Discover the best travel guides, tips, and experiences for Shiga
From November 20 to 23, 2026, Biwako Hotel in Otsu, Shiga Prefecture, will serve "Les Cinq Joyaux d'Automne," a course of six dessert plates built around autumn fruits such as Shine Muscat, European pear, Beni Madonna, black fig, and Kogyoku apple.
From October 26 to December 31, 2026, Biwako Hotel in Otsu, Shiga, serves winter lunches at Japanese Restaurant Oomi (Omi beef and Omi duck hoba-yaki, ¥6,500) and Teppanyaki Oomi (Omi jidori chicken and Omi beef loin, ¥8,500).
From October 6, 2026, Biwako Otsu Prince Hotel is taking reservations for five Christmas cakes under the theme "Heartfelt Christmas," including a fruit-topped party cake and a members-only cake. Pickup is December 23 to 25.
Private Villa Yasui Bettei, a two-building whole-villa stay steps from the 150-year-old Ryotei Yasui in Hikone, Shiga, opens on September 14, 2026, with guests spending their days in the villa and walking over to Ryotei Yasui for a kaiseki dinner.
Lake Biwa Hotel is offering a new stay plan bundled with tickets to the Vermeer exhibition "Girl with a Pearl Earring — Masterpieces of 17th-Century Dutch Painting, A Miraculous Return," available for its Premier Luxury Floor rooms from September 5 through checkout by September 20, 2026.
From September 19 to 23, 2026, Biwako Otsu Prince Hotel's Lake View Dining Biona (37F) welcomes three-generation families with an autumn Shiga gourmet buffet, offering one child under 7 free for every two adults.
On Saturday, October 3, 2026, MITSUI OUTLET PARK SHIGA RYUO hosts Sky Lantern 2026 & Shiga Prefecture Urban Development Future Expo, a one-day event pairing a daytime expo celebrating Shiga's local charm with an evening finale where visitors light around 500 wish-filled lanterns across the autumn sky.
From September 16 to October 31, 2026, Biwako Hotel's Café Bellago in Otsu, Shiga will offer "Tanuki," the 5th edition of its autumn-only tanuki-shaped cake, now in a chocolate and banana flavor inspired by the Otsu Festival season.
Biwako Otsu Prince Hotel's Lobby Lounge Port Nio offers "Halloween Afternoon Tea - The Ghosts' Tea Party" from October 1 to 31, 2026, featuring a charcoal-black Mont Blanc, ghost meringues, and a welcome drink that changes color.
enBED, a private all-inclusive villa hosting just one group of up to two guests per day in the forest of Takashima's Kutsuki area, Shiga Prefecture, is set to open in November 2026, built around a sauna, a Shigaraki-ware bath, and dining designed for a trip centered on doing nothing. A pre-opening giveaway offering three free overnight stays is open for entries through August 31, 2026.
Shinchosha and the Shieria City Otsu Ninohama management association have jointly donated a design manhole cover featuring the novel Naruse's Going on the Path of Belief to Otsu City, now installed at Shieria City Otsu Ninohama on the former site of the Seibu Otsu department store.
A new rental villa, LAKE SAUNA RESORT takashima SUITE VILLA Aoi, opened in Takashima City, Shiga Prefecture, on August 6, 2026, just a one-minute walk from Lake Biwa. The property pairs a private sauna with a chiller-equipped cold-water bath and jacuzzi, and can sleep up to 14 guests across three bedrooms and a tatami room.
From August 5, 2026, English Garden Rosanberry Tawada in Maibara City, Shiga Prefecture introduces "Langage Farm Soft Cream," the Kansai debut of a blended-milk soft serve made with ingredients imported directly from England's historic Langage Farm, alongside a new cream tea-style sundae and takeaway clotted cream.
From September 1 to November 30, 2026, Biwako Marriott Hotel's restaurant Grill & Dining G is offering "Pick & Enjoy Lunch Autumn," a lunch combining a choice of main dish with a deli salad buffet built around seasonal Shiga ingredients such as apple, chestnut, and mushroom.
Biwako Otsu Prince Hotel is hosting a Minions & Monsters film collaboration from July 17 to September 30, 2026, featuring two themed guest rooms overlooking Lake Biwa and a limited-edition sweets plate available to overnight and day-trip guests alike.
Li Fang, the Chinese restaurant at Biwako Otsu Prince Hotel, is holding a "Chilled Chinese Cuisine Fair" through August 31, 2026, offering reimagined cold dishes such as chicken broth shaved-ice fried rice, black vinegar sweet and sour pork, and chilled shrimp in chili sauce.
From July 18, 2026, three highway restaurants in Tochigi, Shizuoka, and Shiga are offering summer-only "mega portion" menus weighing approximately 1kg each, combining local specialties into eye-catching, hearty dishes for drivers on their summer trips.
One of Japan's few aquatic plant-themed botanical gardens, Kusatsu Municipal Aquatic Botanical Garden Mizuno Mori in Shiga Prefecture is marking its 30th anniversary with a special weekend festival on July 11 and 12, 2026, featuring a commemorative ceremony, a special lecture, popular local mascot appearances, and container gardening workshops.
Biwako Hotel in Otsu, Shiga Prefecture, is rolling out a lineup of summer activities centered on children, including handheld fireworks, a quiz rally, an ennichi festival, and a uchiwa fan-making workshop, alongside an outdoor pool and rooftop BBQ, available through the summer of 2026.
The popular Tokyo-born bakery cafe "パンとエスプレッソと" (Pan to Espresso to) makes its Shiga debut with two simultaneous locations inside Shiga Prefectural Biwako Bunka Koen on June 21, 2026, featuring Shiga-exclusive menus including Omi beef curry moo toast.
A public viewing of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Japan vs. Netherlands match will be held at TATEISHIZA, a theater-style venue in Konan City, Shiga, on June 15 starting at 5:00 AM.
CBTR2026 (Central Biwako Touring Rally), a digital stamp rally where riders circumnavigate Lake Biwa by motorcycle, is now accepting entries. The event celebrates its 5th anniversary in 2026, having surpassed 10,000 cumulative participants.
Inspired by waka poetry from the Hyakunin Isshu anthology, Biwako Hotel's Café Bellalogo and Italian Dining Bellalogo in Otsu, Shiga will offer a new cocktail and mocktail from July 1 to September 30, 2026.
From June 2026, Omi Beef Burger SUDAKU in Ryuo Town, Shiga Prefecture is running two weekday-exclusive deals — ¥100 (tax included) iced drinks from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM, and a patty add-on option available every day from 5:00 PM.
GYPSO, a gluten-free rice flour chiffon cake shop in Moriyama, Shiga, is rolling out three summer-exclusive drinks — Coffee Jelly Float, Affogato, and Organic Lemon Squash — along with seasonal chiffon cake flavors, starting June 1, 2026.
Korean café and donut brand BONTEMPS is rolling out 20 new drinks on June 12, including frappés, smoothies, and sodas in flavors such as matcha, earl grey, strawberry, and mango.
A cosplay photography event organized by Reiyers is set to take place at Gran Snow Okuibuki in Shiga Prefecture on May 30, 2026, offering participants the chance to shoot in stunning natural settings including mountains, rivers, rocky areas, and forests.
From June 11 to 30, 2026, Biwa-ko Otsu Prince Hotel is running a special restaurant fair featuring ¥3,500 lunch courses and afternoon tea at five restaurants along the shores of Lake Biwa, celebrating the hydrangea season.
Biwako Marriott Hotel in Shiga Prefecture will serve the "Peach Afternoon Tea with Rose Aroma" at its lakeside restaurant from July 1 to August 31, 2026, featuring eight peach-based sweets and savory dishes made with local Shiga ingredients.
The Central Biwako Touring Rally (CBTR2026) has opened entry registration on May 27, 2026. The rally runs from September 12 to November 23 and marks 5 years of circumnavigating Lake Biwa by motorcycle while collecting digital stamps.
Freedom Gundam and Justice Gundam are reborn as traditional Shirakawa daruma dolls in a new collaboration at STRICT-G stores. Pre-orders open May 22, 2026, with in-store sales beginning August 1.
GYPSO, a small takeout-only shop specializing in gluten-free rice flour chiffon cakes made without wheat or oil, opened in Moriyama City, Shiga Prefecture in January 2026.
Biwako Hotel in Otsu, Shiga opens its rooftop outdoor BBQ "Hoshi" from July 1 to September 30, 2026, featuring Omi beef grills and a newly added champagne free-flow tapas plan.
The Biwako Otsu Prince Hotel in Otsu, Shiga is presenting "Peach Afternoon Tea" at its lakeside Lobby Lounge Port Nio from July 1 to August 31, 2026. The seasonal menu, created by an award-winning patissier, spotlights fresh peaches alongside local Shiga ingredients.
BROOKS GREENLIT CAFE in Minami-Aoyama, Tokyo, is hosting two limited-time summer fairs — a plant-based ice cream collection featuring 28 varieties from six brands across Japan, plus fermented soda floats made with _SHIP KOMBUCHA.
Biwako Otsu Prince Hotel and Omi Railway are teaming up for a family-focused collaboration room available from July 4 to September 23, 2026, featuring red-train-inspired decor, a 1-day railway pass, and lakeside dining.
Starting May 9, 2026, Camfort at Everglades Biwako in Shiga Prefecture is introducing a sleep tourism plan that uses canoeing, campfire, and digital detox as a pathway to deeper rest, with a tent sauna added on weekends.
From June 1 to August 31, 2026, Grill & Dining G at Lake Biwa Marriott Hotel will serve a buffet-style lunch with a choice of main dish alongside seasonal deli salads, warm dishes, desserts, and drinks, priced at ¥4,500 per person.
On June 20, 2026, Biwako Otsu Prince Hotel presents an exclusive one-night stay plan combining lakeside fireworks viewing and special dinners featuring Omi beef, one of Japan's three great wagyu.
From April 27 to June 30, 2026, four restaurants at Biwako Otsu Prince Hotel are running a seasonal fair spotlighting Omi beef — one of Japan's three great wagyu breeds — across French, Japanese, Chinese, and buffet menus.
On May 5, 2026, Biwako Hotel in Otsu, Shiga will hold a children's workshop where kids can learn to make colorful temari sushi under the guidance of the hotel's Japanese cuisine chef, followed by a family lunch.
Biwako Hotel in Otsu City, Shiga, has lined up stay and day-trip plans for the 2026 Lake Biwa Fireworks Festival on August 6. With an unobstructed lakeside location, guests can watch approximately 10,000 fireworks launched over the water from the hotel's rooms and rooftop.
From April 26 to June 25, 2026, Biwako Hotel in Otsu, Shiga will offer early summer lunch menus at its two in-house restaurants, featuring vibrant seasonal sushi and live-action teppanyaki with Omi beef.
From May 1 to June 30, 2026, the Biwako Marriott Hotel's 12th-floor restaurant "Grill & Dining G" will offer a limited-time parfait showcasing three distinctive teas from Shiga Prefecture, said to be the birthplace of Japanese tea.
Lake Biwa Otsu Prince Hotel is selling a seasonal picnic set called "Picnic Palette" until April 30, 2026, featuring local Shiga ingredients, picnic gear, and views of Lake Biwa – just 9 minutes from Kyoto.
A Valais Blacknose Sheep lamb, often called "the cutest sheep in the world," was born on March 22, 2026 at Rosanberry Tawada English Garden in Maibara, Shiga. Public viewing is scheduled to begin on April 3.
Saimyoji Temple in Kora-cho, Shiga Prefecture — selected by CNN as one of Japan's 31 most beautiful places — showcases the Natural Monument "fudan-zakura" cherry blossoms alongside plum, azalea, and rhododendron blooms in spring, with Omi wagyu dining spots nearby.
From April 1 to June 30, 2026, Biwako Hotel in Otsu, Shiga Prefecture, will serve two new drinks inspired by classical Japanese poetry as the latest installment in its long-running Hyakunin Isshu Cocktails series.
WASUKI BASE Biwako VILLA STYLE in Makino, Takashima City, Shiga Prefecture, is now accepting reservations. The property offers three cottages and two dome-style glamping units right alongside Lake Biwa, with BBQ facilities, a dog run, and easy walking access to the award-winning Makino Sunny Beach.
Hotel New Omi in Omi-Hachiman, Shiga, launches its popular Strawberry Sweets & Lunch Buffet from February 13 to May 6, 2026. Enjoy all-you-can-eat fresh strawberries, hotel-made strawberry desserts, and a full lunch menu in a nostalgic retro cafe setting.
To celebrate 3,000 participants in the sushi chef job experience activity, Kandu Dainichi visitors can now enjoy a 200 yen discount at Kappazushi restaurants across the Kansai region through April 5, 2026.
Okashitsukayadaiya, a traditional Japanese confectionery shop in Koka City, introduces seasonal Hina Uiro for Hinamatsuri and their signature Koka-style ninja sweets made with brown sugar and walnuts.
Starting February 26, 2026, the Biwako Hotel in Otsu, Shiga offers spring lunch menus featuring Hyakunin Isshu-themed dishes and Omi beef specialties at their Japanese and teppanyaki restaurants.
Grand Mercure Lake Biwa Resort & Spa offers unique accommodation plans featuring samurai armor experiences, character greetings, and historical exhibitions, creating memorable three-generation family trips in the historic town of Nagahama.
Immerse yourself in the world of the upcoming movie Wicked For Good at Biwako Otsu Prince Hotel. A limited-time collaboration featuring themed room stays, sweets buffets, original parfaits, and cocktails awaits guests from February 16 to April 30, 2026.
To celebrate its 30th anniversary, Lake Biwa Museum will host a special Night at the Museum event on March 8, 2026, and an overnight Premium Night Tour on March 20, 2026, featuring special lighting, classical concerts, local sake tasting, and curator-led tours.
Yakitori Torimaru Ishiyama opens on January 23, 2026, in Ishiyama, Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture. This charcoal-grilled yakitori restaurant has been created by renovating a traditional Japanese house, preserving the area's architectural heritage while offering hand-skewered yakitori.
Lake Biwa Hotel introduces two limited-edition sweets for the romantic season, showcasing Shiga-grown Omi Raspberries and premium Yamada Farm cream, available from February 6 to March 15, 2026.
Nagahama Roman Beer, a craft brewery in Shiga Prefecture, will release a limited edition Imperial Stout on January 27, 2026, with plans to barrel-age a portion in Nagahama Distillery whiskey barrels.
In its 56th season, GRANSNOW OKUIBUKI ski resort in Shiga Prefecture recorded 31,328 visitors by the end of December 2025, marking the highest visitor count in its history. The early opening using artificial snow-making machines proved crucial to this success.
STRICT-G announces a first-time collaboration with bag brand master-piece, releasing three Char Aznable-themed bags featuring the signature red accents and premium Japanese craftsmanship.
Following last year's successful release, omamori (protective amulets), goshuin (temple stamps), and goshuincho (stamp books) featuring the popular anime Blue Lock are now available at three temples in the Kansai region.
Discover two delicious varieties of Kansai-exclusive potato chips, both featuring the regional "dashi soy sauce" flavor but with completely different taste profiles!
What is a Ninja? A ninja is a specialized warrior mainly engaged in espionage, sabotage, and assassination. The term “ninja” became widely popular during the Showa era, but historically, they were known as “Shinobi,” “Rappa,” or “Suppa.” Particularly famous ninja groups were formed in Iga (present-day Mie Prefecture) and Koga (present-day Shiga Prefecture), and they […]