Shiga’s Top 10 festivals in April-May

Updated: Aug. 2, 2025 April is a great month. Soon after the onslaught of cherry blossoms, we have an onslaught of festivals (matsuri). This is the time to go out… Read more

Hina-matsuri doll festivals in Shiga 2013

Hina-matsuri dolls (雛祭りの雛人形) are being displayed at various locations in Shiga to celebrate Girl’s Day on March 3. On the weekend of Feb. 23-24, 2013, Gokasho in Higashi-Omi is having… Read more

Crown Prince Naruhito visits Shiga Prefecture

Crown Prince Naruhito (Japan’s next emperor) arrived in Shiga Prefecture on July 23, 2012 for an official visit to attend a blood donation promotion convention (献血運動推進全国大会) to be held in… Read more

Summer 2012 in Shiga Prefecture

Japan has re-entered the age of nuclear power, starting with Shiga’s backyard. Despite widespread opposition, the Japanese government has given the green light to restart the Oi nuclear power plants in… Read more

Shiga treated to annular solar eclipse

A large swath of Japan was treated to an annular solar eclipse at around 7:30 am on May 21, 2012. People in southeastern Shiga Prefecture joined the masses in Tokyo,… Read more

Golden Week festivals in Shiga

This page is outdated. See the latest version here: https://shiga-ken.com/blog/2017/04/videos-of-golden-week-festivals-in-shiga/ Golden Week is Japan’s spring vacation from late April to early May with a string of national holidays. April 29… Read more

Hina-matsuri doll festivals in Shiga

Updated: Feb. 15, 2017 Hina-matsuri dolls (雛祭りの雛人形) are being displayed at the following locations in eastern Shiga to celebrate Girl’s Day on March 3. Gokasho, Higashi-Omi: Normal hina ningyo dolls are displayed… Read more

Heavy snowfall in Shiga

Shiga and the Japan Sea Coast (especially Niigata Prefecture) got a heavy dump of snow during Feb. 2 and 3, 2012. Nagahama and Imazu (Takashima) in northern Shiga have gotten… Read more