Glimpses of Japan

Nagahama is located in Shiga Prefecture, on the northeastern shore of Lake Biwa. It was my first time visiting Shiga Prefecture. I was astonished by how big Lake Biwa is, and also very interesting to learn that cultures are very different depending on which shore of the lake.  Nagahama Town around the sunset There were lots of waterways in the town Lake Biwa Nagahama preserves beautiful local sceneries with historic buildings. The town was originally developed by Hideyoshi Toyotomi, who once unified Japan in the 1500s. The central part of Nagahama has now been turned into a shopping/dining location for tourists. Some of the shops said that they had continued the business for more than several hundred years.  Toyokuni Shrine enshrines Hideyoshi Toyotomi Nagahama Castle, which Toyotomi Hideyoshi built, was once destroyed, but it's now been restored and turned into a museum for citizens and travelers.  Nagahama Castle I had so much to see in the area, and it took a whole day...

  Mt. Ibuki straddles the border of Gifu and Shiga prefectures and attracts visitors with its amazing views from the summit. Although it is 1,377 meters high, it's a relatively easy mountain to hike. Visitors can drive up to the 9th station through Ibukiyama Driveway. The shortest trail takes only 20 minutes to the summit. The driveway offers an amazing view.  Mt. Ibuki is famous for its alpine plants. Over 350 species of plants are said to inhabit the area around the summit.  The trail was well-maintained and easy to hike.  An amazing view from the summit. There was also several souvenir shops and cafes for visitors to take a rest.  Note that I could not start the hike from Mt. Ibuki's trailhead at the foot of the mountain due to heavy rains in July 2023. It made a part of trail collapse and it was still under maintenance in May 2024. (The situation was the same in February 2025) Visit the local municipality's website before planning the visit.