Here’s the fireworks (hanabi) schedule for Shiga Prefecture in summer 2010 listed by date: July 17, 2010 Echigawa Gion Noryo Hanabi Taikai in Aisho, 7:30 pm – 9:20 pm Along the Echigawa River bank near Miyukibashi Bridge. If rained out, to be postponed to July 18. 愛知川祇園納涼祭花火大会 More info: 愛荘町秦荘観光協会／愛荘町愛知川観光協会 TEL：0749-37-8051 http://www.biwa.ne.jp/~e-machi/new/hanabitaikai.html July 24, 2010 Kashiwabara-juku [...]
Posts under ‘Hikone’
Shiga Lakestars lead Western Conference
After one month into the 2009-2010 season, the Shiga Lakestars lead the Western Conference in the bj-league with 7 wins and 3 losses as of November 1, 2009. They won five home games in a row until November 1 when they lost to Takamatsu Five Arrows. I went to see a game this past two [...]
Hiko-nyan confusion
Another snafu has erupted between the city of Hikone and Moheron (もへろん), the artist who created Hiko-nyan for Hikone Castle’s 400th anniversary celebration in 2007. You might have noticed some Hiko-nyan merchandise being sold under the name “Hikone no Yoi Nyanko” (ひこねのよいにゃんこ). It looks exactly like Hiko-nyan, but under a different name and in poses different [...]
Photos of Hiko-nyan in Hawaii!!
Aloha from Hawaii!!! From Hiko-nyan. Hiko-nyan looks great wearing a lei!! I asked a friend in Honolulu to take pictures of Hiko-nyan in the Pan-Pacific Festival parade held on June 7, 2009 along Kalakaua Ave. in Waikiki. It was Hiko-nyan’s first overseas trip. I’m elated to see Hiko-nyan from my second hometown in Japan visiting [...]
Hiko-nyan in Honolulu, Hawaii
Hikone’s official mascot Hiko-nyan will be off to Honolulu, Hawaii this weekend during June 5-7, 2009 to appear in the 30th Pan-Pacific Festival (also called “Matsuri in Hawaii”). This festival celebrates and promotes relations between Hawaii and mainly Japan. Numerous events are held during the weekend with hula dancing, arts and crafts fair, stage performances, [...]
Hikone Serikawa Station opens on Ohmi Railways
A new train station opened on April 8, 2009 on the Ohmi Railways’ Honsen Main Line. The new station is called Hikone Serikawa Station (ひこね芹川駅). It is between Hikone and Hikone-guchi Stations. The station is close to a few schools, a shopping street, and a developing residential area. It was built by Ohmi Railways (not sponsored [...]
Hikone Prince now Hikone View Hotel
The familiar white building with a triangular roof on Hikone’s lake shore has been a stand-out structure since 1981 when it opened as Hikone Prince Hotel. Ohmi Railways operated the hotel under the well-known Prince Hotel brand. In recent years, the hotel has struggled financially and we wondered what would happen to it. First I thought the [...]
Mascot character festival
I went to the ゆるキャラ festival yesterday on Yume-Kyobashi Castle Road. I’m not a fan of mascot characters, but I wanted to see the spectacle of so many people gathered to see over 40 mascots walking around. It was a very successful event. I’m sure Hikone will want to hold this festival every year. Photos: http://photoguide.jp/pix/thumbnails.php?album=584 [...]
Event notice: Slide show talk at Japan Center for Michigan Universities
Next to Hikone Prince Hotel is the JAPAN CENTER for MICHIGAN UNIVERSITIES (JCMU). It is a small campus for students from Michigan universities to study in Shiga. It has dormitories, classrooms, and Coco’s family restaurant. When new students arrive at the center for the spring and fall semesters, they hold a student orientation meeting. In [...]
Event notice: VOICE international event
An international exchange group in Hikone called VOICE will hold an international event this Sunday, June 24, 2007. From about 2:30 pm, Jamie Thompson will sing Lake Biwa Rowing Song in English. I will also be there to sell our CD. The Viva City Hall is in Viva City, a shopping complex near Minami-Hikone Station. [...]
Hikone Castle Parade
On Nov. 3, Culture Day, I went to see the Hikone Castle Parade. It was good. Here are the pictures: http://photoguide.jp/pix/thumbnails.php?album=156
Yokozuna Musashimaru adorns Hikone nursery school
Former Yokozuna Musashimaru from Hawaii donated one of his giant Championship portraits to a nursery school in Hikone. The portrait used to hang in the Kokugikan sumo arena in Ryogoku, Tokyo where all tournament winners receive a giant portrait to hang in the Kokugikan. As new winners have their portraits installed, the oldest ones are [...]
Hikone Castle at 2007 Sapporo Snow Festival
Looks like Hikone Castle will be one of the major snow sculptures at next year’s Sapporo Snow Festival in Feb. It will be the 400th anniversary of the castle, and Hikone is holding various events next year. I’m sure they are extremely happy that the castle will be built at the snow festival. It’s very [...]
About Hikone
After Otsu, Hikone is Shiga’s second most famous city. Hikone Castle is one of only four castle towers (tenshukaku) in Japan which are National Treasures (others are Himeji, Matsumoto, and Inuyama). (Nijo Castle is also a National Treasure, but it has no castle tower, only the palace building which is magnificent.) Next to Hikone Castle [...]