Visit Omi

29/01/2025

Experience a full private Samurai Tea Ceremony and discover the Ichigo-Ichie Concept, a concept for samurai to live by, in a unique and authentic venue inside the Hikone Castle. Booking available now!!

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We are excited to announce the launch of our exclusive samurai experience, titled "Lord's Tea Ceremony Experience" at Hikone Castle.

This unique experience is based on the well documented Chaji tea ceremonies staged by Lord Ii Naosuke. It uses extant Edo period Hikone Castle facilities not open or available to the public, and traditional local chefs and craftsmen to reproduce a true Edo period Chaji tea Ceremony.

A true Chaji Tea Ceremony is a formal event lasting several hours, consisting of a full course meal of traditional kaiseki cuisine, Wagashi Japanese sweets, and thick and thin servings of tea.

The Kaiseki cuisine is authentically recreated with locally sourced ingredients as per the well documented extant menus created by Lord Naosuke, with catering by the classically trained Iseiki restaurant chefs that once served the Ii clan. The sake served is the local Okamura Honke brand, established on the orders of Hikone’s Lord Ii Naosuke, and still popular to this day.

The actual Tea Ceremony is conducted by members of the official Hikone City Tea Ceremony Association, often using actual antique implements and bowls, while the Wagashi sweets have been created by chefs of the long-established Japanese confectionery shop, Itoju Kaho, purveyors to the ruling Ii clan and a favorite of Lord Naosuke.

To ensure the Chaji goes well, and to add to the enjoyable atmosphere, an actor portraying Lord Naosuke solemnly entertains guests as the host. At the end, Lord Naosuke presents his guests with a special certificate in memory of their Ichigo-Ichie experience.

In the spirit of Ichigo-Ichie, this is a once in a lifetime - unique and exclusive - samurai history and cultural experience. Enjoy!

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Date of Events (2025)

- March 3 (Mon.) 10:00-16:00
- March 9 (Sun.) 10:00-16:00
- March 12 (Wed.) 10:00-16:00
- March 19 (Wed.) 10:00-16:00

*Restricted to just one group per date, a minimum of two, maximum of five people per group may participate.

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Price per person (tax included)

- group of 2 people 165,800 yen
- group of 3 people 115,600 yen
- group of 4 people 90,500 yen
- group of 5 people 75,500 yen

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Details & Bookings

https://visit-omi.com/tea-ceremony

27/07/2023

Feel the spirit of the tea ceremony 'Ichi-go-Ichi-e' at Genkyuen Rakurakuen Gardens: the secondary house of Hikone domain lord where the originator of the phrase held tea ceremonies.

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The tea ceremony is one of the most famous Japanese culture and most of the tourists who come to Japan enjoy it at Kyoto. But do you know that the originator of the phrase 'Ichi-go-ichi-e (Once in a lifetime encounter)' is a samurai feudal lord of Hikone, Shiga?

Ii Naosuke (1815-1860), the Hikone domain daimyo and also chief minister to the Tokugawa shogunate immersed himself in Zen and the tea ceremony during his early years living at Hikone Castle. And after pursuing his studies, he came up with the idea of emphasizing the spirit of the individuals who take part in the tea ceremony, and the importance of experiencing the “thusness” of a unique moment.

'No matter how many times you have tea with the same people, if you recognise that today’s ceremony is an encounter that will never be repeated, it becomes a once-in-a-lifetime occasion.'

To share the importance of the spirit of the tea ceremony and also to build interpersonal relationships with his vassals and Buddhist monks from some family temples of Hikone domain as a team, he held 16 tea ceremonies at 'Genkyuen Rakurakuen Garden.' At that time, there were 4 tea rooms in the gardens so the lord and his guests would spend a half or a full day going around the tea rooms and enjoyed food and tea together with the beautiful scenery from each tea rooms.

Naosuke kept a record of the menus used at each tea ceremony so now we're trying to replicate the food and planing to offer it to the tourists. We can't wait to make an launch announcement of this tour soon.

https://youtu.be/Rwqw7Lq0Kus

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国宝指定を受けた現存天守5城の一つ、彦根城。築城当時から変わらない佇まいが多く残る彦根城で、城主・井伊家のお殿様は、どのように暮らしていたのか。下屋敷と庭園が残る「玄宮楽々園」は、実は、お殿様の暮らし.....

08/06/2023

Historical Omi (Shiga Prefecture), The Province of Samurai Battles, Castles and Warriors - the latest article by Chris Glenn, the Samurai Castle Master

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Historical Omi was one of the traditional provinces of old Japan, mentioned by name in the chronicles of 701 AD. Omi’s central position, being close to Kyoto and traversed by Japan’s major traditional highways, the Tokaido and the Nakasendo, linking the Imperial capital, Kyoto, with the Shogunate cities of Kamakura and later Edo (Tokyo), and with the great Lake Biwa — one of the world’s oldest lakes — affording transportation routes, made it strategically important. For these reasons, the Omi area is dotted with numerous samurai castles and history changing battlefields that influenced the fate of the Three Unifiers, the popular warlords Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Tokugawa Ieyasu.

Omi Tourism Ambassador, Chris Glenn is the writer of this article. An Australian born radio DJ, TV presenter, writer and historian, also known as the Samurai Castle Master, fell in love with this province full of exciting and fascinating history, and let us know the importance of Omi in samurai history. We hope you enjoy the article and discover the deep history of Omi, Japan.


https://visit-omi.com/poi/article/historical-omi

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23/12/2022

Bar Tartaruga - the bar in a historical merchant town, managed by the university students who protect the townscape by restoring old houses with a distinguished sake brewery related to samurai.

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Bar Tartaruga was established in 2006 and it is open from 6pm to 11pm on Saturdays. They have a lot of alcohol especially the famous local sake brand called "Kinkame" and you can experience the wide range of its taste which relates to each polishing rate and figure out the best match with the food menu.

They started the business as one of the projects with the University of Shiga Prefecture to revitalize the town by restoring old houses and letting young people have opportunities to know about the history and culture of the local town.

The bar is located in a same site of a long-established sake brewer, Okamura Honke that gives a great support of establishing this bar. The brewery was founded in 1854 in the Edo period, and has been brewing sake ever since using traditional methods. The brewery was the official supplier to the Ii clan that ruled over the Hikone domain from Hikone Castle, also known as Konki (Kinkame) Castle. Okamura Honke’s brand is ‘Kinkame’, which means ‘golden turtle’, reflecting good fortune and longevity, and the brewery’s association with the hereditary lords of the region. Tartaruga means turtle in Italian and to show respect to the brewery and its brand "Kinkame," they named the bar after it.

To know the history by hearing directly from the locals and feel the real atmosphere of the small local town, this bar is the best place to visit.

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INFO of Bar Tartaruga

Opening hours :
6pm - 11pm, Saturdays

Address :
60-1 Yoshida, Toyosato, Inukami-gun, Shiga
(in the same site of the restaurant "Yukitei" run by Okamura Honke)

Access :
20 minutes walk from Toyosato Station (Ohmi Railway)

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Article of Okamura Honke
https://visit-omi.com/poi/article/okamura-honke-sake-brewery

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#タルタルーガ #とよさと快蔵プロジェクト #岡村本家 #金亀

07/11/2022

DANDELION PROJECT at Hikone Castle, the fortress which has never experienced war.

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We are exhibiting “DANDELION PROJECT" by Ryotaro Muramatsu / NAKED at Hikone Castle from November 5, 2022.

"DANDELION,” an interaction art object which is a symbol of peace, has been planted (installed) in various places all over the world such as Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka in Japan, and Korea, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, France and the United States.

Praying for world peace, we are proud of having this exhibition this year, this time at the fortess which has never experienced war over more than 400 years.

To bring peace flowers to the world, come and participate in this peaceful art project in front of the Main Keep of Hikone Castle.

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Venue: Hikone Castle (1-1 Konkicho, Hikone, Shiga)
Date: November 5, 12, 19, 20, 25, 26, 27 / December 3
Holding time: 18:00 - 20:30
Admission: Adult ¥600, 7-12 year old ¥200

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29/04/2022

Koto Sanzan - best place for Shinrin-yoku (Forest Bathing)

We think that Buddhist monks in Japan have known the importance of “Shinrin-yoku (Forest Bathing)” since ancient times seeking not only spiritual enlightenment but also physiological and psychological health.

One of the best places to feel the religion and nature, “Koto Sanzan,” the three ancient temples on the east side of Lake Biwa in Shiga Prefecture.

https://youtu.be/7CgYIIhQeSA

#湖東三山 #森林浴 #西明寺 #金剛輪寺 #百済寺

18/04/2022

Fly with an eagle over Hikone Castle, one of just 12 Japanese castles to have maintained its original keep, and one of the five castles designated as National Treasures.

https://youtu.be/FNkmDU4hG5Y

Fly with an eagle over Hikone Castle, one of just 12 Japanese castles to have maintained its original keep, and one of the five castles designated as Nationa...

16/04/2022

Sakura, Castle and the surface of the water. It’s enough to see the beauty of colors without colored illumination.

#桜 #陰翳礼讃 #谷崎潤一郎

03/03/2022

Hikone Castle🏯, the fortress which has never experienced war, prays for Ukraine🇺🇦 and world peace with sakura🌸.

The Edo period spans from the early 17th to late 19th century in Japanese history, when Japan was under the rule of the Tokugawa shogunate, overseeing the country’s 300 regional daimyo. Because of the stable unification, the culture and art were in bloom which became the main basis of traditional Japanese culture that we recognize today.

Hikone Castle is a castle symbolizing this era. The castle was built as a fortress in a transition period from war to peace, so fortunately as soon as they finished construction, it became a symbol of peace with no experience of war.

Every spring, we have sakura, cherry blossom in this castle. Sakura reminds us graduation and a new beginig with bright future. We hope that the people in Ukraine and all around the world can live in peace without war for the bright future.

https://youtu.be/42zzeLBYAow

copyright：彦根商工会議所・一般社団法人近江ツーリズムボード撮影：dronepapa

24/02/2022

Eateresting Recipes by Japanese chefs with Shiga ingredients😋
Shiga - birthplace of sushi🍣 and one of top three Japanese beef🥩

Omi (Shiga Prefecture), the region next to Kyoto is an undiscovered destination for foodies✨ The history of the world's most famous Japanese cuisine "sushi" and the oldest Japanese beef brand "Omi beef" began in this place. As an aside, Omi beef was sold as "Kobe beef" at the begining because it was shipped to Tokyo via Kobe Port so if the father of the late NBA player🏀 Kobe Bryant knew this story, he would have given a name Omi to his son☺

Thanks to the interesting food culture in Omi, there are lots of Japanese local chefs who work hard and enjoy using local ingredients and gastronomy. These recipes are from them and you can learn some tips as well.

Enjoy the recipes to follow to learn how Omi chefs use the local ingredients and make you feel “eateresting! - eating is interesting🍻”

Tap the link below to see the lineup of the recipes🍳
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLVUy9RupflYuzY5MysR1iQctEjvPncwFj

31/12/2021

It’s so cold in Hikone and any other cities on the east and northside of Lake Biwa. But we always feel warm when we remember the warm support from the locals.

And especially we are thankful to this castle that has given us opportunities to get to know a lot of locals and visitors.

We hope that you can enjoy this castle and region Omi (Shiga Prefecture) soon, hopefully next year 2022.

Happy holidays!!!!

#彦根城

27/12/2021

Hanabi🎇, Japanese Fireworks, connected with ninja🥷 and the history of fi****ms🔫.
There are some Ukiyo-e pictures of Japanese fireworks, “hanabi” by Utagawa Hiroshige. Comparing the Japanese and other countries’ fireworks, Hanabi has its own style in shape, the spiritual meaning and history.

Nowadays, hanabi is one of the entertainment but in the Edo era, it was a memorial to the dead or a prayer for the eradication of epidemic and its roots go deep in the history of Japanese fi****ms.

During the Warring States period, the first matchlock guns arrived with Portuguese traders in 1543 and Oda Nobunaga recognized the advantages of guns so he decided to use it in the battle.

One of the famous blacksmith groups making the matchlock guns was in Kunitomo town, Nagahama city, Shiga.

And furthermore, one of the famous samurai soldier groups who was asked to use guns was from Koka city, Shiga, the birthplace of Ninja, because they were brave and had a great knowledge of using gunpowder.

These people from Shiga had played a big role in the battles but emerging from the chaos of this period, they lost their jobs and needed to find a new source of income.

So the blacksmith group used their techniques making hanabi and now, Kakinoki Hanabi Kogyo is the one and only hanabi manufacturer which exists in Kansai region.

And according to one theory, some of the descendants of ninja became hanabi experts as well using their knowledge.

Thanks to the blacksmith group and ninja, we can still enjoy hanabi in a Japanese traditional way.
#柿木花火 #花火 #鉄砲 #忍者 #織田信長 #国友 #浮世絵 #歌川広重 #甲賀

08/12/2021

Santa Clause, rabbits, wild boars and Kanji. Everybody dances with local craft beers in Shiga, Japan.

24/11/2021

Tickets available for this Saturday gourmet bicycle lunch tour from JR Hikone Station! Experience the outstanding dining in the fields of Shiga Prefecture, just 20 min. from Kyoto.

How about having an outdoor lunch dining experience in a countryside of Japan this Saturday, November 27th? Our project is to connect table and farm in a region full of nature. And this lunch tour “Sonoba Kitchen” is one of it. We hope that we can share this one and only experience with you in Hikone City, Shiga, Japan!

We offer you the following experience:
- Riding to the fields on a rental bike.
- Wishing a wonderful day at the Taga Grand Shrine.
- Picking your own Taga carrots.
- Having meal in an outstanding scenery made by our guest chef from Hikone Castle Resort & Spa.
- Looking for local vegetables and fruits at a farmers market.
- Enjoying riding on a local small train with the bike.

Details of “Sonoba Kitchen” Tour:
- Price: ¥5,000 per person *Pay in cash on the very day at the meeting point
- Time: 10am to 2pm
- Meeting point: the square to the west of the JR Hikone Station, 5 min. from the Shinkansen station Maibara.
- Meeting time: 9:50am

What’s included:
- Lunch
- Professional bicycle guide
- Bicycle rental fee
- Insurance
- Local bicycle train fare
- Small snacks and water during the ride

Not included:
- All train fares except the local bicycle train fee when we ride together.
- Souvenirs
- Money offering at the shrine, etc.

For Reservation:
Send us an email to [email protected] with a following information.
Reservations are accepted by Nov. 25th.

- Full Name
- Email Address
- Mobile Phone Number
- Age
- Height (cm)

Notes:
*Tour will be canceled in case of rain. In this case, we’ll inform you by Nov. 26th.
*Please wear appropriate clothes and shoes.
*Only people over 140 centimeters tall can join this tour.
*People who can post about this tour through social media preferred.

24/10/2021

Sennaritei Kyara Taga Bettei, the newest restaurant of the prime purveyors of Omi Beef🥩🐃
Sushi, beef bowl, roast beef and steak. Theres’s a lot of ways to enjoy Omi Beef, the top brand black wagyu. And the prime purveyors of this delicious beef, Sennaritei Foods opend this new restaurant last month in a sacred area of Taga, next to the the Taga Grand Shrine.
Why not try one of the restaurants of Sennaritei Foods in this area to know about Omi Beef and the gastronomy of this area?
More info about Sennaritei Foods:
https://visit-omi.com/fab/article/sennaritei-shinkabo

#せんなり亭伽羅多賀別邸

10/10/2021

Rosa & Berry Tawada, the best place to see rainbows at night🌈🕯
It is said that Shiga Prefecture is the best place to see rainbows in Japan because of the Japan’s largest freshwater lake, Lake Biwa. And now, you can see those at night.
Rosa & Berry Tawada, the famous English garden amusement park in Maibara, Shiga have an illumination event till St. Valentine’s Day. Enjoy the rainbow over the lake filled with a dreamlike atmosphere made by the beautiful illumination.

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https://www.rb-illumi.com
Reservation would be preferred.
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#ローザンベリー多和田

12/08/2021

Hikone Carom - Hikone’s famous board game that makes people crazy and addicted.

※These fotos were taken before the pandemic.

Carom is a board game that’s been popular in Hikone since the Meiji Period. Carom can be played by two or four participants, so it is a very flexible and convivial game. Since the rules are easily understood, there’s no language barrier with carom.

It is said to have emerged about 800 years ago, around the 12th or 13th century, in Egypt and Ethiopia. It spread nationwide during the early Showa period but was soon forgotten in other areas. However, it remained popular in Hikone. This is because there was a manufacturer of carom boards in Hikone. Carom boards were made in Hikone by the craftsmen who make Hikone butsudan, a miniature temple which the Buddhist faithful can have in their home.

Carom became a rarity outside of Hikone, but it’s recently been featured on television and it’s spreading again nationwide and nowadays there is a national carom tournament.

When you are in Hikone, take the opportunity to get acquainted with carom and fully experience its fun and sophistication.

For more information of how to play Carom:
https://visit-omi.com/poi/article/hikone-carom

#カロム #彦根仏壇

11/08/2021

Sazanami Saketen - Explore the wonderful realm of Omi Sake in an avant-garde liquor shop.

Sazanami Saketen is a liquor shop located a couple of blocks from Hikone Station. Open the door and you find yourself in an Aladdin’s cave of liquor of every kind, arrayed in an attractive interior featuring a lot of dark wood which were used in some sake breweries. They have a variety of drink such as craft beers from all around the world and local ones, and especially the realm of local sake is amazing.

The owner is an accredited sake sommelier, and a true enthusiast of Japan’s national beverage so he has discovered many sake breweries in Omi, Shiga Prefecture and dedicates himself to know the best marriage of each sake and food. They have some snacks as well including some regional cuisine such as Funazushi, the progenitor of today’s Sushi. To have a wonderful experience with local sake of Omi, it’s the best choice to stop by Sazanami Saketen.

For more information:
https://visit-omi.com/fab/article/sazanami-saketen

※The bar space is now closed till the end of August at least due to the COVID rules. Thank you for your understanding.

#日本酒 #地酒