5 Photogenic Gourmet Foods and Souvenirs in Shiga | Instagrammable Sweets and Street Food

It's not just the spectacular scenery of Lake Biwa! Shiga Prefecture has plenty of "photogenic gourmet" that makes you want to take a picture. This time, we carefully selected and introduce sweets, street food, and souvenirs that you'll want to post on Instagram.

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01 | Omi Black Tea Latte at the Vories Memorial Hall Cafe [Omi-Hachiman City]

A shot where the deep ruby-colored black tea latte looks great against the retro Western-style building as a backdrop. The slightly sweet cup made with Japanese black tea produced in Omi-Hachiman also pairs perfectly with antique-style cups.

• Photogenic Point: The natural light streaming in from the window beautifully illuminates the cup
• Best Time to Shoot: 10 a.m. to noon, spring and autumn recommended
• Angle: Shooting from directly above (flat lay) is great
• Access: About 10 minutes by bus from JR Omi-Hachiman Station

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02 | "Amo" by Kanou Shoujuan [Otsu City and other shops]

"Amo," the signature confection of Shiga's representative long-established Japanese confectionery, is an item where simple beauty stands out. The grains of red bean carefully wrapping the pure-white gyuhi (soft rice cake) express the beauty of Japanese tradition just as it is.

• Photogenic Point: The contrast of white and red-bean color gives a Japanese-modern atmosphere
• Best Time to Shoot: During daytime with natural light; placing it on a white background or on washi paper looks refined
• Angle: Shooting from a 45-degree diagonal brings out three-dimensionality, good
• Access: Can also be purchased at department stores, airports, and station shops within Otsu City

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03 | Lake Biwa Blue Soda by BIWAKO DAUGHTERS [Otsu City]

The vivid blue craft soda imagined after Lake Biwa is the talk of the town! The bubbles swaying inside the transparent glass look just like a cut-out of the lake surface. Be sure to take a photo before drinking.

• Photogenic Point: Shooting at a terrace seat with a view of Lake Biwa makes it doubly photogenic
• Best Time to Shoot: An afternoon on a sunny day; the blue that blends with the color of the lake is beautiful
• Angle: Holding the drink and shooting from the side with the lake in the background is best
• Access: About 15 minutes on foot from JR Otsu Station

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04 | Omi Beef Croquette Street Food [Hikone City, around Omi-cho]

The Omi beef croquette wrapped in a crispy coating is a standard of street-food gourmet! Its golden-brown appearance whets the appetite, and a shot with Hikone Castle as a backdrop is truly the "equation of photogenic."

• Photogenic Point: The contrast of the freshly fried golden color and the white walls of Hikone Castle
• Best Time to Shoot: A blue-sky morning, when the light hits evenly
• Angle: A close-up of the croquette with the castle in a blurred background boosts the travel feel
• Access: About 15 minutes on foot from JR Hikone Station; multiple shops in the castle town area

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05 | "Mizuumi no Tsuki" by Okashitsukasa Souhonke Surugaya [Otsu City]

"Mizuumi no Tsuki," the signature confection imagined after the moon reflected on Lake Biwa, is a round and beautiful Japanese sweet, just as its name suggests. The pale golden outer skin evokes moonlight, and it's very popular as a souvenir too.

• Photogenic Point: The contrast with the chic black box creates a sense of luxury
• Best Time to Shoot: Shooting by the window at dusk makes it fantastical with warm light
• Angle: The opened box from a diagonal above. With washi paper or a wooden tray as a background
• Access: Can be purchased at souvenir shops and department stores around JR Otsu Station

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Shiga's gourmet is a treasure trove packed with the nature, history, and tradition of Lake Biwa. Do enjoy a photogenic trip with your camera in hand.

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