Discover the best travel guides, tips, and experiences for Shiga
Biwako Hotel in Otsu City, Shiga, has lined up stay and day-trip plans for the 2026 Lake Biwa Fireworks Festival on August 6. With an unobstructed lakeside location, guests can watch approximately 10,000 fireworks launched over the water from the hotel's rooms and rooftop.
From April 26 to June 25, 2026, Biwako Hotel in Otsu, Shiga will offer early summer lunch menus at its two in-house restaurants, featuring vibrant seasonal sushi and live-action teppanyaki with Omi beef.
From May 1 to June 30, 2026, the Biwako Marriott Hotel's 12th-floor restaurant "Grill & Dining G" will offer a limited-time parfait showcasing three distinctive teas from Shiga Prefecture, said to be the birthplace of Japanese tea.
Lake Biwa Otsu Prince Hotel is selling a seasonal picnic set called "Picnic Palette" until April 30, 2026, featuring local Shiga ingredients, picnic gear, and views of Lake Biwa – just 9 minutes from Kyoto.
A Valais Blacknose Sheep lamb, often called "the cutest sheep in the world," was born on March 22, 2026 at Rosanberry Tawada English Garden in Maibara, Shiga. Public viewing is scheduled to begin on April 3.
Saimyoji Temple in Kora-cho, Shiga Prefecture — selected by CNN as one of Japan's 31 most beautiful places — showcases the Natural Monument "fudan-zakura" cherry blossoms alongside plum, azalea, and rhododendron blooms in spring, with Omi wagyu dining spots nearby.
From April 1 to June 30, 2026, Biwako Hotel in Otsu, Shiga Prefecture, will serve two new drinks inspired by classical Japanese poetry as the latest installment in its long-running Hyakunin Isshu Cocktails series.
WASUKI BASE Biwako VILLA STYLE in Makino, Takashima City, Shiga Prefecture, is now accepting reservations. The property offers three cottages and two dome-style glamping units right alongside Lake Biwa, with BBQ facilities, a dog run, and easy walking access to the award-winning Makino Sunny Beach.
Hotel New Omi in Omi-Hachiman, Shiga, launches its popular Strawberry Sweets & Lunch Buffet from February 13 to May 6, 2026. Enjoy all-you-can-eat fresh strawberries, hotel-made strawberry desserts, and a full lunch menu in a nostalgic retro cafe setting.
To celebrate 3,000 participants in the sushi chef job experience activity, Kandu Dainichi visitors can now enjoy a 200 yen discount at Kappazushi restaurants across the Kansai region through April 5, 2026.
Okashitsukayadaiya, a traditional Japanese confectionery shop in Koka City, introduces seasonal Hina Uiro for Hinamatsuri and their signature Koka-style ninja sweets made with brown sugar and walnuts.
Starting February 26, 2026, the Biwako Hotel in Otsu, Shiga offers spring lunch menus featuring Hyakunin Isshu-themed dishes and Omi beef specialties at their Japanese and teppanyaki restaurants.
Grand Mercure Lake Biwa Resort & Spa offers unique accommodation plans featuring samurai armor experiences, character greetings, and historical exhibitions, creating memorable three-generation family trips in the historic town of Nagahama.
Immerse yourself in the world of the upcoming movie Wicked For Good at Biwako Otsu Prince Hotel. A limited-time collaboration featuring themed room stays, sweets buffets, original parfaits, and cocktails awaits guests from February 16 to April 30, 2026.
To celebrate its 30th anniversary, Lake Biwa Museum will host a special Night at the Museum event on March 8, 2026, and an overnight Premium Night Tour on March 20, 2026, featuring special lighting, classical concerts, local sake tasting, and curator-led tours.
Yakitori Torimaru Ishiyama opens on January 23, 2026, in Ishiyama, Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture. This charcoal-grilled yakitori restaurant has been created by renovating a traditional Japanese house, preserving the area's architectural heritage while offering hand-skewered yakitori.
Lake Biwa Hotel introduces two limited-edition sweets for the romantic season, showcasing Shiga-grown Omi Raspberries and premium Yamada Farm cream, available from February 6 to March 15, 2026.
Nagahama Roman Beer, a craft brewery in Shiga Prefecture, will release a limited edition Imperial Stout on January 27, 2026, with plans to barrel-age a portion in Nagahama Distillery whiskey barrels.
In its 56th season, GRANSNOW OKUIBUKI ski resort in Shiga Prefecture recorded 31,328 visitors by the end of December 2025, marking the highest visitor count in its history. The early opening using artificial snow-making machines proved crucial to this success.
STRICT-G announces a first-time collaboration with bag brand master-piece, releasing three Char Aznable-themed bags featuring the signature red accents and premium Japanese craftsmanship.
Following last year's successful release, omamori (protective amulets), goshuin (temple stamps), and goshuincho (stamp books) featuring the popular anime Blue Lock are now available at three temples in the Kansai region.
Discover two delicious varieties of Kansai-exclusive potato chips, both featuring the regional "dashi soy sauce" flavor but with completely different taste profiles!
What is a Ninja? A ninja is a specialized warrior mainly engaged in espionage, sabotage, and assassination. The term “ninja” became widely popular during the Showa era, but historically, they were known as “Shinobi,” “Rappa,” or “Suppa.” Particularly famous ninja groups were formed in Iga (present-day Mie Prefecture) and Koga (present-day Shiga Prefecture), and they […]