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Ohmi Hachiman

Hikone Castle

"Those who control Ohmi control Japan"

This old Japanese saying refers to the area known today as Shiga prefecture. "Ohmi" is the ancient name for the area around Lake Biwa, the largest lake in Japan and one of the oldest lakes in the world. The importance of Shiga is tied up with the lake and with its strategic location at the "cross roads" of eastern and western Japan. Ohmi-Hachiman is situated on the eastern shore not far from the roads west to Kyoto, south to Nara, north to the Japan Sea and access to Korea, and east to Tokyo. This position was vital to Ohmi-Hachiman's creation as a castle town in 1585 by the overlord Hidetsugu Toyotomi, and again later as it rose to be one of the most famous merchant towns in Japan.

The Ohmi Shonin (Ohmi Merchants) started out as traveling salesmen. Their travels introduced them to a wide variety of regional products and an understanding of the trade needs of the different regions across Japan. Ohmi Merchants used the connections and business knowledge gained on their travels to create a new sales system of product distribution. The system consisited of a head office in Ohmi-Hachiman and branch stores in Edo (Tokyo), Osaka, and Kyoto. This facilitated the redistribution of products according to the supply and demand of the different regions across Japan. The Ohmi merchants were involved in the creation of financial and manufactoring businesses in Japan. Many of today's well known businesses were started by Ohmi Merchants. For example: trading companies--Itochu, Marubeni and Tomen; department stores--Takashimaya, Daimaru and Seibu; the spinning industry--Nisshinbo and Toyobo; and others-- Nihon Seimei, Yanmar Diesel and Seibu Group.

Sight Seeing

Hachimanboi (Hachiman moat):
The moat was built as part of the castle defense as well as to separated the elite Samurai warrior neighborhood from the rest of the townspeople. It was later used as a canal to transport goods from Ohmi Hachiman town to Kyoto via Lake Biwa, and was very important to the developement of commerce here. Over the years, the canal became obsolete and in the 1960's the people of Ohmi Hachiman considered reclaiming the area for parking. This rekindled interest in the canal and it was restored to preserve its historic heritage. Today, it is one of the tourist attractions of Ohmi Hachiman and you can still see many of the old merchant houses along the canal. The wealth of these merchants can be seen in their homes, some of which are open to the public.

"Azuchi Hachiman no Suigo":
Lake Biwa is renouned for its "Eight Scenic Views of Lake Biwa". The view in Ohmi Hachiman was the favorite of Shogun Nobunaga Oda (Azuchi-Momoyama period 1568-1600) who came here often during the Age of the Civil Wars. He is also credited with originating boat rides through the riverside district that are still popular today.

Hachimanyama (the Hachiman Mountain) and Hachiman Castle (Murakumo Gosho Zuiryuji):
Hachimanyama is the site of the ruins of Ohmi Hachiman Castle. You can reach the top of the mointain by a ropeway. Although the castle is in ruins, you can visit the Murakumo Gosho Zuiryuji Temple. It was originally built in Kyoto during Ohmi Hachiman's castle period, but was moved to Hachimanyama in 1962. It is especially nice to visit here during the fall when the leaves change color. From the summit there is a good view of the city, the countryside and Lake Biwa.

Shinmachi Dori (Shinmachi Street):
Home to many of the Ohmi merchants, the houses along this street will take you back in time to the late Edo and Meiji periods.

Hakuun-kan Museum
If you are interested in Meiji architecture this building will be especially interesting to you. It was built in 1877 to house the Hachiman Higashi Gakko (school) and is currently used as a center for information about the Hachiman Culture. For more information about exhibits and hours: (0748-32-6181) (closed at the end of the year and the start of the year)

Chomei-ji Temple
Chomei-ji Temple is located eight hundred-eight steps up Chomeiji mountain. The temple buildings date from the Muromachi period (1336-1576). It is one of the most famous of western Japan and is part of a temple pilgrimage route.

Rekishi Minzoku(Historical of Anthropology) Museum
This museum was once a private home from the Edo period. It was restored and shows exhibits about Ohmi merchant life. For more information about hours: (0748-32-7048) (Admission \300 for adults)

Himure-Hachimangu Shrine
This is the site of the Sagicho and Hachiman Festivals. You can see the festival floats and other festival items that are stored here. For more information call: (0748-32-3151)

Okinoshima Island
This island has its own culture and traditions, and is one of the biggest fishing ports on Lake Biwa.

Festivals

Sagicho Festival	mid March	At Nichimure Hachiman-Gu Shrine--A "Sagicho" is a number of small pine trees piled into a pyramid shape with a long pole decorated with fans and balls at the center. This is a traditional fire festival where the "Sagicho" is burned to bring good luck for the new year. The festival was brought from China and is concidered to be more beautiful and sophisticated than other Sagicho festivals in Japan.
Hachiman Festival	April 14 and 15	Nichimure Hachiman-Gu Shrine--one of the most solemn fire festivals in Japan
Isaki-no-Saotobi Festival	first Sunday in August	This is a Shinto event featuring people diving into the lake from 8 meters

How to get there

From Nagoya Station: Take the Shinkansen to Maibara and change to the local JR line for Ohmi Hachiman. (4080 yen/1 hr. approx.)

There are several different trains you can choose from at Maibara to reach Ohmi Hachiman. (1890-3550 yen/1.5 hours approx.)

Tours - The Japan Discovery Tours visit Ohmi Hachiman.
Click here for more information regarding when Discovery visits this destination.

Photographs and contributions

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Disclaimer and Request:

Opening hours, prices, booking procedures, schedules etc are subject to changes beyond our control. This site is just a guide, and we advise that you always check and confirm in advance. Suggestions, additions and correction of errors are always welcome. Please contact us.