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Vegetarian's Japan Guide

Nagahama Travel

Chikubu-Island-Nagahama-Shiga-Japan

Chikubu Island – The Mysterious Sacred Island on Lake Biwa

Chikubu Island (竹生島), floating on the northern Lake Biwa, has been a sacred island since ancient times. Together with the Benzaiten in Enoshima (江ノ島) and Miyajima (宮島), the Benzaiten enshrined on the island are together known as the Three Great Benzaiten in Japan. Also, the Hōngon-ji Temple (宝厳寺) on the island is the 30th temple […]

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Shizugatake: The Stunning Attraction With a Bloody History

Because of the Battle of Shizugatake (賤ヶ岳の戦い) in 1583 between Hashiba Hideyoshi (羽柴秀吉) and Shibata Katsuie (柴田勝家), Mt. Shizugatake is not only a scenic destination but also a pilgrimage spot for Japanese history buffs. Around the summit, monuments of the battlefield and those who died in the war commemorate the historic event. At the same

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Nagahamajō: The Castle That Leads to Hideyoshi’s Success

Nagahama Castle (長浜城) at the northeastern lakeshore of Lake Biwa is known as Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s starting point for becoming the leader of Japan. Even if you aren’t interested in Japanese history and the Japanese castle, you might still want to visit the castle park in spring. Usually, from early to mid-April, the cherry trees blossom

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Kurokabe Square and Kaiyōdō Figure Museum Kurokabe Guide

If you are into shopping and trendy cafes, come to Kurokabe Square (黒壁スクエア) when you visit Nagahama in Shiga Prefecture! In this shopping district, not only are there boutique shops selling intricately hand-made glass items, but there is also a museum filled with figurines of various animes, animals, demons, and many other topics!

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Daitsū-ji: A Temple Filled With Gorgeous Paintings

Daitsū-ji Temple (長浜別院 大通寺) is a branch temple of the Higashi Honganji (東本願寺) in Kyoto, belonging to the Shinshū Ōtani school (真宗大谷派). On the temple’s precinct, there are many Important Cultural Properties, including the Grand Hall relocated from Fushimi Momoyama Castle, a tower gate from Nagahama Castle, a bell from the Nanboku-chō period (1336 –

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Hōkoku Shrine: A Must-Visit Spot for Japanese History Buff

A couple of Hōkoku Shrine (豊国神社) enshrines Toyotomi Hideyoshi in Japan, and one of them is in Nagahama. His retainers, Katō Kiyomasa (加藤清正) and Kimura Shigenari (木村重成), are also enshrined here. The citizens of Nagahama erected the shrine to commemorate Hideyoshi’s third anniversary in 1600. But, after the Tokugawa shogunate was established, the shrine was

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