shiga-ken.com - Guide to Shiga Prefecture, Japan

About

Welcome! - For first-time visitors.
About Shiga - Introduction to Shiga Prefecture.
Shiga Photos - Thumbnail index.
Shiga Sights - Sightseeing in Shiga.
Shiga History - History of Shiga.
Shiga Articles - More about Shiga.
Shiga Maps - Google Maps+English placemarks
Shiga Blog - News and commentary
Shiga Blog-J - In Japanese
Shiga Videos - At YouTube.
mixi community - Shiga in English! (SNS)
Shiga Cities & Towns - Basic overview:
Aisho | Azuchi | Higashi-Omi | Hikone | Hino | Kinomoto | Kohoku | Koka | Konan | Kora | Kusatsu | Maibara | Moriyama | Nagahama | Nishi-Azai | Omi-Hachiman | Otsu | Ritto | Ryuo | Taga | Takashima | Takatsuki | Torahime | Toyosato | Yasu | Yogo

Photos

Lake Biwa Rowing Song - Places | Song Monuments | Lake Biwa Cruise | Biwako Shuko no Uta Choir Contest | Performances | Exhibitions | Oguchi Taro | Kyoto University Rowing Club | In the News | About
Lake Biwa - Chikubushima | Michigan Cruise | Takeshima | Panorama | Imazu Jr. High Rowing | Sports Masters Kaitsuburi Regatta 2007 | Kyoto Univ. Rowing | Seta Rowing Club | Asahi Regatta | Tokyo vs. Kyoto Univ. Regatta | About
Aisho-cho - Kongorinji Temple | Echigawa-juku | Bin-Temari | Misaki Shrine Fire Festival | Map | About
Azuchi-cho - Azuchi Castle | Azuchi Nobunaga Festival | Other Sights | Map | About
Higashi-Omi - Yokaichi Giant Kite Festival 2004 2007 | Yokaichi Giant Kite Museum | Making Giant Kite | Gokasho | Gokasho Museums | Eigenji Temple | Hyakusaiji Temple | Tarobo Shrine | Notogawa | Other Sights | Map | About
Hikone - Hikone Castle | Genkyu-en Garden | Castle Parade | Moat Boat | Ii Naosuke | Takeshima | Toriimoto | Takamiya-juku | Other Sights | Map | About
Hino-cho - Hino Festival | Umamioka Watamuki Shrine | Hino Merchants | Hifuri Fire Festival | Nakano Castle | Otowa Castle | Other Sights | Map | About
Kinomoto-cho - Mt. Shizugatake | Jizo-in Temple | Hokkoku Kaido | Kinomoto Station | Other Sights | Map | About
Kohoku-cho - Odani Castle | Other Sights | Map | About
Koka - Koka Ninja House | Koka Ninja Village | JR Koka Station | Shigaraki | Minakuchi Castle | Minakuchi-juku | Tsuchiyama-juku | Map | About
Konan - Ishibe-juku | Chojuji Temple | Jorakuji Temple | Indigo Dyeing | Map | About
Kora-cho - Saimyoji Temple | Amago | Zaiji | Shimonogo | Map | About
Kusatsu - Kusatsu-juku | Kusatsu Shukuba Festival | Mizunomori Lotus Pond | Lake Biwa Museum | Other Sights | Map | About
Maibara - Mt. Ibuki Summit | Ibukiyama Taiko Drum Festival | Mt. Ibuki Views | Mishima Pond | Samegai | Banba-juku | Tokugen-in Temple | Kashiwabara-juku | Sakata | Nabe Kanmuri Festival | Maibara Station | Kita_Biwako SL | Other Sights | Map | About
Moriyama - Katsube Shrine Fire Festival | Sumiyoshi Shrine Fire Festival | Moriyama-juku | Nagisa Park | Other Sights | Map | About
Nagahama - Nagahama Castle & Hokoen Park | Nagahama Hikiyama Festival | Kurokabe Square | Daitsuji Temple | Nagahama Station | Nagahama Bonsai Plum Trees | Hayasaki Naiko Biotope | Chikubushima | Biwa-cho | Hokoku Shrine | Nagahama Hachimangu Shrine | Ishida Mitsunari | Battle of Anegawa River | Other Sights | Map | About
Nishi-Azai-cho - Maruko-bune | Sugaura | Oku Biwako Parkway | Other Sights | Map | About
Omi-Hachiman - Omi Merchant Homes | Hachiman-bori | Sagicho Matsuri Day 1 & Day 2 | Hachiman-yama | Suigo Meguri Boat Ride | Chomeiji | Okinoshima | Musa | Other Sights | Map | About
Otsu - Ishiyama-dera | Tale of Genji Millennium | Katata Ukimido | Enryakuji & Hiei-zan Driveway | Miidera Temple | Hiyoshi Taisha Shrine | Omi-Maiko | Karasaki | Michigan Cruise | Biwako Canal | Zeze Castle | Gichuji Temple | Seta Karahashi | Summer Festivals | Omi Shrine | Other Sights | Map | About
Ritto - JRA Training Center | Tumuli | Daiho Shrine | Nature Walk | Other Sights | Map | About
Ryuo-cho - Namura Shrine | Yukinoyama | Others | Map | About
Taga-cho - Taga Taisha Shrine | Taga Taisha Rice-Planting Festival | Taga Taisha Lantern Festival | Other Sights | Map | About
Takashima - Imazu | Imazu Jr. High Rowing Club | Kaizu-Osaki | Makino | Shin Asahi | Adogawa | Takashima-cho | Omizo Castle | Map | About
Takatsuki-cho - Kannon | Egypt Pavilion | Other Sights | Map | About
Torahime-cho - Temples | Mt. Toragozen-yama | Takawa River Culvert | Torahime Station | Other sights | Map | About
Toyosato-cho - C. Itoh House | Toyosato Primary School | Other Sights | Map | About
Yasu - Climbing Mt. Mikami | Yuki Saiden Rice-Planting Festival | Mikami Shrine | Hyozu Taisha Shrine | Omi-Fuji Karyoku Koen Park | Kibogaoka Culture Park, Yasu | Other Sights | Map | About
Yogo-cho - Lake Yogo | Map | About
Shiga Kenjin - Shiga Outside Shiga | Shiga Kenjinkai Intl Convention 2007 | Grand Omi Fair 2007 | Tokyo Shiga Kenjinkai New Year 2007

External Links

Shiga Prefecture - Official site
Biwako Visitors Bureau - Tourist info
Ohmi Railways

Lake Biwa Rowing Song

CD on sale!!

Shiga Prefecture's most famous song (Biwako Shuko no Uta) in ENGLISH!! Sung by Jamie and Megan Thompson, the song has been well-received by all. We have a CD on sale. Use it to learn how to sing the song in English, give it as a gift to friends, play it as background music at events, etc. Details here.

Shiga Facts

Location: Next to Kyoto in the in the east, Gifu in the west, Mie in the south, and Fukui in the north.

Population: 1,396,199 (as of 2008-01-01)

Major cities: Otsu (capital), Hikone, Nagahama, Omi-Hachiman, Higashi-Omi, Maibara

Major gateways: JR Otsu Station (Tokaido/Biwako Line), JR Maibara Station (Tokaido Shinkansen), JR Yamashina Station (Kosei Line)

Former name(s): Omi (Ohmi)

Claim to fame: Lake Biwa is Japan's largest lake.

Major attractions: Lake Biwa, Hikone Castle (National Treasure), Mt. Hiei (Enryakuji temple), temples in Otsu, Ukimido floating temple, Chikubushima island

Key words: Biwako, Omi, Omi Hakkei, Ii Naosuke, Omi beef, funa-zushi, Michigan, William Merrell Vories, Omi shonin merchants, black bass and blue gill

Cover photo

Imazu Jr. High School Rowing Club on Lake Biwa

On Aug. 8, 2007, I went with over 45 members of this rowing club to row across Lake Biwa from Nagahama to Imazu. Two of the boats they used were traditional, fixed-seat boats made of wood.

These boats have fixed seats which do not slide as in modern competitive rowing boats. They are a replica of the fixed-seat boat used 90 years ago by Oguchi Taro and crew when he wrote the song, Biwako Shuko no Uta.

The girls took a few moments to pose for my camera as I was riding on a chaperone boat. See Mt. Ibuki and Chikubushima island in the background. The club has more girls than boys. It is only one of two junior high rowing clubs in Shiga.

Also see the video on right side. The video's soundtrack is "Lake Biwa Rowing Song" sung by Jamie and Megan Thompson. Larger video picture at YouTube.

All photos by Philbert Ono.

Cover photo and page design:
© Philbert Ono