Located on the southwestern shore of Lake Biwa-ko, Otsu is the main city of Shiga.
Located on the southwestern shore of Lake Biwa-ko,
Otsu is the main city of Shiga, and once
flourished as a post station along Tokaido Street
(between Tokyo and Kyoto) in the southwestern part
of the prefecture. Numerous historical sites and
cultural assets, such as the Mii-dera and
Ishiyama-dera temples, and seven out of eight
scenic spots known as the Omi Hakkei, are found in
the city. The best known is Enryaku-ji Temple at
Mt. Hiei-zan, the birthplace of Japanese Buddhism.
Visitors can enjoy a cruise on Lake
Biwa-ko by taking a sightseeing boat from Nagisa-
koen Park at Hama-otsu, where mirages sometime
appear. Off the shore of Otsu Harbor, the "Biwa-ko
Hana-funsui," one of the largest fountains in the
world, sprays out water in various shapes making a
fantastic sight.
The Otsu-matsuri
Festival is held every fall, and 13 floats covered
with rich decorations and 'karakuri' mechanisms
travel around the city. The Otsu-matsuri Hikiyama
Tenjikan Exhibition Hall exhibits full-size floats
as well as a reproduction of the bustling city
streets on the festival day, where visitors can
hear 'matsuri-bayashi' or festival music and
observe the karakuri mechanisms more closely.
