5 Photogenic Buildings and Townscapes in Shiga

Shiga Prefecture, which embraces Lake Biwa, is dotted with spots that make you want to press the shutter — from historic castles to Western-style architecture and retro townscapes. This time, we've picked five especially Instagrammable buildings and townscapes. Grab your camera and head out to capture Shiga's spectacular scenery!

01. Hikone Castle | A National Treasure Keep That Looks Great Against Lake Biwa

Even among the surviving national treasure keeps, the contrast woven by the white walls and black lattice is of overwhelming beauty. In spring, the collaboration with cherry blossoms reaches its height, with the pink and white gradient making for a dreamlike shot.

• Best Time of Day: Early morning, when the soft morning light looks great on the white walls, is recommended
• Photography Angle: A frontal composition from the Omote-Gomon Bridge, or a low angle looking up from along the inner moat, is full of impact
• Access: About 15 minutes on foot from JR Hikone Station

02. Former Toyosato Elementary School | A Retro-Cute Western-Style Schoolhouse

A Western-style schoolhouse built in 1937, distinctive for its red-brick-style exterior walls. With arched windows and stone staircases that are European in style, it's just like a movie set. It's also famous as a holy site for a popular anime.

• Best Time of Day: On cloudy days the building's colors look vivid, and on sunny afternoons the long shadows are fantastical
• Photography Angle: Framing it symmetrically from the front makes the spectacular worldview stand out
• Access: About 10 minutes on foot from Toyosato Station on the Ohmi Railway

03. Hachimanbori (Omi-Hachiman) | A Spectacular Sight of Waterside and Retro Architecture

The stone pavement and waterway of Omi-Hachiman, where the merchant culture of the Edo period remains. The scenery of white-walled storehouses and swaying willows is so atmospheric it's even used as a filming location for period dramas. In autumn, the foliage reflected on the water surface makes it just like a painting.

• Best Time of Day: At the golden hour of dusk, the water surface is dyed orange for the finest sight
• Photography Angle: A composition capturing the waterway vertically from atop the bridge is the standard. Aim for the water-mirror reflection too
• Access: About 10 minutes by bus from JR Omi-Hachiman Station

04. Metasequoia Avenue (Makino Town) | A Spectacular Tree-Lined Avenue That Changes Expression With Each Season

A tree-lined avenue, just like overseas, where about 500 metasequoias continue for 2.4 km. The fresh greenery of spring, the autumn foliage, and the snowy scenery of winter — you can enjoy a completely different photogenic look each season.

• Best Time of Day: Early morning when the morning mist drifts has a fantastical atmosphere. The blazing red of an autumn evening is the finest
• Photography Angle: Standing at the center of the avenue and shooting straight toward the vanishing point creates a sense of depth
• Access: About 15 minutes by bus or bicycle from JR Makino Station

05. Nagahama City, Kurokabe Square | Meiji-Era Glass Architecture and an Old Townscape

A stylish corner where glass crafts and cafes line up, centered on a black-plaster bank building built in the Meiji era. The monotone black-and-white exterior and the stone pavement are a treasure trove of photogenic shots.

• Best Time of Day: Around 9 a.m. before opening has few people, so you can have the quiet and beautiful townscape all to yourself
• Photography Angle: Capturing Kurokabe Building No. 1 in a vertical composition while including the stone pavement in the foreground adds depth and atmosphere
• Access: About 5 minutes on foot from JR Nagahama Station

For every spot, just being conscious of light and season raises the quality of your photos dramatically. Do head out on a trip to Shiga to find your favorite shot!

Practical Information for Your Visit

• Best season and time of day: For Hikone Castle, spring for the cherry blossoms, in the morning right after the gates open. For Hachimanbori Canal, the golden hour in late afternoon. The Metasequoia Avenue changes its face all year round, with fresh greenery, autumn colors and snow scenery. Kurokabe Square is quiet in the morning before the shops open.
• Opening hours / seasons: Hikone Castle is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (last admission 4:30 p.m.; open year-round, though the Kaikoku Memorial Hall is closed from December 25 to 31). The former school buildings of Toyosato Elementary School are open Tuesday to Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (closed Mondays, or the following day when Monday is a public holiday). Hachimanbori Canal, the Metasequoia Avenue and the streets of Kurokabe Square are outdoors and can be walked at any time, but the shops and open facilities have their own individual hours.
• Admission: Hikone Castle (including Genkyuen Garden) - 1,000 yen for general visitors and 300 yen for elementary and junior high school students. A combination ticket with the Hikone Castle Museum - 1,500 yen for general visitors and 550 yen for elementary and junior high school students. Genkyuen Garden alone - 400 yen for general visitors and 150 yen for elementary and junior high school students. The former school buildings of Toyosato Elementary School are free to enter. Strolling around Hachimanbori Canal, the Metasequoia Avenue and Kurokabe Square is also free of charge (the individual Kurokabe halls and hands-on workshops are charged separately).
• Access: Hikone Castle is about a 15-minute walk from JR Hikone Station. The former school buildings of Toyosato Elementary School are about a 10-minute walk from Toyosato Station on the Ohmi Railway. For Hachimanbori Canal, take a bus from JR Omi-Hachiman Station. For the Metasequoia Avenue, take a bus or a rental bicycle from JR Makino Station. Kurokabe Square is about a 5-minute walk from JR Nagahama Station.
• Parking: At the Metasequoia Avenue, do not park along the road; please use parking lots such as the one at Makino Pick Land. For other sites, check the official websites of the respective facilities and local governments for the latest information on whether parking is available and what it costs (the sightseeing parking lots around Hikone Castle are advertised at 1,000 yen per day for a car).
• Photography rules: You cannot bring walking sticks or umbrellas into the keep of Hikone Castle (folding umbrellas and walking sticks are allowed under certain conditions). The interiors of the National Treasure buildings are cramped, with a series of steep staircases, so avoid using a tripod when they are busy. The former school buildings of Toyosato Elementary School are still public facilities housing the board of education, a library, a child-rearing support center and more. Take care not to let users and children appear in your shots. The areas around Hachimanbori Canal and Kurokabe are places where residents and businesses live and work. Do not point your lens into shops or homes, and be careful not to obstruct people passing by. Flying drones and commercial photography require prior application to the relevant facility or local government.
• Safety notes: The Metasequoia Avenue is a working public road with traffic passing along it. Standing in the middle of the roadway to take photographs is extremely dangerous, and parking on the road is prohibited. Always shoot from a safe place on the sidewalk or the shoulder. Watch out for icy road surfaces in winter too. Some parts of the stone steps and walkways along Hachimanbori Canal have no handrails, and there is a drop to the water. The climbing stone walls and slopes of Hikone Castle become slippery in the rain.

Note: Fees and opening hours are subject to change. Always check the latest information on each facility's official website before your visit.

(Sources: National Treasure Hikone Castle official website, "Visitor Information"; Toyosato Town official website / official website of the former school buildings of Toyosato Elementary School; Shiga Prefecture official tourism website)