Things to Do in Shiga
Hand-picked sights and experiences across Shiga.
When to catch the colours in Shiga?
Average cherry blossom and autumn foliage dates for Shiga, from the Japan Meteorological Agency's 1991–2020 normals — the fortnight to aim for, not a promise for any particular year.
- Cherry blossom
- First flowersApr 1
- Full bloomApr 8
- Autumn foliage
- Leaves turnNov 28
- Peak viewingNov 28 – Dec 12
Where to look next?
The prefectures we've mapped so far, nearest to Shiga first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Lake Biwa — Japan's largest lake — ringed by Hikone's original-keep castle, the 'floating' torii of Shirahige shrine, Ōmi beef, and Enryaku-ji, the great monastery atop Mt. Hiei on the Kyoto border.
Yes — it's one of only a handful of original keeps, with a genuinely defensive hilltop layout and a lovely lakeside garden, and it draws a fraction of Himeji's crowds. Half a day from Kyoto by shinkansen-speed trains.
Ōtsu and the lakefront are minutes away by JR; Hikone is about 50 minutes. For the photo everyone wants — Shirahige's torii standing in the lake — go early morning on the west-coast line to Ōmi-Takashima.