Omihachiman is a historic town that flourished as a merchant town during the Edo period, and is a popular tourist spot where you can enjoy strolling around with its traditional buildings and charming, beautiful scenery. As the culmination of this trip around Lake Biwa, let's enjoy the autumn foliage while strolling along Hachimanbori Canal and through the old town.
「Himure Hachimangu ShrineThe "Ichino Torii" (first torii gate), the entrance to the shrine, has an appearance that evokes a sense of history and prestige, welcoming visitors with its dignified presence at a height of 8.8 meters.
In front of the torii gate is a valuable pseudo-Western style building constructed in 1877 as the Yawata Higashi School.HakuunkanYou can see the following. The Omi merchants built the museum to improve the education of their children, with most of the expenses covered by donations, and they raised 6,000 yen (at the time, one bale of rice cost 1 yen 34 sen) to establish it. It is now designated as a nationally registered tangible cultural property, and a tourist information center has been set up inside to provide tourist information, display and sell souvenirs and local products, and the free space on the second floor is effectively used as a citizens' gallery.
Descend the stone steps beside "Hakunbashi Bridge" and enjoy the scenery of the waterway along the Hachimanbori Canal as you walk along the cobblestone path.
The autumn leaves, just beginning to change color, and the charming cobblestone path offer a beautiful view of the waterside, creating a peaceful and tranquil atmosphere.
There are various courses for the Hachimanbori Canal Cruise. The "Canal Cruise" takes about 60 to 80 minutes, while the "Hachimanbori Canal Cruise" can be enjoyed in a shorter time of 30 to 40 minutes, so it's a good idea to find a course that suits you.
The Hachimanbori Canal was built by Toyotomi Hidetsugu to develop the castle town of Hachimanyama Castle, and it played an important role as a logistics hub for Omi merchants. You can stroll along it while appreciating its historical value.
The Omihachiman water village has been designated an Important Cultural Landscape by the Agency for Cultural Affairs. Enjoy a leisurely boat trip along the gently swaying waterways in a rowboat, listening to the boatman's commentary.
We walked along the cobblestone path from "Hakunbashi" to "Meijibashi."
Meiji Bridge was built during the Meiji era, and its name is directly derived from that period. Located near Hachimanbori Canal, it is one of the spots that evokes the flow of modernization. The bridge girders and railings are decorated with understated stonework and a simple design, blending seamlessly into the tranquil waterside scenery of Hachimanbori Canal.
From Meiji Bridge, you can enjoy a beautiful view centered around Hachimanbori Canal, and the area around the bridge also boasts a charming landscape characteristic of Hachimanbori, with stone walls and white-walled townhouses.
The sight of the rowboat sailing beneath the willow trees is like a beautiful painting.
Hachimanbori has been used as a filming location for movies and dramas such as "The Samurai Accountant" and "The Last Loyal Retainers," and it seems to be a popular pilgrimage site, especially for fans of the "Rurouni Kenshin" movies. It is often used as a filming location for various projects, and on this day, there were people taking photos in beautiful furisode kimonos, which was an unexpected treat for the eyes.
Lured by the sign that read "You can pass through," I stepped inside.
Several shops selling handicrafts, clothing, and accessories line the street, leading to the torii gate street where "Hakunkan" is located.
Edo-period townhouses line the streets, their white walls and lattice windows creating a charming atmosphere, a不思議な world where old and new blend together.
The tiled roof and charming wooden-framed glass windows evoke a sense of history, yet the shop retains the character of a local establishment, simultaneously offering visitors both "timeless value" and "new and exciting experiences."
As I walked through, I came across a specialty shop that focuses on ayu (sweetfish) and ingredients from Lake Biwa.Ayu Shop Kimura Yawata-bori BranchThere are benches set up along the shortcut, and you can see a few people enjoying takeout food such as croquettes and marbled minced cutlets made with Omi beef, which are sold at the storefront of the neighboring Omi beef specialty shop, "Sennaritei Hachimanbori Store."
At Hachimanbori, the city has implemented measures to encourage tourists to stay overnight, and the "Hachimanbori Festival" is held every year, where visitors can enjoy a light-up event that is both historically significant and designed to create a warm and inviting atmosphere. During the festival, approximately 3,000 lights illuminate the Hachimanbori area, creating a fantastical landscape and offering a different kind of charm than during the daytime.
After strolling along Hachimanbori for about an hour and enjoying a trip back in time amidst the picturesque townscape harmoniously integrated with nature,
We return to Shirakumo Bridge and proceed towards Hachimanyama.
On this street, there is a place called "Omihachiman Himure Village"Taneya GroupThere is a shop called " " and a townhouse-style tea house next to the grounds of Himure Hachimangu ShrineTaneya HimurenoyaThey have set up a shop and offer freshly pounded and grilled mochi and zenzai (sweet red bean soup) made from glutinous rice from Shiga Prefecture. A giant 300-year-old hackberry tree serves as a landmark, and the shop is always bustling with customers.
Speaking of "Taneya," I previously visitedLa Collina OmihachimanThere is ", but here, the classic red brick style is eye-catchingClub Harie HimurekanThe cafe is also popular, offering Club Harie's Western-style confectionery as well as the chef's original roll cakes.
「Himure Hachimangu ShrineHachiman-sama, affectionately known as "Hachiman-sama," has long been revered as the guardian deity of Omi Province. It has a history closely intertwined with the culture of Hachiman-bori Canal and Omi merchants, and in particular, it was a central figure in the castle town when Toyotomi Hidetsugu built Hachiman-yama Castle, attracting the faith of local residents and developing as a place to pray for prosperity and protection. The gate tower at the entrance to the shrine grounds is said to have been built in 1359 through a donation from the Sasaki Rokkaku clan, rebuilt in 1858, and its upper story was destroyed by fire during a festival in 1970. It was repaired in 1971 to its current form. The architecture, made of solid natural wood, and adorned with delicate and traditional carvings, convey a sense of sacredness and high status.
After passing through the main gate, you will find a wooden, hip-and-gable roofed "water basin" on your left.
The worship hall, built in the beautiful traditional Japanese wooden architectural style, is simple yet majestic. Behind it are the offering hall and the main sanctuary. The main sanctuary, with its historical charm, contributes to the pure atmosphere that permeates the entire grounds, creating a sense of tranquility and solemnity.
I happened to visit at the "Grand Chrysanthemum Dedication Exhibition," which was being held from October 25th to November 18th, and I was able to admire the chrysanthemums that had been carefully cultivated.
While there are hiking trails to Mt. Hachiman from places like the Himure Hachiman Shrine trailhead and Hachiman Park, the round trip hike takes more than two hours, so you can also take the "Hachimanyama Ropeway" which operates from the foot of the mountain.
"Koen-ekimae" is the base station of the ropeway connecting the summit of Mt. Hachimanyama to the foot of the mountain. It operates every 15 minutes from 9 am to 5 pm. Local specialties and souvenirs are also sold inside the station building.
The ropeway connects the base of the mountain to the summit in about 4 minutes, and from the summit you can see Lake Biwa and the old castle town of Omihachiman. However, pets are not allowed on this ropeway, so we had to give up on it this time.
The townscape of Omihachiman is a particularly popular spot during the autumn foliage season. One of the reasons I chose this place as the final stop on my birthday trip around Lake Biwa was that it's also the birthplace of my beloved dog, Chocolat. I thought it would be nice to visit her hometown together and create some memories. It was a short two-day, one-night trip, but it was a wonderful journey where I could relax with my dog, enjoy nature, and feel refreshed. Stay tuned for my next trip to Japan!
