix/thumbnails.php?album=471 Ritto History Museum 栗東歴史民俗博物館] - Local museum exhibiting Buddha statues, old minka thatched-roof house, etc. Accessible by bus from [[Kusatsu Station]]. [http://www.city.ritto.shiga.jp/hakubutsukan/ Website] | [http://goo.gl/maps/PlIgV Map]

* [https://photoguide.jp/pix/thumbnails.php?album=175 Daiho Jinja 大宝神社] - Dedicated to Susano-O no Mikoto, Daiho Shrine is a short walk from JR [[Ritto Station]]. Holds a sumo festival in spring. [http://www.daihoujinja.jp/ Website] | [http://goo.gl/maps/R7MbZ Map]

=== Event Calendar ===
*Feb. 3 - Setsubun bean throwing at Daiho Shrine. 
*May 4-5 - Daiho Shrine Reitaisai Festival features tug of war and taiko performances on the 4th and portable shrine processions on the 5th.
*May 5- Otsuki Taisha Hanagasa Matsuri with flower hat dances. 小槻大社

=== Travel Tips ===
*The tourist info booth in [[Kusatsu Station]] provides tourist pamphlets for Ritto.

== Getting There ==
Depending where you want to go, you can take a train or bus. To visit the JRA Training Center, take a bus from [[Kusatsu Station]] on the JR [[Tokaido/Biwako Line]] taking 30 min.  

'''By Train'''

Ritto has two train stations. On the JR [[Tokaido/Biwako Line]], take the local train to [[Ritto Station]]. Or from [[Kusatsu Station]], take the [[Kusatsu Line]] to [[Tehara Station]], the next stop.

'''Train Lines & Stations'''
*JR [[Tokaido/Biwako Line]]: [[Ritto Station]]
*JR [[Kusatsu Line]]: [[Tehara Station]]

'''Travel Time'''
*From [[Tokyo Station]] to [[Ritto Station]]: 140 min. via  JR [[Tokaido Shinkansen]] Nozomi to [[Kyoto Station]], then 25 min. to [[Ritto Station]] via [[Tokaido/Biwako Line]].
*From JR [[Kyoto Station]] to [[Ritto Station]]: 25 min. via JR [[Tokaido/Biwako Line]].
*From JR [[Maibara Station]] to [[Ritto Station]]: 40 min. via [[Tokaido/Biwako Line]].
*From JR [[Kusatsu Station]] to [[Tehara Station]]: 5 min. via JR [[Kusatsu Line]].

'''Nearest Airports'''
*[http://www.kansai-airport.or.jp/en/index.asp Kansai International Airport]
*[http://www.centrair.jp/en/ Central Japan International Airport (Centrair)]
*[http://www.osaka-airport.co.jp/ Osaka International Airport]

=== Getting Around ===
There are two train stations. Buses run from both train stations. Most places of interest are not within walking distance of either train station as well as [[Kusatsu Station]].
The major sights and facilties along the train lines are as follows:

'''JR Tokaido Line'''
*[[Ritto Station]] (栗東駅) - Daiho Shrine is nearby on the west side of the station. Only local (futsu) trains stop at this station.

'''JR Kusatsu Line'''
(草津線)
*[[Tehara Station]] (手原駅) - Station next to Kusatsu Station. Near Ritto City Hall and Mt. Anyoji. Also near the former site of the new Tokaido shinkansen station which was proposed to be built.

=== Maps ===
Click on upper right icon to enlarge.

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== Photos ==
<HTML>
<table>
<tr>
<td><span class="plainlinks"><a href="https://photoguide.jp/pix/thumbnails.php?album=470" class="external text" title="https://photoguide.jp/pix/thumbnails.php?album=470" rel="nofollow"><img src="https://photoguide.jp/pix/albums/shiga/ritto/tumuli/thumb_062-IMG_2855.jpg" alt="thumb_062-IMG_2855.jpg" /></a></span>
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</td></tr>
<tr style="font-size: 80%;">
<td> <a href="https://photoguide.jp/pix/thumbnails.php?album=470" class="external text" title="https://photoguide.jp/pix/thumbnails.php?album=470" rel="nofollow">Wada Tumuli</a>
</td><td> <a href="https://photoguide.jp/pix/thumbnails.php?album=471" class="external text" title="https://photoguide.jp/pix/thumbnails.php?album=471" rel="nofollow">From Anyoji</a>
</td><td> <a href="https://photoguide.jp/pix/thumbnails.php?album=176" class="external text" title="https://photoguide.jp/pix/thumbnails.php?album=176" rel="nofollow">Ritto Station</a>
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''More photos at [https://photoguide.jp/pix/index.php?cat=104 Ritto Photos]. More [https://photoguide.jp/pix/index.php?cat=3 Shiga photos here.]''

== Videos ==
Videos of Ritto coming later.

== History ==
* [[1954]] Ritto-cho township established.
* [[2001]] Ritto established as a city.
* [[2005]] Major business magazine publisher Toyo Keizai Inc. ranked Ritto as Japan's No. 1 Livable City, noting the city's safety, convenience, and pleasantness.
* [[2007]] The city long pushed to build a new shinkansen train station and even started construction in May 2007. However, the city was forced to cancel construction in Oct. 2007 when the prefectural government declined to support the project. Unlike her predecessor, Shiga Governor Kada Yukiko opposed the project, citing the prefecture's poor financial condition. Kada was elected governor in July 2006 promising to cancel such "wasteful" construction projects. The news made national headlines.
* [[2019]] Due to local opposition citing heavy traffic, Ritto City Hall decides to withdraw its request for Costco to open a store in the city.

== Additional Reading ==
*[http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20071029a9.html Shinkansen station in Shiga canceled] - Japan Times, Oct. 29, 2007

[https://shiga-ken.com/blog/category/ritto/ ''More Ritto News here.'']

== Miscellaneous ==
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=== Trivia ===
*

=== Famous People ===
;Take Yutaka 武 豊 (1969-): Japan's most famous horse race jockey grew up in Ritto and commutes to the JRA Training Center from his home in Kyoto.

== Side Trips ==
Other sights in neighboring cities/towns within easy reach from Ritto.
*Kusatsu

== Related Articles ==
* [[Shiga Prefecture]]
* [[Shiga Prefecture Sights]]
* [[Shiga Prefecture Transportation]]

== External Links ==
*[http://rifa.jp/ Ritto International Friendship Association 栗東国際交流協会]
*[http://www.daihoujinja.jp/ Daiho Jinja Shrine 大宝神社]
*[http://tohozan-anyouji.com/ An'yoji temple 東方山安養寺]

{{Shiga}}

{{Japan}}

[[Category:Ritto, Shiga]]
[[Category:Shiga Prefecture]]