Biwako Valley

 Biwako Valley is a tourist spot in Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture.

The charm of Biwako Valley

You can climb to the top of the mountain with an altitude of 1100m by the fastest ropeway in Japan. With a total length of 1,783m and a height difference of 783m, you can see the scenery of Osaka in the distance from the 360° glass cabin. Biwako Valley has activities such as the Biwako Terrace and zip lines, as well as a highland area.

Recommended spots and gourmet information around Biwako Valley

There are sightseeing spots such as Lake Biwa and Mount Horai in the surrounding area.

Access information

About 10 minutes by bus from JR Kosei Line Shiga Station.

Here is a website where you can obtain detailed information about Biwako Valley.

https://www.biwako-valley.com/

Omi Jingu

 Enjoy history and nature at Omi Jingu!

Omi Jingu is a Shinto shrine located in Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture, which enshrines the 38th Emperor Tenchi. Although it is a new shrine built in 1940 to commemorate the 2600th year of the Imperial era, it is enshrined in the ruins of Omi Otsumiya (Otsukyo), the ancient capital of Emperor Tenchi, and has a historical atmosphere. It is also located on the west bank of Lake Biwa and is surrounded by rich nature. Omi Shrine is an attractive tourist destination where you can enjoy both history and nature.

Charm of Omi Shrine

The attraction of Omi Jingu is its shrine buildings. It is a masterpiece of modern shrine architecture called Omi-zukuri and Showa-zukuri. Of particular note is the corridor that connects the main shrine and the worship hall. The corridor is about 100 meters long and is famous as the longest corridor in Japan. From the corridor, you can see the beautiful appearance of the main shrine and worship hall, as well as the scenery of the greenery and pond in the precincts. A walk in the corridor will calm your mind.

There is also a clock museum at Omi Shrine. At the clock museum, there are exhibits where you can learn about the history and mechanisms of clocks in Japan and around the world. Especially not to be missed is the water clock, Japan's oldest mechanical clock. The water clock is said to have been made by Emperor Tenchi based on the one brought from Baekje. A water clock is a mechanism that measures time by the flow of water, and it uses fire so that it works even at night. The water clock makes you feel the wisdom and skill of Emperor Tenchi.

Recommended spots around Omi Shrine

There are many other things to see and enjoy around Omi Jingu. for example,

Otsukyo Ruins Park: A park about a 10-minute walk from Omi Jingu, where you can see the remains of Otsukyo and restored buildings. Otsukyo is Japan's first capital and the place where Emperor Tenji developed politics and culture. In the park, you can learn about the history and culture of Otsukyo, and also enjoy nature such as flowers and trees.

Biwako Ohashi Bridge: A 15-minute drive from Omi Jingu Shrine, it is Japan's longest arch bridge across Lake Biwa. The Biwako Ohashi bridge connects Koto and Kosai, making it a convenient route for sightseeing and transportation. In addition, from the bridge, you can see beautiful scenery such as the blue water of Lake Biwa and the greenery of Mt. Hiei. From the bridge, you can enjoy driving and cycling while feeling the breeze.

Omi Shrine can be accessed by train.

The closest station is Omijingumae Station on the Keihan Ishiyama Sakamoto Line, which is about a 9-minute walk from the station. About 15 minutes on foot from JR Otsukyo Station

summary

Omi Shrine is a tourist destination where you can enjoy history and nature. It is a place related to Emperor Tenchi, and the highlights include the shrine building, which is a masterpiece of modern shrine architecture, and Japan's oldest mechanical clock, the water clock. In addition, there are spots such as Otsu Kyoato Park and Lake Biwa Bridge in the surrounding area. If you come to Shiga, please visit Omi Jingu.

Here is a website where you can obtain detailed information about Omi Jingu.

https://oumijingu.org/

Naruko Onsenkyo

 Enjoy 1,000 years of history and rich nature at Naruko Onsen

Introduction

Naruko Onsenkyo, located in Osaki City, Miyagi Prefecture, is one of Japan's oldest hot spring resorts. It consists of five hot spring areas: Naruko Onsen, Higashi Naruko Onsen, Kawatata Onsen, Nakayamadaira Onsen, and Onikobe Onsen, each with its own unique spring quality and atmosphere. In this article, we will introduce the charm, history, culture, recommended spots and gourmet information of the Naruko Onsen area, how to get there, and more.

Charm of Naruko Onsen Village

The greatest attraction of Naruko Onsen is its abundant amount of hot water and its diverse qualities. You can choose from sulfur springs, chloride springs, bicarbonate springs, etc., according to your taste and physical condition. You can also enjoy the cloudy hot water with yunohana floating in it and the bedrock bath. Naruko Onsen Village has a wide variety of lodging facilities, both large and small. Toji is a traditional method of improving physical ailments by continuously bathing in the same hot spring for a long period of time. In Naruko Onsen Village, the old-fashioned hot spring cure culture continues.

Another attraction of Naruko Onsen is its natural beauty. There are mountains that change color with the seasons, walking paths along the river, autumn leaves and cherry blossoms. Naruko Gorge is especially famous. It is a deep gorge carved by the Otaki River, which flows from the Ou Mountains, and you can enjoy a spectacular view that stretches for about 2 kilometers. Cherry blossoms are in full bloom in spring, and autumn leaves are beautifully dyed in autumn³.

The history and culture of Naruko Onsen

Naruko Onsen has over 1000 years of history. Hot springs were discovered in the 4th year of Jowa (837). Toriyagamori (Naruko volcano) exploded, and it is said that hot water erupted with a roaring sound. According to one theory, the villagers named the hot spring "Narugo no Yu" because of the roaring sound it made.

You can feel the history and culture of Naruko Onsen. Naruko Onsen Village has traditional crafts such as Naruko Kokeshi dolls and Naruko lacquerware. Naruko Kokeshi dolls are wooden dolls that have been made since the Edo period. Naruko lacquerware is a lacquerware that has been made since the Meiji period, and has beautiful colors such as red and black. These crafts can be seen at souvenir shops and workshops in the hot spring town. You can also experience making your own kokeshi and painting lacquerware.

Naruko Onsen also has festivals and events related to its history and culture. For example, the Naruko Onsenkyo Hot Spring Festival is a hot spring festival held every October. Yunohana is collected at various locations in the hot spring area, and sweets containing yunohana are distributed. The Naruko Gorge Autumn Leaves Festival is an autumn leaves festival held every November. Light up the autumn foliage of Naruko Gorge and ride a foliage boat.

Recommended spots and gourmet information around Naruko Onsen

There are various spots and restaurants around Naruko Onsen. Below are a few.

- Onikobe Peninsula: A peninsula located about 15 minutes by car from Onikobe Onsen. Strangely shaped rocks and caves line the coastline, creating a fantastic scenery. The peninsula has promenades and observatories that are perfect for walking and taking pictures.

- Otakiyama Park: This park is about 10 minutes by car from Higashi-Naruko Onsen. There is a waterfall with a height of 30 meters in the park, and it is impressive when the water is abundant. The park also has playground equipment and a barbecue area, making it popular with families.

- Naruko beef: Kuroge Wagyu beef raised around the Naruko Onsen area. Characterized by marbled meat, tender and juicy

There are four JR stations in Naruko Onsen. They are Naruko Onsen Station, Higashi Naruko Onsen Station, Nakayamadaira Onsen Station, and Onikobe Onsen Station respectively. From these stations, you can access each hot spring area by taxi or bus. Also, from Furukawa Station on the Tohoku Shinkansen, you can get to Naruko Onsen in about 40 minutes by bus.

Here is a website where you can obtain detailed information about Naruko Onsenkyo.

http://www.naruko.gr.jp/