Japan Diaries 4: Day 435

Japan Diaries 4: Day 435

Day 435: January 10, 2023

Tuesday – Shiga

It's a beautiful day here in Kyoto City
It's a beautiful day here in Kyoto City

Heading to the breakfast area of Urban Hotel Kyoto Gojo Premium
Heading to the breakfast area of Urban Hotel Kyoto Gojo Premium

There are a lot of dishes to choose from
There are a lot of dishes to choose from

Itadakemase!
Itadakemasu!

Hello and good morning! We enjoyed our complimentary breakfast at Urban Hotel Kyoto Gojo Premium here in Kyoto City (京都市) before departing on our day's adventure. Today's plan would take us to the cities of Otsu and Hikone in Shiga Prefecture.

Back to Kyoto Station
Back to Kyoto Station to board the train going to Otsu City

Arrived at Otsu Station
Arrived at Otsu Station

Otsu Station
Otsu Station

Otsu Station Guide Map
Otsu Station Guide Map

We went over the overpass from our hotel to the Horikawa Gojo bus station. We boarded the bus bound for Kyoto Station when we arrived at the bus stop. We then changed trains to get to Otsu Station in Otsu City, (大津市) the capital of Shiga Prefecture.

Colored Otsu City manhole cover
Colored Otsu City manhole cover

Otsu City manhole cover 2
Otsu City manhole cover 2

Otsu City's Chuo Odori going to Lake Biwa
Otsu City's Chuo Odori going to Lake Biwa

Shinshuotaniha Otsubetsuin
Shinshuotaniha Otsubetsuin

Keihan Ishiyama Sakamoto Line
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.

山田 豊三郎の銅像
Bronze Statue of Toyosaburo Yamada

Nagisa Park
Nagisa Park

Lake Biwa
Lake Biwa

Team Nicerio visits Lake Biwa
Team Nicerio visits Lake Biwa

Team Nicerio visits Nagisa Park
Team Nicerio visits Nagisa Park

Otsu City Pokemon manhole cover
Otsu City Pokemon manhole cover

The Otsu City Pokemon manhole cover has Gyarados and shiny Gyarados in it
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.

The Shiga Prefectural Lake Biwa Cultural Museum is along the banks of Lake Biwa but is currently closed
The Shiga Prefectural Lake Biwa Cultural Museum is along the banks of Lake Biwa but is currently closed

Waiting for the train at Ishiba Station
Waiting for the train at Ishiba Station

Zeze Station
Zeze Station

On the train bound for Hikone City
On the train bound for Hikone City

Hikone Station
Arrived at Hikone Station

Inside Hikone Station
Inside Hikone Station

Hikone Station
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).

AL Plaza Hikone
AL Plaza Hikone

That's a very cute Hikonyan plushie
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.

伊藤石材店
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).

Shiga Prefecture Gokoku Shrine
Shiga Gokoku Shrine

Shiga Prefecture Gokoku Shrine's goshuin
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.

Hikone Tourist Information Center
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.

県道518号
Prefectural Road 518

Umaya / Horse Stable
Checking out the Umaya / Horse Stable

Umaya
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.

Map of Hikone Castle grounds
Map of Hikone Castle grounds

Heading up to Hikone Castle
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.


Ella with Hikonyan at Hikone Castle
Ella with Hikonyan at Hikone Castle

Hikone Castle
Hikone Castle

Inside Hikone Castle
Inside Hikone Castle

One more photo shoot outside Hikone Castle
One more photo shoot outside Hikone Castle

There was a viewing deck in the Kumidai (着見台)
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.

We walked back to AL Plaza Hikone via the Ekimae Oshiro-dori Street
We walked back to AL Plaza Hikone via the Ekimae Oshiro-dori Street

Saw this poster along the street. In a way, it made me proud as one of the players in the poster is a Filipino.
Saw this poster along the street. In a way, it made me proud as one of the players in the poster is a Filipino.

Back to Hikone Station
Back to Hikone Station

Ella with Hikonyan at Hikone Station
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.

Here's the train back to Kyoto Station
Here's the train back to Kyoto Station

Check out this unique dumpling vending machine
Check out this unique dumpling vending machine

Urban Hotel Kyoto Gojo Premium
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.

Read more:

Japan Diaries 4: Week 63

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