Shiga Prefecture surrounds Lake Biwa, Japan's largest freshwater lake, just a short train ride east of Kyoto. Landlocked and often overlooked by international visitors, it pairs the UNESCO-listed temple complex of Enryaku-ji on Mt. Hiei with the National Treasure castle at Hikone, Edo-era merchant towns, Shigaraki pottery villages, and some of Japan's finest wagyu in Omi beef.
Cultural orientation
Essential context for travellers.
Shiga's cultural identity is anchored by two forces: Mt. Hiei's Enryaku-ji, the headquarters of Tendai Buddhism founded in 788 CE, and the Omi merchants (Omi shonin) of Omihachiman, whose trading network shaped Japanese business ethics for centuries
The Omi merchant philosophy of 'sanpo yoshi' (three-way satisfaction — good for the seller, good for the buyer, good for society) originated in Shiga and is still cited in Japanese business schools as an early model of ethical commerce
Lake Biwa is treated with quiet reverence locally — it is Japan's oldest and largest lake (over 4 million years old) and features in local sayings, festivals, and place names throughout the prefecture
Shigaraki-yaki (Shigaraki ware) is one of Japan's Six Ancient Kilns, and the tanuki (raccoon dog) statue associated with it has become a national good-luck symbol found at shop entrances across Japan
Shiga sits between Kyoto and Nagoya and is often visited as a day trip from Kyoto, so many locals are used to short-stay visitors and are generally low-key and unhurried in their hospitality compared with more tourist-saturated neighboring prefectures
Do's and don'ts
Quick guide to local norms.
Do
- Bow slightly when greeting — a light nod is sufficient for casual tourist interactions
- Learn a few basic phrases: 'Sumimasen' (excuse me/sorry), 'Arigatou gozaimasu' (thank you very much), 'Ikura desu ka' (how much is this)
- Carry cash — many smaller shops, izakaya, and pottery studios in Shigaraki and Omihachiman remain cash-only
- Visit Mt. Hiei and Enryaku-ji with time to spare — it is a genuine religious site as well as a UNESCO World Heritage site, and rushing through it misses the point
- Try Omi beef and local sake as an entry point into regional food culture — both carry strong local pride
Don't
- Don't stick chopsticks vertically into a bowl of rice — this echoes a funeral ritual and is considered inauspicious
- Don't pass food directly chopstick-to-chopstick — this also carries a funeral association
- Don't speak loudly inside Enryaku-ji's halls or at shrine precincts
- Don't photograph monks, priests, or worshippers without permission
- Don't assume Shiga has Kyoto- or Osaka-level nightlife or late-night services; many shops and restaurants outside Otsu and Kusatsu close early
Etiquette by setting
How to navigate everyday situations.
Useful phrases
A few words go a long way.
Arigatou gozaimasu (ありがとうございます)
Thank you very much
Sumimasen (すみません)
Excuse me / Sorry
Ikura desu ka (いくらですか)
How much does this cost?
Doko desu ka (どこですか)
Where is it?
Eigo wa hanasemasu ka (英語は話せますか)
Do you speak English?
Tasukete! (助けて！)
Help!
Mizu wo kudasai (水をください)
Water, please
Biwako wa doko desu ka (琵琶湖はどこですか)
Where is Lake Biwa?
Enryaku-ji e ikitai desu (延暦寺へ行きたいです)
I want to go to Enryaku-ji
Omi-gyu wa doko de taberaremasu ka (近江牛はどこで食べられますか)
Where can I eat Omi beef?
Religion & spirituality
Understanding faith in Shiga.
Items:
- Religion
- Buddhism (Tendai)
- Presence
- Central to Shiga's identity; Enryaku-ji on Mt. Hiei is the head temple of the Tendai sect, founded by the monk Saicho in 788 CE, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Many prominent Japanese Buddhist reformers (Honen, Shinran, Nichiren, Dogen) trained there before founding their own schools.
- Etiquette
- Dress modestly; remove hats inside halls; photography is restricted in some inner sanctuaries — follow posted signs
- Religion
- Shinto
- Presence
- Widespread; shrines dot the lakeshore and towns, including Hiyoshi Taisha at the foot of Mt. Hiei, one of Japan's oldest shrine complexes and guardian shrine of Enryaku-ji
- Etiquette
- Bow at the torii gate before entering; rinse hands and mouth at the temizuya (ablution fountain); bow twice, clap twice, bow once at the main hall
- Religion
- Folk and merchant customs
- Presence
- Omihachiman's Omi merchant families historically blended Buddhist ethics with commercial practice; several preserved merchant houses include small household shrines and Buddhist altars open to public viewing
- Etiquette
- Treat preserved merchant residences as heritage sites; follow any no-photography or no-touching signage