Japan Diaries 4: Day 435
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Day 435: January 10, 2023
Tuesday – Shiga
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| It's a beautiful day here in Kyoto City |
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| Heading to the breakfast area of Urban Hotel Kyoto Gojo Premium |
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| There are a lot of dishes to choose from |
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| Itadakemasu! |
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| Otsu Station Guide Map |
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| Colored Otsu City manhole cover |
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| Otsu City manhole cover 2 |
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| Otsu City's Chuo Odori going to Lake Biwa |
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| Shinshuotaniha Otsubetsuin |
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| Keihan Ishiyama Sakamoto Line |
We walked along Chuo Odori Street going to Lake Biwa from the Otsu Station. On the way, we made a quick stop at Shinshuotaniha Otsubetsuin to pay respects and offer a prayer.
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| Bronze Statue of Toyosaburo Yamada |
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| Nagisa Park |
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| Lake Biwa |
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| Team Nicerio visits Lake Biwa |
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| Team Nicerio visits Nagisa Park |
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| Otsu City Pokemon manhole cover |
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| The Otsu City Pokemon manhole cover has Gyarados and shiny Gyarados in it |
We reached Nagisa Park 5 minutes later. The park has a scenic view of Lake Biwa. It also has a Pokemon Manhole Cover featuring normal and shiny Gyarados. We wanted to explore other lakeside destinations in Otsu City but sadly, it began to drizzle and because it’s technically winter sans the snow, it suddenly became super cold.
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| The Shiga Prefectural Lake Biwa Cultural Museum is along the banks of Lake Biwa but is currently closed |
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| Waiting for the train at Ishiba Station |
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| Zeze Station |
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| On the train bound for Hikone City |
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| Arrived at Hikone Station |
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| Inside Hikone Station |
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| Hikone Station |
We had to cut our stay at Otsu City short and go to our next destination instead. We immediately headed to Ishiba Station to catch a train to Zeze Station. From there, we then changed trains, to Ishiyama Station. We then transferred to a train bound for Hikone Station in Hikone City (彦根市).
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| AL Plaza Hikone |
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| That's a very cute Hikonyan plushie |
Sadly, it wasn't drizzling in Hikone City but was raining. Since it was still early we crossed the street from Hikone Station going to AL Plaza Hikone. We stayed in the mall for about an hour hoping that the rain would subside. Thankfully it did but it was still very cold outside.
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| Ito Stone Store |
My wife and I decided that Ella and I should proceed to Hikone Castle while my wife would just stay in the mall to rest and do a little bit of window shopping. Ella and I followed Ekimae Oshiro Dori Street along Prefectural Road 517 going to Hikone Castle. There were several interesting things along the way like the numerous marble sculptures displayed outside stores like the Hikonyan statue outside Ito Stone Store (伊藤石材店).
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| Shiga Gokoku Shrine |
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| Shiga Prefecture Gokoku Shrine's goshuin |
The first stop that we had was at Shiga Prefecture Gokoku Shrine. After acquiring the goshuin of the shrine, we both paid respects and offered prayers before heading on our way.
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| Hikone Tourist Information Center |
We made another stop, this time at the nearby Hikone Tourist Information Center. The staff there were very accommodating. They helped us find our way to the castle and also gave us information such as the time when Hikonyan would appear on a specific part of the castle.
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| Prefectural Road 518 |
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| Checking out the Umaya / Horse Stable |
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| Great! There's a horse in it! |
From there, we followed the road and crossed the moat to reach the castle grounds. We made a short visit to Umaya which is a historical landmark inside the castle grounds.
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| Map of Hikone Castle grounds |
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| Heading up to Hikone Castle |
The entrance to Hikone Castle was a few meters away. The entrance fee to the castle and garden is 800 yen per adult and 200 yen for children. It was not easy to reach the castle from the entrance booth. It requires plenty of uphill walking. It didn’t help that it drizzled once in a while too.
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| Ella with Hikonyan at Hikone Castle |
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| Hikone Castle |
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| Inside Hikone Castle |
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| One more photo shoot outside Hikone Castle |
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| There was a viewing deck in the Kumidai (着見台) |
Regardless, the Hikone Castle keep was beautiful and worth the “mini-hike”. However, upon entering the keep, lo and behold, we can only reach the top using the steep stairs. There was nothing much to see inside the castle. The only thing to do there is experience the steep stairs and wonder at the same time what living there in the past would be like.
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| We walked back to AL Plaza Hikone via the Ekimae Oshiro-dori Street |
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| Saw this poster along the street. In a way, it made me proud as one of the players in the poster is a Filipino. |
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| Back to Hikone Station |
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| Ella with Hikonyan at Hikone Station |
After exploring the castle, we went back to AL Plaza Hikone to pick up my wife. Our original plan was to go to Nagahama and ride the fast craft going to Chikubu Island but the weather today was not on our side so decided that it was time for us to head back to Urban Hotel Kyoto Gojo Premium.
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| Here's the train back to Kyoto Station |
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| Check out this unique dumpling vending machine |
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| Heading back "home" to Urban Hotel Kyoto Gojo Premium |
We then rode the train from Hikone Station to Kyoto Station and then hopped on the bus going to Horikawa Gojo. Before going to our "home for the day" - Urban Hotel Kyoto Gojo Premium, we passed by the nearby 711 to buy some snacks. However, when we got to our room, the only thing that we were able to do was to take a hot shower before calling it a day.
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