Omihachiman city is located in the Koto area on the eastern shore of Lake Biwa in the central Shiga Prefecture. It is a scenic castle town where the blessings of Kokoku (Lake Country) and old and new Western and Japanese culture are alive. The city has a long history,and about 430 years ago, Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s nephew Hidetsugu built Hachimanyama Castle in conjunction with reconstruction of Koto after the death of Oda Nobunaga and was prospered as a commercial city by the Omi merchants who gathered around the castle town. On the southeastern shore of Lake Biwa in the northeastern part of the city, a Suigo/river district designated as the nation’s first important cultural landscape spreads over.
In a corner there, it is Hachiman-bori Canal, a canal that flows around Mt. Hachiman and flows into Lake Biwa. It was excavated by Hidetsugu as a moat of Hachimanyama Castle and was also called Hachiman-ura then, they say, because the barges that came and went Lake Biwa called a port there. The scenery with the white-walled Dozo (storehouse) standing side by side and the calm water surface is full of historical atmosphere and is also a location for historical drama(s).
It is recommended to have a tour by a houseboat around Hachiman-bori and enjoy the relaxing time while taking a long look at the beautiful scenery. You might make a trip as well around Suigo/riverside district that is slowly going through the large and small various waterways surrounded by thickly growing Reed by a rowing boat, which is called the slowest vehicle in Japan. Listen to the boatman’s tone in a flowing style and the sound of oars and let’s enjoy the sparkling water surface and the breeze.
Moreover, the castle towns around Hachiman-bori are full of attractions. While visiting many well-known architecture by William Merrell Vories who had a great love for this place, the tradesman’s houses related to Omi merchants, and the old streets that maintain the atmosphere of old times, you would like to have a leisurely stroll without hasting ahead.
Highlights
-
A land related to Omi merchants and prospered for 430 years.
-
On-the-water trip on the moat and Suigo/riverside district, swayed by a small boat.
-
A leisurely stroll around the castle town that is full of attractions.
![[Omihachiman Travel Guide] Visit a Town Where Waterways and History Live On: Enjoy Charming Streets and Scenic Views](https://static.gltjp.com/glt/data/article/22000/21411/20260506_112330_84318a9d_w640.webp)
![[13 Ways to Travel in Shiga] Walk Through History in Koto or Immerse Yourself in Nature in Kosei](https://static.gltjp.com/glt/data/article/22000/21373/20260408_193121_72d90abc_w640.webp)
![[13 Popular Date Spots in Shiga Prefecture] Special Moments Framed by Stunning Lake Biwa Views and History](https://static.gltjp.com/glt/data/article/22000/21383/20260414_131740_fd5ee6c8_w640.webp)