Shiga– category –

On the last night of my Shiga trip, I got off at Hikone Station for dinner and ended the journey with local specialties at Uomaru Hikone.

On the final stretch of my Shiga trip, I stopped by the Lake Biwa Museum, where exhibits on the lake’s long history, human life around it, and freshwater life are paired with wide-open views of Biwa itself.

On the final day of my Shiga trip, I visited La Collina Omi-Hachiman, the headquarters and flagship shop of the Taneya Group. From its dreamlike architecture by Terunobu Fujimori to the Baum Factory, food court, and gift shop, the whole place felt more immersive than a typical commercial facility.

From the area behind Himure Hachimangu Shrine, I took the ropeway up Mount Hachiman, wandered past the observatory building and autumn leaves, and looked out over Lake Biwa from the ruins of Hachimanyama Castle.

Across from Club Harie Himurekan, I stopped at Taneya Himure no Sha for a short break, watched Tsubura Mochi being grilled by the entrance, and enjoyed them fresh with an unusual cup of anko coffee.

I stopped by Club Harie Himurekan, a former residence designed by William Merrell Vories and now used as a Club Harie shop and facility. Although the Vories-designed section was under maintenance and closed during my visit, the striking red-brick building out front still stood out, and I ended up trying Harie no Long, a long rice-flour cream puff filled to order.

I explored Omihachiman’s compact old town on foot, enjoying lunch in a Vories building, strolling along the historic Hachiman-bori canal, and visiting a few of the area’s distinctive historic buildings.

I visited BIWAKO Biennale 2025 “FLUX” in Omihachiman, where contemporary art unfolds inside historic townhouses, former storehouses, and old merchant residences across the city.

On my second night in Omihachiman, I went to Minna no Ie, a lively izakaya in a renovated traditional house. From red konnyaku and Omi beef stew to charcoal-grilled skewers and unforgettable Eigenji maitake mushrooms, it turned into one of the most memorable meals of the trip.

Wanting to try Omi beef while in Omihachiman, I went to Marutake Omi Nishikawa for my first dinner in town and had a generously portioned sukiyaki set served in an individual hot pot style.

After an evening walk along Hachiman-bori, I stopped by Two Rabbits Brewing BEER HOUSE, the brewery-run taproom founded by an Australian owner, and enjoyed a fresh beer in its stylish, international-feeling space.

I headed toward Chomeiji by bus and caught a beautiful magic-hour view of Lake Biwa before stopping at Chomeiji Onsen Tenha no Yu for a soak.

For two nights in Omihachiman, I stayed at Omihachiman Machiya Club, a distinctive lodging that repurposes traditional townhouses. My room was a renovated former soy sauce storehouse in the Bettei KOLMIO building, with a warm café breakfast each morning.