Editing Shiga Prefecture

{{short description|Prefecture of Japan}}
{{redirect|Shiga}}
{{Infobox settlement
<!-- See Template:Infobox settlement for additional fields and descriptions -->| name                     = Shiga Prefecture
| native_name              = {{nobold|{{lang|ja|滋賀県}}}}
| settlement_type          = [[Prefectures of Japan|Prefecture]]
| translit_lang1           = Japanese
| translit_lang1_type      = [[Japanese language|Japanese]]
| translit_lang1_info      = {{lang|ja|滋賀県}}
| translit_lang1_type1     = [[Romanization of Japanese|Rōmaji]]
| translit_lang1_info1     = {{lang|ja-Latn|Shiga-ken}}
| image_skyline            = Mangetsuji Otsu Shiga02n4500.jpg
| image_caption            = The floating pavilion of [[Mangetsu-ji]] on the shores of [[Lake Biwa]], the largest freshwater lake in Japan, located in [[Ōtsu|Otsu]] City, Shiga Prefecture
| image_flag               = Flag of Shiga Prefecture.svg
| flag_size                = 100px
| image_blank_emblem       = Emblem of Shiga Prefecture.svg
| blank_emblem_size        = 80px
| blank_emblem_type        = Symbol
| image_map                = Map of Japan with highlight on 25 Shiga prefecture.svg
| coordinates              = 
| subdivision_type         = Country
| subdivision_name         = Japan
| subdivision_type1        = [[List of regions of Japan|Region]]
| subdivision_name1        = [[Kansai region|Kansai]]
| subdivision_type2        = [[List of islands of Japan|Island]]
| subdivision_name2        = [[Honshu]]
| seat_type                = [[List of capitals in Japan|Capital]]
| seat                     = [[Ōtsu]]
| parts_type               = Subdivisions
| parts_style              = para
| p1                       = [[Districts of Japan|Districts]]: 3
| p2                       = [[Municipalities of Japan|Municipalities]]: 19
| leader_title             = [[List of prefectural governors in Japan|Governor]]
| leader_name              = [[Taizō Mikazuki]]
| area_total_km2           = 4,017.38
| area_water_percent       = 14.0
| area_rank                = [[List of Japanese prefectures by area|38th]]
| population_footnotes     = 
| population_total         = 1,412,916
| population_as_of         = October 1, 2015
| population_rank          = [[List of Japanese prefectures by population|28th]]
| population_density_km2   = auto
| demographics_type2              = GDP 
| demographics2_footnotes         = <ref>{{Cite web |title=2020年度国民経済計算（2015年基準・2008SNA） : 経済社会総合研究所 - 内閣府 |url=https://www.esri.cao.go.jp/jp/sna/data/data_list/kakuhou/files/2020/2020_kaku_top.html |access-date=2023-05-18 |website=内閣府ホームページ |language=ja}}</ref>
| demographics2_title1            = Total
| demographics2_info1   = [[JP¥]] 6,923 billion<br />[[US$]] 63.5 billion (2019)
| iso_code                 = JP-25
| website                  = {{URL|http://www.pref.shiga.lg.jp/multilingual/english/index.html|http://www.pref.shiga.lg.jp}}
| module                   = {{Infobox place symbols| embedded=yes
| country  = Japan
| bird     = [[Little grebe]] (''Tachybaptus&nbsp;ruficollis'')
| fish     = 
| flower   = [[Rhododendron]] (''Rhododendron&nbsp;metternichii'' var.&nbsp;''hondoense'')
| tree     = Japanese&nbsp;[[maple]] (''Acer palmatum'')
}}
| anthem                   = [[:ja:滋賀県民の歌|Shiga kenmin no uta]]
}}
{{nihongo|'''Shiga Prefecture'''|滋賀県|Shiga-ken|{{IPA|ja|ɕiꜜ.ɡa, -ŋa, ɕi.ɡaꜜ.keɴ, -ŋaꜜ.keɴ}}<ref>{{cite book|script-title=ja:NHK日本語発音アクセント新辞典|publisher=NHK Publishing|editor=NHK Broadcasting Culture Research Institute|date=24 May 2016|lang=ja}}</ref>}} is a landlocked [[Prefectures of Japan|prefecture]] of Japan in the [[Kansai region]] of Honshu.<ref>Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Shiga-ken" in {{Google books|p2QnPijAEmEC|''Japan Encyclopedia'', p. 853|page=853}}; "Kansai" at {{Google books|p2QnPijAEmEC|''Japan Encyclopedia'', p. 477|page=477}}.</ref> Shiga Prefecture has a population of 1,398,972 as of 1 February 2025 and has a geographic area of {{cvt|4,017|sqkm}}. Shiga Prefecture borders [[Fukui Prefecture]] to the north, [[Gifu Prefecture]] to the northeast, [[Mie Prefecture]] to the southeast, and [[Kyoto Prefecture]] to the west.

[[Ōtsu]] is the capital and largest city of Shiga Prefecture, with other major cities including [[Kusatsu, Shiga|Kusatsu]], [[Nagahama, Shiga|Nagahama]], and [[Higashiōmi]].<ref>Nussbaum, "Ōtsu" at {{Google books|p2QnPijAEmEC|''Japan Encyclopedia'', p. 765|page=765}}.</ref> Shiga Prefecture encircles [[Lake Biwa]], the largest [[freshwater lake]] in Japan, and 37% of the total land area is designated as [[List of national parks of Japan|Natural Parks]], the highest of any prefecture. Shiga Prefecture's southern half is located adjacent to the former capital city of [[Kyoto]] and forms part of [[Greater Kyoto]], the fourth-largest [[metropolitan area]] in Japan. Shiga Prefecture is home to [[Ōmi beef]], the [[Eight Views of Ōmi]], and [[Hikone Castle]], one of four [[List of National Treasures of Japan (castles)|national treasure castles]] in Japan.{{cn|date=May 2025}} 

== History ==
{{See also|Historic Sites of Shiga Prefecture}}
Shiga was known as '''[[Ōmi Province]]''' or '''Gōshū''' before the prefectural system was established.<ref>Nussbaum, "Provinces and prefectures" at {{Google books|p2QnPijAEmEC|''Japan Encyclopedia'', p. 780|page=780}}.</ref>  Omi was a neighbor of [[Nara, Nara|Nara]] and [[Kyoto]], at the junction of western and eastern Japan. During the period 667 to 672, [[Emperor Tenji]] founded a palace in Otsu. In 742, [[Emperor Shōmu]] founded a palace in [[Shigaraki, Shiga|Shigaraki]]. In the early [[Heian period]], [[Saichō]] was born in the north of Otsu and founded [[Enryaku-ji]], the center of [[Tendai]] and a [[UNESCO]] [[World Heritage Site]] [[Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto (Kyoto, Uji and Otsu Cities)|and monument of Ancient Kyoto]] now.

During the [[Heian period]], the [[Sasaki clan]] ruled Omi, and afterward, the [[Rokkaku clan]], [[Kyōgoku clan]], and [[Azai clan]]s ruled Omi. While during the [[Azuchi–Momoyama period|Azuchi-Momoyama period]], [[Oda Nobunaga]] subjugated Omi and built [[Azuchi Castle]] on the eastern shores of [[Lake Biwa]] in 1579. [[Tōdō Takatora]], [[Gamō Ujisato]], [[Oichi]], [[Yodo-dono]], [[Ohatsu]], and [[Oeyo]] were Omi notables during this period.

In 1600, [[Ishida Mitsunari]], born in the east of Nagahama and based in [[Sawayama Castle]], made war against [[Tokugawa Ieyasu]] in [[Sekigahara, Gifu]]. After the battle, Ieyasu made [[Ii Naomasa]] a new lord of Sawayama. Naomasa established the [[Hikone Domain]], later known for [[Ii Naosuke]]. Ii Naosuke became the Tokugawa shogunate's [[Tairō]] and concluded commercial treaties with the Western powers and thus ended Japan's isolation from the world in the 19th century. Besides the Hikone Domain, many domains ruled Omi such as [[Zeze Domain|Zeze]].
[[File:Complete map of Shiga Prefecture, 1880.jpg|thumb|Map of Shiga Prefecture, 1880]]
With the [[abolition of the han system]], eight prefectures were formed in Omi. They were unified into Shiga Prefecture in September 1872. "Shiga Prefecture" was named after "[[Shiga District, Shiga|Shiga District]]" because Otsu belonged to the district until 1898. From August 1876 to February 1881, southern Fukui Prefecture had been incorporated into Shiga Prefecture.

In 2015, Shiga Governor [[Taizō Mikazuki]] conducted a survey asking citizens whether they felt it necessary to change the name of the prefecture, partly to raise its profile as a destination for domestic tourism.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2015/04/28/national/shiga-prefecture-mulls-name-change-draw-visitors/#.VmV_xct961s | title = Shiga Prefecture mulls name change to draw more visitors | newspaper = [[The Japan Times]]}}</ref>

== Geography ==
[[File:Lake biwa.jpg|thumb|Lake Biwa in Shiga Prefecture viewed from space]]

Shiga borders [[Fukui Prefecture]] in the north, [[Gifu Prefecture]] in the east, [[Mie Prefecture]] in the southeast, and [[Kyoto Prefecture]] in the west.

Lake Biwa, Japan's largest, is located at the center of this prefecture. It occupies one-sixth of its area. The [[Seta River]] flows from Lake Biwa to [[Osaka Bay]] through [[Kyoto]]. This is the only natural river that flows out from the lake. Most other natural rivers flow into the lake. There were many lagoons around Lake Biwa, but most of them were reclaimed in 1940s. One of the preserved lagoons is the {{nihongo|wetland|水郷|suigō}} in Omihachiman, and it was selected as the first [[Cultural Landscapes of Japan|Important Cultural Landscapes]] in 2006.

The lake divides the prefecture into four different areas: ''Kohoku'' (湖北, north of lake) centered Nagahama, ''Kosei'' (湖西, west of lake) centered [[Imazu, Shiga|Imazu]], ''Kotō'' (湖東, east of lake) centered Hikone and ''Konan'' (湖南, south of lake) centered Otsu.

Plains stretch to the eastern shore of Lake Biwa. The prefecture is enclosed by mountain ranges with the [[Hira Mountains]] and [[Mount Hiei]] in the west, the [[Ibuki Mountains]] in the northeast, and the [[Suzuka Mountains]] in the southeast. [[Mount Ibuki]] is the highest mountain in Shiga. In [[Yogo, Shiga|Yogo]], a small lake known for the legend of {{nihongo|the heavenly robe of an angel|天女の羽衣|[[tennin|tennyo]] no hagoromo}}, which is similar to a western [[Swan maiden]].<ref>{{cite web | author = Shiga Prefecture | script-title=ja:余呉湖・天女の衣掛柳 | trans-title = Lake Yogo - a willow hung a celestial robe | url = http://www.pref.shiga.lg.jp/minwa/41/41-movie.html | access-date = 2011-05-13 | language = ja}}</ref>

Shiga's climate sharply varies between north and south. Southern Shiga is usually warm, but northern Shiga is typically cold with high snowfall and hosts many skiing grounds. In Nakanokawachi, the northernmost village of Shiga, snow reached a depth of {{convert|5.6|m}} in 1936.<ref>Encyclopedia Shiga. p436.</ref>

As of 1 April 2014, 37% of the total land area of the prefecture was designated as [[List of national parks of Japan#History|Natural Parks]] (the highest total of any prefecture), namely the [[Biwako Quasi-National Park|Biwako]] and [[Suzuka Quasi-National Park|Suzuka]] Quasi-National Parks; and [[Kotō Prefectural Natural Park|Kotō]], [[Kutsuki-Katsuragawa Prefectural Natural Park|Kutsuki-Katsuragawa]], and [[Mikami-Tanakami-Shigaraki Prefectural Natural Park|Mikami-Tanakami-Shigaraki]] Prefectural Natural Parks.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.env.go.jp/en/nature/nps/park/doc/files/np_6.pdf |title=General overview of area figures for Natural Parks by prefecture |publisher=[[Ministry of the Environment (Japan)|Ministry of the Environment]] |date=1 April 2014 |access-date=3 July 2015}}</ref>

== Municipalities ==
{{See also|List of cities in Shiga Prefecture by population}}

=== Cities ===
[[File:Map of Shiga Prefecture Ja.svg|thumb|right|Map of Shiga Prefecture<br />{{legend0|#EAB|City}} {{legend0|#ED9|Town}}]]
[[Image:Hikonecity center area No,1.JPG|thumb|right|Hikone]]
[[Image:View from Nagahama-castle.JPG|thumb|right|Nagahama]]

Thirteen cities are located in Shiga Prefecture:
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! colspan="2" |Name
! rowspan="2" |Area (km<sup>2</sup>)
! rowspan="2" |Population
! rowspan="2" |Population density (per km<sup>2</sup>)
! rowspan="2" |Map
|-
![[Romanization of Japanese|Rōmaji]]
![[Kanji]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Higashiomi, Shiga.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Higashiōmi]]
|東近江市
|388.58
|113,460
|291.99
|[[File:Higashiomi in Shiga prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|78x78px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Hikone, Shiga.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Hikone, Shiga|Hikone]]
|彦根市
|196.84
|113,349
|575.84
|[[File:Hikone in Shiga prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|78x78px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Kōka, Shiga.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Kōka, Shiga|Kōka]]
|甲賀市
|481.62
|89,202
|185.21
|[[File:Koka in Shiga prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|78x78px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Konan Shiga.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Konan, Shiga|Konan]]
|湖南市
|70.4
|54,240
|770.46
|[[File:Konan in Shiga prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|78x78px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Kusatsu, Shiga.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Kusatsu, Shiga|Kusatsu]]
|草津市
|67.82
|141,945
|2092.97
|[[File:Kusatsu in Shiga prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|78x78px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Maibara Shiga.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Maibara, Shiga|Maibara]]
|米原市
|250.46
|38,473
|153.61
|[[File:Maibara in Shiga prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|78x78px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Moriyama, Shiga.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Moriyama, Shiga|Moriyama]]
|守山市
|55.73
|80,768
|1449.27
|[[File:Moriyama in Shiga prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|78x78px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Nagahama, Shiga.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Nagahama, Shiga|Nagahama]]
|長浜市
|680.79
|119,043
|174.86
|[[File:Nagahama in Shiga prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|78x78px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Omihachiman, Shiga.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Ōmihachiman]]
|近江八幡市
|177.45
|82,116
|462.76
|[[File:Omihachiman in Shiga prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|78x78px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Otsu, Shiga.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Ōtsu]] (capital)
|大津市
|464.51 
|341,187
|734.51
|[[File:Otsu in Shiga Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|78x78px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Ritto Shiga.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Rittō, Shiga|Rittō]]
|栗東市
|52.75
|67,149
|1272.97
|[[File:Ritto in Shiga prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|78x78px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Takashima, Shiga.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Takashima, Shiga|Takashima]]
|高島市
|693
|49,168
|70.95
|[[File:Takashima in Shiga prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|78x78px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Yasu, Shiga.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Yasu, Shiga|Yasu]]
|野洲市
|80.15
|50,233
|626.74
|[[File:Yasu in Shiga prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|78x78px]]
|}

=== Towns ===
These are the towns in each [[Districts of Japan|district]]:
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! colspan="2" |Name
! rowspan="2" |Area (km<sup>2</sup>)
! rowspan="2" |Population
! rowspan="2" |Population density (per km<sup>2</sup>)
! rowspan="2" |District
! rowspan="2" |Map
|-
![[Romanization of Japanese|Rōmaji]]
![[Kanji]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Aisho Shiga.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Aishō, Shiga|Aishō]]
|愛荘町
|37.98
|20,730
|545.81
|[[Echi District, Shiga|Echi District]]
|[[File:Aisho in Shiga Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|78x78px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Hino Shiga.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Hino, Shiga|Hino]]
|日野町
|117.63
|21,677
|184.28
|[[Gamō District, Shiga|Gamō District]]
|[[File:Hino in Shiga Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|78x78px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Kōra, Shiga.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Kōra, Shiga|Kōra]]
|甲良町
|13.66
|6,932
|507.47
|[[Inukami District, Shiga|Inukami District]]
|[[File:Kora in Shiga Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|78x78px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Ryuo, Shiga.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Ryūō, Shiga|Ryūō]]
|竜王町
|44.52
|12,130
|272.46
|[[Gamō District, Shiga|Gamō District]]
|[[File:Ryuo in Shiga Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|78x78px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Taga, Shiga.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Taga, Shiga|Taga]]
|多賀町
|135.93
|7,382
|54.31
|[[Inukami District, Shiga|Inukami District]]
|[[File:Taga in Shiga Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|78x78px]]
|-
|[[File:Flag of Toyosato, Shiga.svg|frameless|25x25px]] [[Toyosato, Shiga|Toyosato]]
|豊郷町
|7.78
|7,588
|975.32
|[[Inukami District, Shiga|Inukami District]]
|[[File:Toyosato in Shiga Prefecture Ja.svg|frameless|78x78px]]
|}

=== Mergers ===
{{main|List of mergers in Shiga Prefecture}}

== Politics ==
[[File:Shiga Prefectural Government Office.jpg|thumb|Ōtsu City's prefectural government building]]
[[Taizō Mikazuki]], a former member of the House of Representatives from Shiga, was narrowly [[2014 Shiga gubernatorial election|elected governor in July 2014]] with center-left support against ex-METI-bureaucrat [[Takashi Koyari]] (supported by the center-right national-level ruling parties) to succeed governor [[Yukiko Kada]]. In June 2018, he was [[2018 Shiga gubernatorial election|overwhelmingly reelected to a second term]] against one challenger, a communist.<ref>Shiga prefectural government: [https://www.pref.shiga.lg.jp/kensei/chizi/ Governor's office] (Japanese, English machine translation available by clicking "Foreign Language")</ref><ref>[[The Japan Times]], July 14, 2014: [https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/07/14/national/politics-diplomacy/ldp-candidate-flounders-shiga-gubernatorial-elections/ LDP candidate flounders in Shiga governor race], retrieved August 1, 2019.</ref><ref>[[NHK]] Senkyo Web, June 24, 2018: [https://www.nhk.or.jp/senkyo/database/local/2018/shiga-chiji.html 2018滋賀県知事選], retrieved August 1, 2019.</ref>

The [[Shiga Prefectural Assembly|prefectural assembly]] has 44 members from 16 electoral districts, and is elected in unified local elections. As of July 2019, the assembly was composed by caucus as follows: [[Liberal Democratic Party of Japan|LDP]] 20 members, Team Shiga ([[Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan|CDP]], [[Democratic Party for the People|DPP]], former Kada supporters etc.) 14, [[Japanese Communist Party|JCP]] 4, Sazanami Club (of independents) 3, [[Kōmeitō]] 2, "independent"/non-attached 1.<ref>Prefectural assembly: [http://www.shigaken-gikai.jp/g07_Kaiha.asp Members by caucus] {{in lang|ja}}, retrieved August 1, 2019.</ref>

In the [[National Diet]], Shiga is represented by four directly elected members of the [[House of Representatives (Japan)|House of Representatives]] and two (one per ordinary election) of the [[House of Councillors]]. For the proportional representation segment of the lower house, the prefecture forms part of the [[Kinki proportional representation block|Kinki block]]. After the national elections of [[2016 Japanese House of Councillors election|2016]], [[2017 Japanese House of Representatives election|2017]] and [[2019 Japanese House of Councillors election|2019]], the directly elected delegation to the Diet from Shiga consists of (as of August 1, 2019):
* in the House of Representatives
** for the [[Shiga 1st district|1st district]] in the west: [[Toshitaka Ōoka]], LDP, 3rd term,
** for the [[Shiga 2nd district|2nd district]] in the northeast: [[Ken'ichirō Ueno]], LDP, 4th term,
** for the [[Shiga 3rd district|3rd district]] on the southern shores of Lake Biwa: [[Nobuhide Takemura]], LDP, 3rd term,
** for the [[Shiga 4th district|4th district]] in the southeast: [[Hiroo Kotera]], LDP, 1st term,
* in the House of Councillors ([[Shiga At-large district]])
** in the class of 2016 (term ends 2022): Takashi Koyari, LDP, 1st term,
** in the class of 2019 (term ends 2025): Yukiko Kada, independent sitting with the [[Hekisuikai]] caucus, 1st term.

== Economy ==
[[File:Omihachiman shimmatidori01s3200.jpg|thumb|Merchant mansions in Omihachiman]]

According to the [[Cabinet Office (Japan)|Cabinet Office]]'s statistics in 2014, the manufacturing sector accounted for 35.4% of Shiga's economic production, the highest proportion in Japan.<ref name="best scores">{{cite web | author = Shiga Prefecture | script-title=ja:滋賀県の紹介（滋賀県なんでも一番） | trans-title = Introduction of Shiga prefecture; Best scores of Shiga | url = http://www.pref.shiga.lg.jp/profile/seikatsu/index.html | access-date = 2011-05-08 | language = ja}}</ref>

== Demographics ==
[[File:Shiga prefecture population pyramid in 2020.svg|thumb|Shiga prefecture population pyramid in 2020]]
{{Historical populations
| 1920 |651050
| 1930 |691631
| 1940 |703679
| 1950 |861180
| 1960 |842695
| 1970 |889768
| 1980 |1079898
| 1990 |1222411
| 2000 |1342832
| 2010 |1410777
| 2015 |1412916
| source = [http://www.pref.shiga.lg.jp/data/population/renew/index.html#nenp]
}}
The population is concentrated along the southern shore of Lake Biwa in Otsu city (adjacent to Kyoto) and along the lake's eastern shore in cities such as Kusatsu and Moriyama, which are [[Greater Kyoto|within commuting distance to Kyoto]]. The lake's western and northern shores are more rural and resort-oriented with white sand beaches. In recent years, many Brazilians settled in Shiga to work in nearby factories. 25,040 foreigners live in Shiga and 30% of foreigners were Brazilians as of December 2016.<ref>{{cite web | author = Shiga Prefecture | script-title=ja:滋賀県内の外国人人口 | trans-title = The number of foreigners in Shiga Prefecture | url = http://www.pref.shiga.lg.jp/b/kokusai/tabunka/population.html | access-date = 2017-11-07 | language = ja}}</ref>

== Culture ==
[[File:Sagawa art museum01s3200.jpg|thumb|right|Sagawa Art Museum]]
[[File:Lake Biwa Aquarium.jpg|thumb|Aquarium of Lake Biwa Museum]]

[[Biwa, Shiga|Biwa Town]] (a part of Nagahama) is a home of The [[Tonda Traditional Bunraku Puppet Troupe]].{{cn|date=May 2025}} 

Museums include the [[Sagawa Art Museum]] in Moriyama, the [[Lake Biwa Museum]] in Kusatsu and the [[Miho Museum]] in Kōka. In Kōka, a ninja house is preserved as a visitor center.<ref>{{cite web | author =  Biwako Visitors Bureau | title = Experiencing Ninjutsu (Ninja's techniques) at the ninja's native place – Koka Ninjutsu Yashiki | url = http://en.biwako-visitors.jp/reports/ninja2/ | access-date = 2011-05-13}}</ref>

=== Education ===
[[File:The University of Shiga Prefecture.JPG|thumb|right|University of Shiga Prefecture]]
Ten universities, two junior colleges, and a learning center of [[The Open University of Japan]] operate in Shiga.<ref>{{cite web | author = Shiga Prefecture | script-title=ja:滋賀県内の大学・短期大学 | trans-title = Universities and junior colleges in Shiga prefecture | url = http://www.pref.shiga.lg.jp/b/sigaku_daigaku/daigaku/index.html | access-date = 2011-05-08 | language = ja}}</ref>
* [[Newton College (Japan)|Biwako-Gakuin University]] (Higashiomi)
* [[Biwako Seikei Sport College]] (Otsu)
* [[Nagahama Institute of Bio-Science and Technology]] (Nagahama)
* [[Ritsumeikan University]] (Kyoto and Kusatsu)
* [[Ryukoku University]] (Kyoto and Otsu)
* [[Seian University of Art and Design]] (Otsu)
* [[Seisen University (Shiga)|Seisen University]] (Hikone)
* [[Shiga Bunkyo Junior College]] (Nagahama)
* [[Shiga Junior College]] (Otsu)
* [[Shiga University]] (Hikone and [[Ōtsu]])
* [[Shiga University of Medical Science]] (Otsu)
* [[University of Shiga Prefecture]] (Hikone)

=== Sports ===
The following sports teams are based in Shiga.

*Basketball: Shiga LakeStars
*Football (soccer): [[Lagend Shiga FC|Lagend Shiga]] (Moriyama), MIO Biwako Kusastsu (later [[Reilac Shiga FC|Reilac Shiga]]) (Kusatsu), [[Sagawa Shiga F.C.]] (Moriyama).
*Tennis: SHRIGGA AKA UVEAL
*Volleyball: [[Toray Arrows (women's volleyball team)]] (Otsu)

== Tourism ==
[[File:Mangetsuji_Otsu_Shiga02n4500.jpg|thumb|right|Ukimidō hall at [[Mangetsu-ji]] temple near Katata, Ōtsu]]
[[File:Michigan_-_Lake_Biwa,_Japan_-_DSC07330.JPG|thumb|From Otsu port, the Michigan paddlewheel boat offers cruises on Lake Biwa]]
[[File:Hikone-jo-r.jpg|thumb|right|[[Hikone Castle]]]]

In 2000 sixty-five thousand tourists visited Shiga.<ref>{{cite web | author = Shiga Prefecture | script-title=ja:湖国観光交流ビジョン 第２章 滋賀県観光の現状と課題 | trans-title = The vision for tourism and exchange of the Lake Country. Chapter 2: present situation and problem about the Shiga tourism | url = http://www.pref.shiga.lg.jp/f/kanko/vision/index.html | access-date = 2011-05-13 | language = ja}}</ref>

Festivals include the hikiyama (floats parade) festival, held in ten areas including[[Nagahama, Shiga|Nagahama]] each April, one of the three major hikiyama festivals in Japan, which was designated an Important Intangible Cultural Property in 1979. During the festival ornate floats are mounted with miniature stages on which boys (playing both male and female roles) act in [[kabuki]] plays.<ref>{{cite web | author = Biwako Visitors Bureau | script-title=ja:滋賀県観光情報：長浜曳山まつり | trans-title = Shiga tourism information: Nagahama hikiyama festival | url = http://www.biwako-visitors.jp/search/event_182.html | access-date = 2011-05-20 | language = ja}}</ref>

== Notable people ==
{{See also|:Category:People from Shiga Prefecture}}

* [[Gentaro Kawase]], president of [[Nippon Life Insurance]].
* [[Hizaki]], musician and songwriter.
* [[Kakuzo Kawamoto]], business executive and politician.
* [[Kizo Yasui]], business executive.
* [[Sōsuke Uno]], the 75th [[Prime Minister of Japan]].
* [[Takanori Nishikawa]], singer and actor.

== Sister states/provinces ==
Shiga has cooperative agreements with three statesnor provinces in other countries.<ref>{{cite web | author = Shiga Prefecture | script-title=ja:滋賀県の紹介（滋賀県の国際交流 姉妹・友好都市） | trans-title = Introduction of Shiga prefecture; International exchanges of Shiga, friendship sister cities | url = http://www.pref.shiga.lg.jp/b/kokusai/koryu/shimai/ken/index.html | access-date = 2010-11-25 | language = ja}}</ref>
*{{flagicon|People's Republic of China}} [[Hunan]], China
*{{flagicon|USA}} [[Michigan]], United States, since 1968
*{{flagicon|Brazil}} [[Rio Grande do Sul]], Brazil

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

==References==
* Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric and Käthe Roth. (2005). [https://books.google.com/books?id=p2QnPijAEmEC  ''Japan encyclopedia.''] Cambridge: [[Harvard University Press]]. {{ISBN|978-0-674-01753-5}}; [http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/58053128?referer=di&ht=edition  OCLC 58053128]
* ''Shiga-ken hyakka jiten'' [Encyclopedia Shiga] (滋賀県百科事典, 1984). Tokyo: Yamato Shobo.

== External links ==
{{commons category|Shiga prefecture}}
* {{wikivoyage-inline|Shiga}}
* [http://www.pref.shiga.lg.jp/multilingual/english/index.html Shiga Prefecture official page]
* [http://en.biwako-visitors.jp/ go.biwako - Travel Guide of Shiga Prefecture, Japan (Biwako Visitors Bureau)]
* [http://www.gojapango.com/travel/shiga.htm Shiga Prefecture] Guide - GoJapanGo
* [http://shiga-ken.com/ Shiga-ken.com]

{{Shiga}}

{{Regions and administrative divisions of Japan}}

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{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Shiga Prefecture| ]]
[[Category:Kansai region]]
[[Category:Prefectures of Japan]]