Discover Shiga Prefecture on Biwaichi, a cycling route around Lake Biwa. Other highlights include a summit with a natural flower meadow, hands-on pottery experiences, and museums whose offerings range from works of art to tea ceremonies. Different interests reveal different sides of the region: activity, crafts, landscapes, and culture. When planning your accommodation, you can start by considering which of these themes you want to shape your trip.

Cycling and finding your way around Lake Biwa

Biwaichi is a cycling route around Lake Biwa in Shiga. As a loop, it offers a perspective on the lake as a whole and a different way to experience the prefecture than visiting a single museum or focusing on a particular craft. Route operating conditions may change; check the latest information before setting out.

Maibara Station is an important transport hub for getting around the eastern side of the lake: it is on the JR Tōkaidō Shinkansen line and serves as a hub for destinations on the east side of Lake Biwa. Include such destinations in your plans and check transport connections again before your trip. This way, the cycling route and other discoveries remain distinct, clearly defined focuses of your trip planning.

Mount Ibuki and its seasonal landscapes

Mount Ibuki brings another side of Shiga into view. At about 1,377 meters, it is the highest mountain in the prefecture. A natural flower meadow lies at its summit, where the scenery is beautiful from spring through fall. If you are especially drawn to this landscape, check the flowering season and access before your trip, as both should be taken into account when planning.

Crafts and festival traditions in Shigaraki

In Shigaraki, visitors can try pottery in three ways: hand-building, painting, and using an electric potter’s wheel. This offers a hands-on way to engage with the craft. Specific activities may vary, so check the options in advance.

The しがらき火まつり (Shigaraki Fire Festival) also connects Shigaraki with a long-standing tradition. According to tradition, the festival has been held for several hundred years, dating back to before the Edo period. People from outside Shigaraki can also take part in the torch offering. If you would like to include this event in your plans, check the latest festival announcement.

Another cultural topic is Ōmi-jōfu, which has been recognized by the Japanese government as a traditional craft of Japan. Together, the pottery activities in Shigaraki and this recognition illustrate different ways to engage with crafts: trying them yourself and learning about a designated tradition.

Architecture, art, and museum programs

The MIHO MUSEUM, designed by I. M. Pei, is located in Shigaraki. The architect’s name gives the museum a clear point of interest for travelers interested in architecture. In Moriyama, the Sagawa Art Museum features works by three prominent artists: 平山郁夫 (1930–2009), 佐藤忠良 (1912–2011), and 樂吉左衞門.

The Sagawa Art Museum’s program includes special exhibitions several times a year, workshops for parents and children to make objects, museum concerts, and tea ceremonies. This means there is more to consider than the exhibition galleries alone, with a range of events on offer. Check program dates again before your visit; the collection and events cater to different interests in art and culture.

Rural experiences in the prefecture

Green Tourism Shiga introduces facilities, hands-on programs, and events for agricultural, forestry, and fishing experiences, as well as everyday experiences in rural areas of the prefecture. This adds another theme to your trip planning alongside cycling, museums, and crafts. Programs and events may change; check the latest information if you plan to take part in one of these experiences.

Discover more destinations: Ōtsu, Higashiōmi, Ōmihachiman, Moriyama, Hikone, Nagahama, Gamou District, Kusatsu, Takashima, Kōka, Konan, Maibara, Ritto.

For the broader travel guide: Japan.