Shiga｜Omihachiman Water Village Style: The former commercial artery connecting Lake Biwa

Omihachiman, located on the east side of Lake Biwa, was once famous for its shrewd and capable Omi merchants. More than 400 years ago, Toyotomi Hideyoshi's nephew Toyotomi Hidetsugu built a city here. The man-made canal connected Lake Biwa and opened up the prosperity of Omihachiman. Hachimanbori, once a place for people and goods to pass through, not only declined during the Showa period as lifestyles changed, but was also criticized as a public nuisance. Local residents fought hard to prevent it from being filled up. In recent years, with the efforts of local governments and autonomous groups, the road to reviving Hachimanbori has begun. The Himure Hachiman Shrine next to Hachimanhori has a history of 1,500 years. It enshrines the god of war Hachiman, who later became the patron saint of Omi merchants due to the development of commerce. It is worth mentioning that when Buddhism was introduced and mixed with Shintoism, it became Hachiman Daibosatsu. Therefore, you can see different "expressions" of a samurai, holding ritual instruments and wearing robes. This is also a cherry blossom viewing spot in Shiga. If you plan to visit Kansai in April, you might want to put it on your itinerary. 📍Address: 〒523-0837 Osugi-cho, Omihachiman City, Shiga Prefecture #JanuaryGoodPlaces2025