Omihachiman, Japan
One of my personal aspirations in life is to visit all 47 prefectures of Japan. For that, I brought along my family on a day trip to Shiga, a landlocked prefecture encircling Lake Biwa, Japan's largest freshwater lake. The quaint Omihachiman district was our destination, which is easily reachable by train from Kyoto.
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JPN: Omihachiman District @ Shiga Prefecture <YOU ARE HERE!>
Omihachiman is conveniently accessible by several trains from Kyoto station. At the point of writing, the one-way ticket costs ¥680 (~S$6.25).
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| There's always something captivating about the landscapes and the rhythmic hum of the tracks during a train ride. |
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| I recall our journey took less than 45 minutes. |
Hachiman-bori Moat is a historic waterway lined with traditional Japanese merchant houses. About 2.4 km away from Omihachiman station, it can be easily reached by bus, but we decided to take a stroll through the quiet town.
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| On average, the price to take a boat tour is ¥1,000 (~S$9.15) per adult. Child fare is half of that. |
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| The man-made moat is approximately 5 km long. |
Himure Hachiman-gu is the largest Shinto shrine in Omihachiman, which was founded in 131.
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| shrine's main festivals, Sagicho and Hachiman Matsuri, are designated National Intangible Folk Cultural Properties. |
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| There are many soaring trees spread across an expansive area of 44,000 square metres. |
Opened in 1962, Hachimanyama Ropeway takes passengers up the hill. At the point of writing, it costs ¥890 (~S$8.15) for a return trip.
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| The ropeway operates daily from 9.00am to 4.30pm. |
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| A one-way journey takes about 4 minutes. |
“Ohana means family, and family means nobody is left behind or forgotten.” ~ Lilo and Stitch
Mount Hachiman stands at an elevation of 272 m.
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| I was truly captivated by the vibrant palette of autumn foliage. |
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| The red hues of the foliage are attributed to anthocyanins, which are pigments produced in response to sunlight. |
Murakumo Zuiryu-ji is a Buddhist temple founded by the sister of Hideyoshi Toyotomi, one of the most prominent and influential figures in Japanese history regarded as the second Great Unifier of Japan.
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| The prettiest water ablution basin I've ever seen! |
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| Embracing positive vibes after receiving a forecast of good luck! |
Enjoy a stunning sweeping view of Omihachiman and Lake Biwa from up there. The lake covers an area of 670.25 square kilometres.
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| The lake is named after the Japanese lute because of its shape. |
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| I saw quite a number of cats up there. Some of them were napping peacefully. |
Having fully immersed ourselves in the breathtaking scenery, we returned to town to savour a sumptuous Omi beef lunch at
Kubotaya.
As if we hadn't had enough walking, we trekked the entire way back to Omihachiman station, taking several different streets along the way.
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| Such a quiet, peaceful town~ |
We bade farewell to Omihachiman before dusk settled in.
Another place I particularly want to visit is Koka city in the southern part of Shiga Prefecture, where one of the two most famous ninja clans once thrived.
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