Takashima City is located in the northwest of Lake Biwa, and has long flourished as a key transportation hub connecting the capitals of Kyoto and Nara with the Hokuriku region. Land transportation was mainly via the Nishi Omi Road, which runs along the lakeside at the foot of Mt. Hiei and Mt. Hira, and the Wakasa Kaido (Saba Kaido), and the city flourished as a port town and post town that was a base for travel between these routes and for lake transportation to the Otsu area. Many nostalgic landscapes remain, from mountain villages supported by abundant nature to farming villages, satoyama, and fishing villages.
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Shimizuyama Castle is located in Yasuigawa, Kumanomoto, Shinasahi-cho, Takashima City. Shimizuyama Castle is an important site for viewing castles from the Warring States period, and the Shimizuyama Castle Ruins, Shimizuyama Ruins (Kiyomizu-dera Temple and residence site), and Hondodani Ruins (Daiho-ji Temple and residence site) were designated as a national historic site on February 16, 2 as the Shimizuyama Castle Ruins. It is said to have been the castle of Sasaki Etchu, head of the Nishi Sasaki clan. The area around Shimizuyama Castle is thought to have spread north and south along the Nishi Omi Road, which is connected to the estimated Ote-dori road.
*There are no toilets on the historic site, so please use other public facilities, such as those within Shin-Asahi Forest Sports Park.
■Reference information: "Shimizuyama Castle Club" Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/296532314118130/
Tanaka Castle, the residence of the Tanaka clan, lords of Tanakago, is a mountain castle from the late Middle Ages built at the tip of a hillock that stretches out like a tongue from the Taizanjino Plateau, and its remains can still be seen today in the mountains to the west of Uedera Ward. The bailey where the main castle is believed to have been located is 220m above sea level, with a difference in elevation from the plains of only 60m, making it lower in elevation than mountain castles from the same period. However, remains of moats, earthworks, and hiding places for warriors that were used to ward off enemies can be seen at key points within the castle grounds, suggesting that it was a castle of considerable scale. In April 1570, the first year of the Genki era, Oda Nobunaga stayed at "Tanaka Castle" to defeat Asakura Yoshikage of Echizen, as recorded in the "Nobunaga Koki." This army included future Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Tokugawa Ieyasu. Tanaka Castle, which later came under the influence of Azai Nagamasa, was captured by Nobunaga in 4 and came to an end under the rule of Akechi Mitsuhide. However, Tanaka Yoshimasa, who was descended from the Tanaka clan, served under Hideyoshi and Ieyasu in succession, and is still praised today for his skills in the construction and development of castle towns as lord of Okazaki Castle in Mikawa Province and Yanagawa Castle in Chikugo Province.
*There is a fence at the entrance to the castle to protect against animal damage. It is not locked so it can be opened and closed manually, but please do not forget to close the gate after opening it.
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It is located about 150m southeast of JR Omi Takashima Station. The small hill forest surrounded by stone walls is the remains of Omizo Castle's castle tower. Omizo Castle was built in the Azuchi-Momoyama period by Oda Nobusumi, who lived in Shinjo Castle (now Shinasahi-cho), and merchant houses and temples were moved there to create a castle town. Otome-ga-ike Pond, southeast of the main citadel, is an inner lake of Lake Biwa, and according to old maps, Omizo Castle was a water castle with the castle moat as its inner moat and Otome-ga-ike Pond as its outer moat, and was also called "Koko Castle." When Wakebe Mitsunobu became the lord of the castle during the Edo period, he used this place as his camp and continued to rule it until the Meiji Restoration under the 12th lord Mitsunori.
In the Edo period (1619), Wakebe Mitsunobu was transferred from Ueno Castle in Ise to Omizo with a fief of XNUMX koku and devoted himself to the construction of a castle town, as the castle had fallen into disrepair. The river was built in the center of the street to block distant views of urban warfare. A jin'ya (camp) was also built to the northwest of the castle, and the main gate of the jin'ya, parts of samurai residences, waterways and other remnants of the castle town remain today, with town names including Naginata-machi, Edoya-machi, Ise-machi, Funairi-machi, Kon'ya-machi, Shokunin-machi and Rosoku-machi. The Omizo Festival, the best float festival on the west side of the lake, also remains.
After the Battle of Sekigahara, the Kutsuki clan, who were treated as fudai daimyo of the Tokugawa shogunate, established this jin'ya within their territory, and it is said that at the time, the 93,000 square meter site was home to various facilities serving as a battlefield base, including a palace, samurai quarters, a sword-fighting dojo, a riding ground, and a storehouse. Since the Meiji period, the buildings have been demolished one after another, and today only the moat, earthen walls, parts of the stone walls, and one well remain. In 1983, 25,706 square meters of the site was designated a Shiga Prefecture historic site as the "Kutsuki Jin'ya Ruins."
The market area of Kutsuki is also a jin'ya town that has existed since the Kamakura period. It is characterized by the right-angle curves of the road, and is now famous as a post town on the "Mackerel Highway" that connects Obama and Kyoto. In the Kamakura period, a manor was established here and it was under the control of the Kutsuki clan. The Kutsuki clan sided with the Tokugawa during the Battle of Sekigahara, and strengthened their control over this valley. Although they were a hatamoto with less than 1 koku of land, they are said to have traveled to Edo on alternate attendance tours. A look at the map shows the uniqueness of this area. The central settlement and market of Kutsuki gives the impression that the town has been developed since ancient times, with townhouses built on the flat ground and old houses with thatched roofs in some places. The town is lined with a single road that bends at right angles several times, giving it the appearance of a post town, but there is no clear record of a post station being established here.
Koshoji Temple was founded in 1243 when Zen Master Dogen, the founder of the Soto sect, recommended the construction of a temple to Sasaki Nobutsuna, who was residing in Kutsukisho for a time, when he was heading from the capital to Echizen. From the temple grounds, you can see the vast and majestic scenery of the Azumi River and Kaminoyama. Kutsuki is said to be the place where the 1528th Shogun, Ashikaga Yoshiharu, stayed in XNUMX to escape the wars in Kyoto. The XNUMXth Shogun, Yoshiteru, also stayed there for over six years, escaping the wars in Kyoto. The Muromachi period was administered here and XNUMX employees lived there. In addition to the main hall, the quiet temple grounds are lined with a kuri (kitchen) and a bell tower. The wooden seated Shaka Nyorai statue, the principal image of the temple, is a masterpiece from the Heian period, said to be the last work of Dengyo Daishi, and is made of cypress inlaid with wood. Its grace and dignity have made it a designated Important Cultural Property of Japan.
<Former Shurinji Garden (also known as Ashikaga Garden)>
Located within the grounds of Kosho-ji Temple, this garden was designated a national place of scenic beauty in 10. It was originally the garden of the residence where Yoshiharu Ashikaga, the 16th Shogun of the Muromachi Shogunate, and Yoshiteru Ashikaga, the 12th Shogun, stayed for several years in the mid-13th century after being chased by successive rebellions by military commanders, and sought refuge with the Kutsuki family. Shurin-ji Temple was later moved to another location, and in the Edo period, Kosho-ji Temple, the family temple of the Kutsuki family, was moved to this location, where it remains to this day. The Kutsuki family and others…
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Built in the first half of the 5th century, it is one of the largest circular tumuli in the prefecture, with a diameter of 80m and a height of 7m, and is one of the largest built on flat land. Although not faithfully reproduced, one theory remains that it is the tomb of King Shioyaki, who died during the Emi no Oshikatsu (Fujiwara no Nakamaro) Rebellion (764). Ozuka Kofun is of great significance in elucidating the Kofun period in Takashima City, and was designated a Shiga Prefecture Cultural Property Historic Site on March 62, 3, as an indispensable archaeological site for research into the ancient history of Omi.
This ancient tomb is located on the alluvial plain on the right bank of the Kamo River. It dates back to the late Kofun period and is the only keyhole-shaped tomb located on a plain in the Kosai region. The mound at the front no longer exists, but based on the surrounding topography, it is believed to have been a keyhole-shaped tomb with a total length of 45m, a diameter of 25m at the rear, and a moat about 5m high. During the Meiji period, a horizontal stone chamber and a hollowed-out house-shaped sarcophagus were excavated from the rear. Also discovered inside the sarcophagus were a gilt bronze crown, sandals, fish pendants, gold earrings, mirrors, jewels, a ring-headed sword, a deer-adorned sword, a knife, and an iron axe. It was later discovered that these grave goods were very similar to those excavated from the royal tomb of Silla on the Korean Peninsula, sparking much interest and discussion about who was buried in this tomb, its location, and its connection to the continent.
The ruins are located on a flat area on a river terrace on the left bank of Kutsuki Valley, formed by the Azumi River, and are approximately 50m east to west and 160m north to south. There are two theories about the site: one is that the son of Emperor Goichijo and the Fujiwara clan sought a place to retreat from the capital, and the other is that the princess of the lord of Kutsuki fell ill and the mansion was built for her to live in. Although it is unclear how credible these two legends are, they both share the fact that it was built as a mansion for an unfortunate prince and princess. It is thought to have been abandoned in a very short time, but fragments of Chinese-era celadon from Longquan Kiln were unearthed from the structure of the pond and the layer of sand on the ridge of the boulders on the pond's shore, making it a valuable garden as the oldest in the prefecture.
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Tanaka Shrine has about six stone structures from the Kamakura period that are treasured as cultural assets. In addition, every year on May 6th, the Tanaka Festival, famous for its dynamic Yabusame ritual, is held, with parishioners marching along the approach to the shrine to the sounds of lively gongs and drums, praying for a good harvest that year.
It is unclear when the shrine was founded, but it is said to have begun in the late Heian period when it was enshrined at the site of what is now Kaizu Ageoyama. It flourished under the protection of the Tokugawa Shogunate and the Maeda clan, the feudal lord of Kaga. In the shade of the overlapping old pines and cedars, 10 large and small shrines, centered around Tenjin Shrine, stand majestically. The deities enshrined are Sugawara no Michizane at the main shrine, Onamuchi no Mikoto at Okuwa Shrine, and Amanooshitachihiko no Mikoto at Ono Shrine. In addition, there are several other shrine buildings lined up, including Kibune Shrine, Atago Shrine, and Ebisu Shrine. Many excellent cultural assets are preserved as shrine treasures, including 8 volumes of the Lotus Sutra from the late Heian period, including the opening and closing sutras, a red seal letter from the third Tokugawa Shogun, Iemitsu, and a wooden painted votive tablet by Kano Sanraku. These will be open to the public on October 10th. Additionally, the Kaizu Rikishi Festival is held every year on April 3th.
The temple is well known for the fresh greenery that covers the grounds and the vivid autumn foliage. It was founded in the early 13th century, and from the Northern and Southern Courts period to the Muromachi period, it was highly revered by the Sasaki clan, the rulers of Omi Province. Sasaki Genji would pray for victory before the altar of Oarahiko Shrine, which he revered as the guardian deity of his clan, before going into battle, and would give thanks to the altar upon his triumphant return. It is said that the Nanakawa Festival, which is held every year on May 12th today, began when 12 targets and 5 yabusame horses were dedicated to the altar at that time. This Nanakawa Festival is a time-honored folk performing art that was designated an intangible folk cultural asset of Shiga Prefecture in 4.
Ninigi Shrine is the guardian deity of Miyamaebo, and Ninigi no Mikoto is the deity worshipped here. The wooden two-tiered pagoda was built in the late Edo period and is a two-tiered tower measuring three bays. It belonged to Kutsuki Jinguji Temple as the pagoda of Kutsuki Jinguji Temple, but is also thought to be the tower of the inner sanctuary of Ninigi Shrine. The tower has a solid and stable feel, and inside it are enshrined wooden statues of Shaka Nyorai and 23 statues of Yakushi Nyorai, which have attracted worshippers since ancient times. The statues are from the early Kamakura period and retain the style of the Heian period. The annual festival held on May 5th is famous for the mikoshi togyo (portable shrine procession).
There is a large vermilion torii gate in the middle of the lake, and the main shrine is located across National Route 161. It is the oldest shrine in Omi, and is popularly known as "Shirahige-san" or "Myojin-san" and is also called Omi's Itsukushima. As the name suggests, it is known as the god of longevity and long life, and is also the "god of guidance" for all human activities and pursuits, such as matchmaking, fertility, good luck, academic success, road safety, and safe navigation. The enshrined deity is Sarutahiko-no-mikoto. It has a history of over 2000 years since its founding, and the current shrine was built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi's son Hideyori, with Katagiri Katsumoto as magistrate, according to his last command. The main hall has a clear square plan, and when the worship hall was rebuilt in the Meiji era, it was connected to the main hall, resulting in the complex roof structure we see today. The shrine is also famous for the "Naruko Mairi" ritual, in which a baby who turns two years old (by Japanese age reckoning) is given a name and prayers are offered for the child's safe growth. This ritual is held on the 2th and 9th of September, and is attended by worshippers from all over the country, including Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe, as well as people from the surrounding area. Within the shrine grounds, there is a monument engraved with a poem that was written by Yosano Tekkan and Akiko, a married couple of poets from the Myojo school, when they visited the shrine. The shrine also enshrines Kotobuki-no-Kami, one of the Seven Lucky Gods of Nishiomi.
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This is an ancient temple mentioned in the Kofuku-ji Kanmuchosho (Courtesy of the Kofuku-ji Temple), and it is said that the splendor of its Kannon Hall was so much talked about by people as far away as the capital, but unfortunately it burned down, and the current Kannon Hall is said to have been built by the monk Kakunin during the Edo period. The temple enshrines the Thousand-Armed, Eleven-Headed Kannon as its principal image. Long ago, there was a giant snake living in the surrounding valley that was bothering the villagers, and it was defeated by giving the snake sake, which is why this place came to be called Sanami. The name of the temple also has the same origin. The temple is located at the foot of a mountain with a long approach, and in spring, Edohigan cherry blossoms and Somei Yoshino cherry blossoms bloom beautifully, soothing the eyes of those who come to worship.
Click here for the cherry blossom blooming status (Shiga Lake Biwa Tourism Information Site)
It is called Mt. Byakuren and its principal image is the Eleven-Headed Kannon Bodhisattva. There are various legends about its beginning, but according to the legend, a sacred camphor tree on Mt. Mio was washed away by a flood during the reign of Emperor Keitai into the village of Otowa and became a lying tree. Years later, during the reign of Emperor Shomu, novice priest Dokuritsu and monk Domyo are said to have attained the sacred form of the Eleven-Headed Kannon under the protection of Amaterasu Omikami and Kasuga Myojin. The hall was originally located near the top of Mt. Takeyama, but it is also said to have been built on the site for the convenience of pilgrims. There is a stone cave at the old site near the peak where a stone Buddha is enshrined. It is adjacent to Oi Shrine at the foot of the mountain and has a Goei-do hall for daily pilgrimage.
If you turn onto the old Nishi Omi Road on National Route 161 near Shirahigehama and head north, you will come across a group of 1.6m-tall granite statues of Amida Nyorai in a cemetery in the grassy mountains. These statues were erected in Ukawa, Takashima City, just across the river from Kannonji Temple, by Sasaki Rokkaku Yoshikata, lord of Kannonji Castle (now Azuchi Town), in the late Muromachi period to pray for the soul of his late mother. The stone Buddhas, sitting quietly in a row facing east, are slightly different in size and appearance, with some faces full of compassion, some innocent, and others humorous. Currently, 33 are enshrined in Ukawa, 13 in Jigen-do in Sakamoto, Otsu City, and the whereabouts of the remaining two are unknown.
There are Seven Lucky Gods in Takashima City too. New Year's is a good time, but we especially recommend visiting them in early spring, when you can enjoy the plum and cherry blossoms that adorn the grounds of each shrine and temple. There are also colored paper sheets dedicated to the Nishiomi Seven Lucky Gods tour.
*Some shrines and temples may not be open, so if you require a temple seal, please contact the shrine or temple in advance.
①Osakiji Temple (Bishamonten/Kaizu, Makino Town)
②Kawasusomimiya Karasakijinja Shrine (Ebisu Shrine/Shiriuchi, Makino Town)
③Seigoji Temple (Benzaiten/Imazu Town, Yu)
④Ashizumi Shrine and Yukisugi Tenmangu Shrine (Fukurokuju/Hirokawa, Imazu Town)
⑤Shodenji Temple (Daikokuten/Asahi, Shinasahi-cho)
⑥ Gyokusenji Temple (Hotei/Tanaka, Azumigawa Town)
⑦ Shirahige Shrine (Kurojin Shrine/Ukawa, Takashima City)
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The deity worshipped at Mio Shrine is Emperor Suinin, who is said to be the ancestor of the powerful Mio clan that flourished in this area in ancient times. The Kamoinariyama Tomb and Haido Tomb groups are also located nearby, and it is known that this area was one of the centers of ancient culture. The shrine is revered as a god for rulers, politicians, business leaders and other leaders, as well as a god for safe childbirth, fertility and protection from evil.
It is located in the so-called "Ozuka" at the back of the approach lined with cypress trees. Its area is approximately 2840 square meters. It is a two-tiered circular tumulus, much larger than the three surrounding tumuli, and is thought to date to the mid-Kofun period. The person buried there is said to be Emperor Keitai's father, King Hikonushihito. Azumigawa Town is also known for the many sites associated with Emperor Keitai.
It is said that Princess Furihime, the wife of King Hikobushihito, leaned on this stone when giving birth. There is still a tradition of stroking this stone and rubbing one's stomach to pray for an easy delivery.
Emperor Keitai was born in Takashima, and it is said that this placenta mound is where his mother, Princess Furihime, buried the Emperor's umbilical cord after giving birth. The placenta seems to be the name of the placenta.
This mound is a circular tumulus with a diameter of approximately 11.5m and a height of approximately 2.5m, and is estimated to have been constructed in the 6th century.
At Miojinja Shrine, a shrine listed in the Shikinai (Engishiki), the two deities Hikonushihito and Furihime, the parents of Emperor Keitai, are enshrined humble and close together. Every spring, there is a festival called the "Miojin Festival (Cow Festival)," and today, on the third Sunday of May, the ritual is solemnly held, reminiscent of the good old days.
In the grounds of Ankan Shrine, there is a monument (1m high, 1.4m wide) commonly believed to be "Jindai Moji" (Chinese characters), with an intaglio carving on its surface that is difficult to distinguish as either a picture or a character. It seems to resemble the mysterious symbols of the super ancient history of the "Hotsumatsutae" (Hotsumatsutae), which was handed down to Mio Shrine (currently Yasuda Shrine, a sub-shrine of Tanaka Shrine) in the former Sanjo Village (currently Tanaka Baba District, Azumigawa Town), and the mysterious history of the town invites us into the romance of the past.
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This is the former residence and lecture hall of Nakae Toju (1608-1648), the founder of Japanese Yomeigaku (theology of the Buddhist sage) and known as the Omi Saint. It is designated as a national historic site. This building was completed in 5 (1648th year of the Shoho era), six months before Toju's death, with the cooperation of his disciples and villagers, as his house had become too small. It was rebuilt in the Meiji era as it is today. Inside, many belongings and relics are on display, including a calligraphy piece by Toju himself, "Cultivating good knowledge (chiryōchi)." There is also an old wisteria tree on the premises, which Toju loved and which gave the temple its name. Nakae Toju never had a teacher throughout his life, but instead studied on his own, and continued to explore the path of humanity. He encountered Yomeigaku at the age of 37, and realized that if one is devoted to cultivating good knowledge, the mind and affairs will become one, and he is known as the founder of Japanese Yomeigaku. His school includes Kumazawa Banzan, Fuchiokayama, and other talented people. There are also such geniuses as Oshio Heihachiro and Yoshida Shoin. During the Edo period, when samurai ruled the world, it was Omi Saint Nakae Toju who sought and practiced the true way of living as a human being. A big heart that embraces everything. Deep love and reverence for humanity. Toju Sensei's passionate thoughts...
Takashima City is home to many cultural assets created by the city's rich nature and the lives of its people, which have been protected by our ancestors, fostered local love, and passed down as treasures of the city. The Nakae Toju Takashima Museum communicates and exhibits these cultural assets. In addition to exhibiting materials related to Nakae Toju, artifacts excavated from ruins in the city, and historical materials that have been protected and passed down in the region, visitors can learn about and experience the diverse culture of Takashima City in an easy-to-understand way through newly created videos.
Toju Shrine is famous as a shrine associated with Nakae Toju, a saint of Omi. It was built in 11 with the cooperation of people who admired Nakae Toju. Kiso cypress wood donated by the Imperial Family was used in the construction. The shrine sign at the entrance was written by Sugiura Jugo, and the plaque on the first torii gate was written by Togo Heihachiro. The storehouse also contains treasures such as a composition written by the former Empress when she was a student, "Nakae Toju, a Person I Admire," as well as Toju's original handwriting and illustrated biography of Toju.
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"I am a wandering child of the lake..." "Today, Imazu or Nagahama?"
The "Song of the Lake Biwa Circumnavigation," an emotional song about impressionable youth and the romance of the circumnavigation, is a classic song beloved by the nation. The song was born in Imazu-cho, Takashima City, Shiga Prefecture. The song was written in 6 by students from the Water Club of the former Third High School in Kyoto (now the Kyoto University Rowing Club) while they were sailing around Lake Biwa by boat. The museum has a wide range of materials on display, including information about the lyricist and composer, and also has a listening corner where you can listen to the song of the Lake Biwa Circumnavigation by many singers and musicians.
It is a busy gateway to Chikubushima Hogonji Temple, the 30th temple of the XNUMX Saigoku Pilgrimage. Regular sightseeing boats operate to Chikubushima, with round-trip routes and a crossing route to Nagahama Port on the opposite shore.
For details and the latest information, please check the official website of Lake Biwa Kisen Co., Ltd.
Chikubu Island Cruise▶https://www.biwakokisen.co.jp/cruise/chikubu/
Detailed timetable▶https://www.biwakokisen.co.jp/cruise/chikubu/price_time/
This was the center of the old Imazu village, and was lined with magistrate residences, storehouses, wholesalers, inns, etc. In its heyday, there were apparently over 10 wholesalers and about 8 inns.
William Merrell Vories (1880-1964) was an American architect who made many achievements, including architectural design. Originally designed as a bank, this museum displays materials that will teach you everything you need to know about Vories' architecture, and is a place where people of all ages can learn. The museum also has a cafe called Kotonoha Cafe, which serves baked goods and specialty coffee.
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The festival is held on a grand scale every year on the third Sunday of April at Hioki Shrine (Kaminomiya) in Sanami and Tsuno Shrine (Shimonomiya) in Kitoge. It is highly regarded as a folklore resource that conveys the ancient festival style, such as music and sanyare, to the present day, and in 4 it was designated an intangible folk cultural asset of the prefecture. The main locations are Hioki Shrine and Tsuno Shrine, where the large flags and portable shrines are carried out in rotation. On the day of the festival, once the ceremonies at both shrines are over, each procession heads to Hegasaki Bamba (Otabisho), located halfway between the two shrines. The mikoshi arrives at the horse riding ground, where two large flags about 3 meters high and about 63 small flags held by children are waiting. The mikoshi togyo (portable shrine procession) and the sanyare dance are then held, before proceeding to the festival grounds at the back of the horse riding ground. After the mikoshi togyo, a ceremony is held in which parishioners from each village offer devout prayers, followed by yabusame (horseback archery). The "sanyare" in the music is a religious custom of ancient Japanese people, where people feared evil spirits around them, repented of their own misdeeds, and prayed to the good spirits of their ancestors for help in order to avoid the punishment that would result. The origin of the word "sanyare" comes from "san"...
This is the annual spring festival of Kaizu Tenjin Shrine, held every year on April 4th. Two mikoshi (portable shrines) are enshrined at the shrine, and the chief priest recites a prayer. Carried by young men wearing colorful mawashi (traditional Japanese apron), the two mikoshi depart from Kaizu Tenjin Shrine. The two groups split into Kaizu and Nishihama, and shout "Yoiyasaja!" as they parade through the Kaizu and Nishihama areas, shaking the mikoshi vigorously up and down and left and right. After reuniting where they split off and taking a short break, the evening section begins, and the young men carrying the mikoshi parade the same route once again. The two mikoshi reunite again and return to the shrine, where the festival reaches its climax. In the shrine grounds, in the dim light of torches, the mikoshi are violently "oneried." This festival is said to have begun 29 years ago, when Kaizu Port was a bustling transportation hub from the Hokuriku region to Kyoto. At that time, young men working at shipping wholesalers would dress up in decorative mawashi (sumo wrestlers' mawashi) and compete to see who could be the most beautiful.
This is the spring festival of Hiyoshi Shrine, and is the largest float festival in the Kosai region. Currently, the eve festival is held on May 5rd, the main festival on the 3th, and the after-festival on the 4th. Five floats, Minato, Tomoe, Takara, Isami, and Ryo, are carried out from the five districts of Katsuno. The floats of each group are different in size, but all have coffered ceilings, lacquered floors and latticed rafters, black painted latticed beams, and vermilion painted faces. Each of these floats is decorated with a gorgeous tent, body curtain, and farewell curtain, and the design of each float is questionable. The Tomoe group's float is particularly rare and is considered the oldest in that the pillars at the four corners can be raised and lowered, and the entire roof can be raised and lowered. Each float is paraded around the town to the accompaniment of drums and gongs in accordance with ancient customs. Five floats are lined up and paraded around the town in a set order. The first float is called Hanayama and is pulled around to the accompaniment of drums and gongs.
Every year on May 5rd (Yoimiya), the dedication of the hot water begins at around 3am, and the Yoimiya Festival is held at 11pm with the offering of 7 lanterns. The most spectacular sight is when the floats are pulled around with lanterns adorned on them at Yoimiya.
This is the largest horse festival in the west of Lake Biwa, held at Oarahiko Shrine every year on May 5th. The "Yakkuri" dance dedicated on this day was designated as an intangible folk cultural asset of Shiga Prefecture on November 4th, 33.
A toast is offered to mark the departure, and then the parade begins. The highlight of the festival is the parade of 12 targets, and the highlight is the "warnings" of the two barrel swinging targets. In the "target parade," young men dressed as slaves parade around holding a target in one hand, while in the "barrel swinging," they dance with a sake barrel on their shoulders. These two are collectively called "Yakkuri," and the barrel swinging "warnings" are mostly improvised, drawing laughter from listeners every year. Another highlight is the "Yabusame," in which the horses dash vigorously up the riding ground and shoot through the targets. The sight of them galloping between the two rows of spectator seats set up on either side of the approach to the shrine grounds is a spectacular sight.
You can view the Takashima City tourist brochure in PDF format.
This guide introduces spots where you can trace the transformation of castles from battlegrounds to political strongholds, and experience the history from the Middle Ages to the early modern period.
Publication date: October 2026
This booklet introduces Takashima City's shrines, temples, historical sites, and history. (Total 20 pages)
Publication date: October 2025
The story of 10 days that determined Nobunaga's fate!
Publication date: October 2026
Imazuura has been a vital transportation hub connecting the Kinai region and the Hokuriku region since ancient times. Why not take a stroll through Imazu, where many valuable historical sites still remain?
Publication date: October 2026
Why not follow the transition from a fighting castle (military base) to a political base and experience history from the Middle Ages to the early modern period?
Publication date: October 2025
There are records that Akechi Mitsuhide was a siege castle in Tanaka Castle when he was young, so the castle's connection with Akechi Mitsuhide is of interest.
Publication date: October 2025
It is said that on the way, Nobunaga stayed at Kutsuki Castle (later known as Kutsuki Jin'ya) with the guidance of Kutsuki lord Mototsuna.
Take a leisurely stroll around the area known as "Nobunaga's Crossing of Kutsuki Pass."
