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Shiga
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Shiga

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Known as Lake Biwa, the biggest lake in Japan, which is a critical supplier of water

Shiga prefecture is located in the Kansai region of the main island of Honshu. Its west border faces Kyoto prefecture. Lake Biwa, the biggest lake in Japan, occupies approximately one sixth of Shiga prefecture. Due to its geographical location, Shiga historically served as an important location to go to major cities in Japan. 

Map of Shiga
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Lake Biwa, the biggest and oldest lake in Japan, lies in Shiga. It is also a rare lake in the world as an ancient lake with a history of 100,000 years.

 

Enryakuji temple stands on the top of Mount Hiei. It was built in 788 as the head of Tendai sect founded by a monk named Saicho. 

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At the main bulding of the temple complex in Kompon Chudo, the “eternal light”, a fire supposedly lit by Saicho himself, has been kept for more than 1200 years. 

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Oumi gyu - one of the highest graded beefs in Japan
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Kamosuki - duck hot pot with a lot of scallions
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Jyunjyun - another name of sukiyaki in Shiga that has fish from Lake Biwa such as eel, scallion, burdock and tofu
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Oumi is a former name of Shiga. Oumi Jyofu are cotton textiles made in Shiga for about 700 years and are used for kimono, ties and clothes. It is characterized by elegant patterns. Shigaraki ware, one of the old six kilns, is a type of potteries made in Shigaraki area. A large demand of potteries for tea ceremonies in Nara and Kyoto and quality clay in Shigaraki have made Shigaraki ware popular. Some houses and shops in the Western region of Japan have a statue of tanuki, racoon, made of Shigaraki ware to bring luck.
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