[2025 Omihachiman Attraction] Travel Guide for Himure Hachiman Shrine (Updated Mar)

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

Located on the eastern side of Lake Biwa in Shiga, Omihachiman is an ancient town that has been under construction since the late 16th century. It is said that the retro style of Omihachiman has become a filming location for many period dramas. Omihachiman is very easy to reach, taking about fifty minutes by train from Kyoto Station. I recommend taking the Hachiman-yama Ropeway first to enjoy the beautiful scenery of Omihachiman. Although the small cable car ride is completed within ten minutes, you can see a relatively distant view from the mountain, making it a great spot. Because the canals of Omihachiman-bori are very famous, you can take a boat tour or, like us, prefer to walk along the river and enjoy the scenery along the shore. The number of tourists in Omihachiman is not very high, starting from Himure Hachimangu Shrine, you can slowly enjoy the riverside scenery and take photos. In addition, when you visit Omihachiman, you must try Omi beef! Omihachiman is located near the production area of Omi beef, which is one of the three major Wagyu beef in Japan along with Kobe beef and Matsusaka beef. This time we went for an Omi beef lunch, and the ingredients were very fresh. When eating Japanese Wagyu beef, I prefer the teppanyaki method because it can squeeze out the fat, not only giving the beef aroma but also not being too greasy. If you travel here, remember to savor it well.

⛩️ Himure Hachimangu Shrine ⛩️ Omihachiman City, Shiga Prefecture 🔸Located at the center of Shiga Prefecture, it has been protecting the region (formerly known as 'Omi') since ancient times. It has always been a place where Omi merchants come to pray, affectionately known as 'Hachiman-sama'. Hence, this nickname 'Hachiman' also became the origin of the local place name. 🔹After the regional reorganization in Showa 29 (1954), the name was continued as Omihachiman. 'Himure Hachimangu Shrine' holds a very important position for the locals. 🔸It is worth mentioning that one romantic scene from the movie 'Rurouni Kenshin: The Final' where Kaoru holds an umbrella for Kenshin in the rain was filmed at 'Himure Hachimangu Shrine'. 🎬 🔹The Omi Hachiman Sagicho Festival in March and the Hachiman Festival in April are also quite grand. 📍Detailed address: 257 Miyauchicho, Omihachiman City, Shiga Prefecture 🚉Transportation tips: Take the JR Biwako Line 🚄 to 'Omihachiman Station' and transfer to a bus 🚌 to 'Osugicho' (about 7 minutes)