Otsu

Otsu is the capital of Shiga Prefecture in Japan’s Kansai region, on Lake Biwa’s southwest shore just east of Kyoto. It spans about 465 km2 and has roughly 340,000 residents. Originally a port of Omi Province, Otsu served as Japan’s capital under Emperor Tenji in 667–672, then called Otsu-kyo. In the Edo period it prospered as Otsu-juku, a post town on the Tokaido (the Edo–Kyoto highway). In 1891 the city was the site of the Otsu Incident, an attack on the Russian heir Nicholas. Notable sites include Enryaku-ji temple on Mount Hiei, part of the UNESCO-listed Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto; Ishiyama-dera temple, where Murasaki Shikibu began The Tale of Genji; Miidera (Onjo-ji) temple near the lakeshore; and Omi Jingu, a Shinto shrine dedicated to Emperor Tenji. Natural features include Lake Biwa, the Seta River with the historic Seta-no-Karahashi bridge, and the Meiji-era Lake Biwa Canal linking to Kyoto. Today Otsu functions as Shiga’s administrative center and a commuter hub for Kyoto. Tourism highlights include temple precincts, Lake Biwa cycling and boating, the October Otsu Matsuri float festival, and performances at the Biwako Hall arts center.