{"id":1815,"date":"2014-05-20T00:55:45","date_gmt":"2014-05-19T15:55:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/shiga-ken.com\/blog\/?p=1815"},"modified":"2023-11-08T13:02:18","modified_gmt":"2023-11-08T04:02:18","slug":"top-20-train-stations-in-shiga-prefecture","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/shiga-ken.com\/blog\/2014\/05\/top-20-train-stations-in-shiga-prefecture\/","title":{"rendered":"Top 20 train stations in Shiga Prefecture"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"Notogawa
JR Notogawa Station (west side) shaped like a waterwheel.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Updated: Mar. 21, 2022<\/em>
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The train station is a major gateway to the local area, and it may give first-time visitors their first impressions of the place. It’s like the genkan<\/em> (foyer) of your house where you might keep a vase of flowers or a painting to impress visitors or generate anticipation to see the rest of the house. And so it’s worth making train stations attractive and integrated in the community. Although I don’t judge a place by its train station, I do take note of how nice or localized the train station is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Shiga, train stations have been around since 1880 when the prefecture’s first railway opened between Otsu (Hama-Otsu<\/a>) and Kyoto as part of a national project to connect Kobe (Hyogo) and Tsuruga<\/a> (Fukui) by rail. Making Kyoto accessible by train was a national priority, so neighboring Shiga saw railways being laid earlier than in most other prefectures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 1896, Ohmi Railway<\/a> was founded by former Hikone samurai and Hino merchants in eastern Shiga, and Ohmi Railway trains first started running in June 1898 between Hikone<\/a> and Echigawa<\/a> Stations. (Soon extended to Kibukawa<\/a> and later to Maibara<\/a>.) Most of Shiga’s train station buildings we see today have been reconstructed at least two or three times. Only a handful are about a century old, but they are fast disappearing as modern buildings replace them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ohmi Railways has a few of Shiga’s oldest train station buildings. JR (Japan Railways) has already rebuilt many of the oldest and rickety train station buildings, especially along the JR Hokuriku Line from Nagahama to Omi-Shiotsu. Most train stations on this line were rebuilt anew by 2006 when it converted to 1500 V DC power. This enabled DC-powered trains from Kyoto, etc., to run all the way to Tsuruga instead of terminating at Nagahama. The new train station buildings turned out quite nice and a few of them are in my Top 20 list below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whenever I visit a place for the first time by train, I always take pictures of the train station. Pictures of old train station buildings which no longer exist have since become quite valuable. After seeing most of Shiga’s train stations (totaling about 120<\/a>), I’ve picked and ranked Shiga’s Top 20 train stations below <\/p>\n\n\n\n

My selections and ranking are based on the building being culturally, historically, and\/or aesthetically significant. The architectural design and aesthetic appeal and how well the local flavor, character, and community have been incorporated to make it local and unique. I first posted this Top 20 list in May 2014. Since then, there have been major changes in train stations, so now in March 2022, I have updated this list and included many more photos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The rebuilt Azuchi Station<\/a> is now on the list, while the demolished Hikone-guchi Station<\/a> building (only the platform remains in use) has been taken off the list. Otsu Station was quite boring until it was renovated and reopened<\/a> on Oct. 1, 2016. Otsu Station is now included in my Top 20 list as an Honorable Mention.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"JR
Very appropriate calligraphy artwork in JR Maibara Station saying “Welcome home” (Okaeri<\/em>) and “I’m home” (Tadaima<\/em>). By the Ibuki High School Calligraphy Club for Golden Week 2013.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Some other things to note about train stations:<\/p>\n\n\n\n