{"id":2962,"date":"2014-04-02T22:58:20","date_gmt":"2014-04-02T13:58:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/shiga-ken.com\/blog\/?p=2962"},"modified":"2020-02-11T13:32:34","modified_gmt":"2020-02-11T04:32:34","slug":"spring-2014-in-shiga","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/shiga-ken.com\/blog\/2014\/04\/spring-2014-in-shiga\/","title":{"rendered":"Spring 2014 in Shiga"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Tahoto\"<\/a>
Sakura and Tahoto pagoda at Ishiyama-dera, Otsu.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Updated April 23, 2014<\/em><\/p>\n

On April 1, 2014, Japan’s consumption tax increased from 5% to 8%. This means almost everything will cost slightly more, including train fares, souvenirs (some souvenirs will be priced the same as shops absorb the extra tax), food, hotel, etc. What’s going to be weird are the train fares. Pay for a train ticket in cash, and you most likely will be paying more than necessary since they will round off the amount to the nearest 10 yen. Use an “IC” smart card (tap card) like ICOCA instead. We saw a shopping frenzy during the last few weeks and days until March 31, 2014 when the tax was still 5%. We’ll get used to the 8% soon enough.<\/p>\n

Cherry blossoms are starting to bloom. Otsu should reach full bloom by the end of this week. Cherries along the Lake Biwa Canal will be lit up from 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm until April 13. Hikone started to bloom on April 2, three days later than last year. Full bloom is expected a week later. See the Weather News sakura channel<\/a> for the current sakura status in Shiga. Pink means almost full bloom and red means full bloom.<\/p>\n

I also have a Top 5 List of Shiga best cherry blossom spots<\/a>. Also another photo article about sakura in Shiga here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Minami<\/a>
Minami Sanno Matsuri on April 4 at Hieda Jinja Shrine in Hino.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Following cherry blossoms are matsuri or spring festivals. See my Top 10 list of April-May festivals in Shiga Prefecture here<\/a>. The festival dates are the same every year except for the Higashi-Omi Giant Kite Festival held on the last Sunday of May. Golden Week is also full of matsuri and I have a list of Golden Week festivals in Shiga here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Other notable Spring 2014 events:<\/p>\n