Oumihachiman city [近江八幡]
Old town in Oumihachiman
Hachiman-bori in Oumihachiman
Oumihachiman is a city on the southeastern coast of Lake Biwa.
It is located about 25 km northeast of Otsu city and about 35 km northeast of Kyoto.
In 1585, Hachiman-yama Castle was built on small Mount Hachiman about 100 meters high by Lake Biwa.
The castle was abondoned in 1595, but the castle town was constructed at the southeastern foot of the mountain.
It is the origin of current Oumihachiman.
The town is about 1 km square, and developed as a commercial city.
This town produced excellent merchants, and the had been called "Oumi-merchant".
Hachiman-bori canal (八幡堀)
Hachiman-bori in Oumihachiman
Shinmachi Street in Oumihachiman
Photo by Omihachiman Tourism Association
The town is about 2 to 3 kilometers away from Lake Biwa.
So, to use water transport on Lake Biwa, a canal between Lake Biwa and the town was constructed.
It is Hachiman-bori, and the total length is about 6 km and the width is about 15 meters.
The canal runs in the north edge of the town at the foot of Mount Hachiman.
The south side of Hachiman-bori is the old town.
Especially, Shinmachi Street in the west part of the town is attractive.
The houses built in the 18th to 19th centuries are along the street.
We can see Nishikawa House built in 1706 and Ban House built in 1840.
And, there area a few museums about this town.
Hakuunkan in Oumihachiman
Photo by Railstation.net
Kawara Museum in Oumihachiman
Photo by Omihachiman Tourism Association
There is Hakuunkan (白雲館) by Hachiman-bori about 200 meters east of Shinmachi street.
It is a Western-style building built in 1877, and was an elementary school.
Now, it is used as tourist information center.
There is Kawara Museum by Hachiman-bori about 200 meters mortheast of Hakuunkan.
"Kawara" is Japanese roof tile, and is used on the roof of Japanese construction.
After Hachiman-yama Castle was constructed, production of Kawara became a local industry in Oumihachiman.
This museum introduces about Japanese Kawara.
A few boat shops operate the sightseeing boat tour of Hachiman-bori.
You can enjoy the scenery around Hachiman-bori on the boat for about 30 minutes.
Himure-Hachimangu shrine (日牟禮八幡宮)
Himure-Hachimangu
Drum Festival of Himure-Hachimangu in April
Photo by Omihachiman Tourism Association
Himure-Hachimangu is a Shinto shrine at the foot of Mount Hachiman, and is located about 100 meters north of Hakuunkan.
It is unknown when this shrine was founded.
In 991, another shrine was also built on the top of Mount Hachiman by the order of Emperor Ichijo.
In 1585, the shrine on the top was merged with the shrine at the foot because Hachiman-yama Castle was built there.
After the castle town was constructed, this shrine was revered by Oumi-merchants in Oumihachiman.
Mount Hachiman (八幡山)
View of Lake Biwa from mount Hachiman
Zuiryuji in Oumihachiman
Photo by Omihachiman Tourism Association
From near Himure-Hachimangu shrine, a ropeway is operated to the top of mount Hachiman.
On the top of the mountain, there is the ruin of Hachiman-yama Castle.
The place is an observatory, and we can see the view around Oumihachiman.
And, there is Zuiryuji (瑞龍寺) temple near the castle.
It was founded as a Buddhist temple in Kyoto in 1596.
The founder was the brother of the lord who built Hachiman-yama Castle.
Then, the temple was moved to this place in 1961.
How to get here
By JR Biwako Line, to Oumihachiman, about 1 hour and 10 minutes from Kyoto, about 30 minutes from 30 minutes from Maibara.
(Maibara is the station of Tokaido Shinkansen between Nagoya and Kyoto.)
Hachiman-bori area is about 2 km from Oumihachima station.
By route bus, about 7 minutes.
On foot, it takes about 30 minutes.
