Shiga on Rambling Record

Ogoto Onsen

Sat, 27 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

This hot spring is in Otsu, on the shores of Lake Biwa. It’s almost a 1-hour ride from Kyoto and we decide to spend the weekend there.

We get off the train at the small station of the same name, and a shuttle takes us to the hotel in the middle of the afternoon. We settle in quickly and head straight to enjoy the various hot baths at the neighboring hotel (accessible for an extra fee). We have dinner there and then go back for another soak. There’s also a sauna and a steam room to finish unwinding.

Loose pictures: Summer 2024

Mon, 30 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000

July 14th – Aquarium Kaiyukan (1/2)

July 14th – Aquarium Kaiyukan (2/2)

July 14th – Osaka viewed from the Tempozan ferris wheel

July 28th – Tsukubusuma shrine on Chikubu island (1/2)

July 28th – Tsukubusuma shrine on Chikubu island (2/2)

Loose pictures: May / June 2024

Sun, 30 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000

May 18th – Sanjo bridge

May 26th – Visit of the MIHO museum (1/2)

May 26th – Visit of the MIHO museum (2/2)

June 2nd – Saishō-in temple

June 2nd – Okunoin temple

June 2nd – Clouds coming from the north

The Sun at the summit

Thu, 13 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000

+1250 m / -1250 m / 17 km

It’s mid-June and it’s hot. I’ve prepared a few things for a Mount Fuji climb at the end of August. Stories about watching the sunrise from the summit gave me an idea: to climb Mount Bunagatake at night (after discovering it this winter), in the cool, catch the sunrise, and head back down before the heat sets in.

By taking a Friday off, I can leave on a Thursday evening, finish the climb the next day, and rest for the following two days. The perfect plan.

Hikone, Omi-Hachiman

Sun, 28 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000

I arrive in Hikone late in the morning to visit the castle, one of the 12 with a donjon still intact. It is also one of the 5 castles listed as National Treasures of Japan (the others being: Himeji, Matsue, Inuyama, and Matsumoto). It is located on Mount Konki and overlooks the city.

Everyone walks inside wearing socks; fortunately, it’s not very cold. However, thestairsladders are a bit slippery!

Bunagatake

Sun, 14 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000

+1250 m / -1250 m / 16 km

The sun is still behind the hills as I arrive at Hira Station to climb Mount Bunagatake. It has been on my list for a while, and the weather forecast finally convinced me, even though it snowed last night. I got snow crampons yesterday, hoping not to need more (gaiters or snowshoes).

I first walk on a road that crosses rice fields and come across a group of people gathered around a fairly large bonfire. I will later learn that it’s adondoyaki: wooden decorations used to celebrate the New Year are stacked and burned, for the purpose of purification.

Mount Horai

Sat, 02 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0000

+1180 m / -1180 m / 13 km

Get up at dawn to climb Mount Horai. This mountain overlooks Lake Biwa, and a gondola lift has been built close to the summit. A few ski slopes and a panoramic restaurant are to be found there.

I join with a friend at 7 a.m. at Kyoto Station and we leave for Horai station in Otsu.

The road rises as soon as we leave the station and we quickly have a beautiful view of Lake Biwa. The road turns into a large path, then a trail. The ascent is easy and steady. Towards the summits, we find ourselves in a cloud of snow. It’s very windy, sometimes we struggle to keep our balance on the ridge path.

A day with WHO

Sat, 25 Nov 2023 00:00:00 +0000

I meet at 10:45 a.m. at Mikumo Station in Shiga Prefecture, to walk with the WHO (Wonderful Hiking Organization) Meetup group. We wait a few minutes and then set off. There are 24 of us!

We take a quick break in a kombini and leave quietly. We pass by the ruins of a castle and continue into the forest. We take advantage of the following viewpoint to have lunch. The afternoon route alternates between forest and residential areas. But that’s not the most important thing, the discussions are going well and time is flying.