Biwako Valley is a great place to look out over Lake Biwa. From JR Shiga Station, you need to take a shuttle bus to the ropeway station. At 1,100 meters above ground level, it offers skiing in winter and is highly recommended as a summer getaway from the heat in Japan. The temperature at the top is instantly 4–6 degrees cooler, making it very comfortable. You can sit on the observation deck for free and enjoy panoramic views of Lake Biwa, or pay to enter the observation café at the summit, which is heated when it's cold. After enjoying the lake views, you can also head farther into the mountains for the chairlift and art installations and recreational facilities. Most importantly, these are also free to use. Just be sure to check the times for the ropeway down and the shuttle bus. If they don't line up well, you may have a long wait, or you may need to walk or take a taxi back to the station.
Biwako Valley | Review by hdwf2002
Other Reviews by hdwf2002
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Gifu Castle
The Symbol of Gifu towers on top of Mt. Kinka 329m above sea level. During the age of provincial wars, Saito Dosan resided. When Oda Nobunaga became the lord, it became the homebase of his ambition to rule the nation.
Gifu Castle in Gifu Prefecture is located at the top of Mount Kinka. It was renamed after Oda Nobunaga captured it during Japan’s Sengoku period. Since it is at the top of the mountain, you need to take the ropeway from Gifu Park below. Building this castle back then must have taken tremendous effort, so it’s no wonder it was easy to defend and difficult to attack. After getting off the ropeway, you still have to walk for about 10 minutes. If you come here, you definitely have to go up to the castle keep. From there, you can see the Nagara River and the city scenery in the distance. Gifu Park at the foot of the mountain has a hydrangea season in June, so besides visiting Gifu Castle, you can also enjoy the hydrangeas below the mountain castle.
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Okazaki Castle
A castle where Tokugawa Ieyasu (1542-1616), who founded the Edo shogunate, was born. In 2006, it was selected as one of the “Top 100 Castles in Japan.” With many legends tied to dragons, it is also known as “Tatsugajo (Dragon Castle).” One legend says that when Takechiyo (later Ieyasu) was born, dark clouds swirled above the castle and a golden dragon appeared.
Located in Okazaki City, Aichi Prefecture, it can be reached in about 30 minutes from Meitetsu Nagoya Station. Although it may not be a top priority when visiting Nagoya, Okazaki City is historically significant as the birthplace of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first shogun of the Edo period, and Okazaki Castle itself has important historical value. It is about a 15-minute walk from Higashi Okazaki Station. Along the way, you will pass Sugo Shrine, Okazaki Park, and Ryujin Shrine, while Okazaki Castle is located inside Okazaki Park. Although the grounds are not very large, you can see the castle keep from Tonobashi Bridge over the Oto River. Okazaki Castle has 3 stories and 5 floors, and from the top you can look out over the Higashi Okazaki area. There aren't many visitors inside, so you can take your time exploring. After visiting Okazaki Castle, you can return to the area near the station for some food and finish up this half-day trip. If you visit Nagoya, remember that you can also stop by this historic site just 30 minutes away.
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Atsuta Jingu (Atsuta Shrine)
About 1900 years ago, one of the Three Sacred Treasures (in Japanese mythology, the goddess, Amaterasu-Omikami, conferred on them. They were handed down as the proof of imperial succession), Kusanagi-no-tsurugi (sacred sword) , was dedicated here, which is said to be the beginning of this shrine.
Atsuta Jingu, one of Japan’s three major shrines, enshrines the Kusanagi Sword, one of the three sacred swords. The shrine grounds are spacious and quiet, surrounded by ancient camphor trees. Many people make sure to visit when they come to Nagoya, and it is a place filled with energy. I recommend visiting during the Atsuta Festival, when the shrine suddenly comes alive with food stalls, taiko drumming, sumo and kendo performances, and locals and tourists dressed in yukata. Of course, there are also lantern floats, and at night, dedicated fireworks light up the sky. Come in early June to experience the prelude to summer, as Atsuta Jingu transforms from solemn and quiet into a lively festival feast. It is well worth visiting at this time and is guaranteed to be worth your while, offering a different kind of shrine visit.
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