| Nagahama ((ja)長 浜) | |
 | |
| Nagahama Castle | |
| Information | |
| Country |  Japan |
|---|---|
| Region | Kansai |
| Area | 681,02 km² |
| Population | 120 164 hab. (2015) |
| Density | 176,45 inhab./km² |
| Postal code | 526-0001–529-0722 |
| Spindle | UTC 09:00 |
| Location | |
 35 ° 22 ′ 49 ″ N 136 ° 16 ′ 4 ″ E | |
| Official site | |
Nagahama is a city of shiga prefecture, in the east of Kansai, in the center-west of the island of Honshū, the largest of Japan.
Understand
It is located on the northeast shore of Lake Biwa. Its current name was given by Totoyomi Hideyoshi, who built the city's castle in 1575. In mid-April, the Nagahama Hikiyama Matsuri is a must in the region. During this party, costumed children play comic plays (kyogen) on richly decorated chariots.
To go
By plane
Nagahama (and Shiga Prefecture more generally) is not well served by airports. If the closest is that of Nagoya-Centrair, the two airports ofOsaka (Itami and Kansai) are at least as convenient.
From Nagoya or Kansai airports, come and ask to take a train to Nagoya or Osaka respectively, then continue as described below. There are two trains Haruka direct mornings going from Kansai airport to Maibara and returning in the evening.
From Itami, the best choice is to take a bus to Shin-Osaka or Kyoto station and continue by train from there.
By train
- 1 Nagahama Station (長 浜 駅, nagahama-eki) – Nagahama is on the JR Hokuriku Line, 3 stops north of Maibara, which can be reached by Shinkansen (high speed train).
Every hour, two Special Rapid trains connect Nagahama to Maibara (13 min, 200 JPY), the nearest Shinkansen station, and other locations in Kansai:
- Ōmihachiman: 36 min, 670 JPY
- Ōtsu: 1 h, 1 140 JPY
- Kyoto: 1 h 10 minutes, 1 320 JPY
- Osaka: 1 h 40, 1 940 JPY
- Kobe: 2 h 10, 2 590 JPY
- Himeji: 2 h 40, 3 670 JPY
These trains usually consist of 12 cars to Maibara, but only the front 4 (sometimes 8) continue to Nagahama, so be sure to travel in the front part of the train.
The prices and travel times by Shinkansen to Maibara are:
- Tokyo (with a Hikari): 2 h 40, 12 400 JPY
- Nagoya: 1 JPY, 3 740 JPY
- Kyoto: 40 min, 3 570 JPY
- Shin-Osaka: 1 h, 4 940 JPY
The Shinkansen stopping at Maibara does not usually go west of Shin-Osaka.
Nagahama is also served daily by 6 Limited Express Shirasagi circulating between Maibara and Kanazawa, including 3 continuing after Maibara towards Nagoya. The prices and durations are:
- Kanazawa: 1 h 40, 5 700 JPY
- Fukui: 1 h, 3 360 JPY
- Tsuruga: 27 min, 1 940 JPY
- Gifu: 50 min, 2 670 JPY
- Nagoya: 1 h 15, 3 190 JPY
Additional trains pass without stopping, forcing you to change in Maibara or Tsuruga.
If you avoid Limited Express, plan to 1 h 05 and 670 JPY to reach Tsuruga. During the day, trains only run once an hour, and you may need to change at Ōmi-Shiotsu. Nagoya is at 1 h 40 and 1 490 JPY by local train and fast train; you will have to change in Maibara, and sometimes Ōgaki.
As an alternative to the Japan Rail Pass, Nagahama is covered by the Kansai Area Pass of JR West, the Kansai WIDE Area Pass, the Kansai-Hiroshima Area Pass, the Sanyō-San'in Area Pass, and the Kansai-Hokuriku Area Pass, which are available to temporary visitors with foreign passports. Note that none of these packages cover the Tōkaidō Shinkansen (east of Shin-Osaka). Nagahama is also covered by the Hokuriku Arch Pass which allows to come from Tokyo but only by a long route passing through Kanazawa (at least 6 h path).
Circulate
Most tourist destinations and hotels in Nagahama are easily accessible on foot from the train station.
By bus
There are buses, but they are mainly used by locals to commute to places on the outskirts of the city proper.
By taxi
There are veritable hordes of taxis waiting for customers outside the station, and could be useful to get to a place a little out of the way.
By bike
By ferry
Ferries connect Nagahama to the island of Chikubu sure Lake Biwa.
To see
- 1 Nagahama Castle (長 浜 子, nagahama-jō) 10-10 Kōen-chō (To 07 min west of the west exit of Nagahama station (towards the lake) you should see it!),
81 749-63-4611 
9 h - 17 h, end of entries at 16 h 30. 
adults: 400 JPY, children: 200 JPY. – It was built in 1575-1576 by Hashiba Hideyoshi (later known as Toyotomi Hideyoshi) in the village then called Kunitomo (which he renamed "Nagahama"). In 1615, the castle was demolished, although some parts were used for the construction of the castle of Hikone. The current building is a reconstruction dating from 1983 and houses a museum (in Japanese only) on the history of Nagahama. The castle is located in Hōkō-en Park (豊 公園), which is the only piece of nature in Nagahama, and has a magnificent view of Lake Biwa. In the spring, it is the favorite place to picnic on the cherry trees.
adults: - 2 Kurokabe district (黒 壁 ス ク エ ア, kurokabe sukuea) – In this pleasant old quarter, many machiya (townhouses) and kura (attics) have been transformed into shops and galleries.
- Kurokabe Glass Art Museum (黒 壁 美, kurokabe bijutsukan) 10 h - 17 h. 600 JPY.
- Giant Kaleisdocope (巨大 万 華 鏡, kyodai mangekyō) sunrise-sunset.
- 3 Daitsū-ji temple (大通 寺) 32-9 Motohama-chō (To 12 min walk northeast from Nagahama station. At the eastern end of Kurokabe square. Behind a very tall black and white apartment building), 81 749-62-0054 9 h - 16 h 30, closed during New Years holidays. 500 JPY for the garden, free enclosure. – It is said that this Buddhist temple was built with the remains of Kyoto's Fushimi Castle. In the temple building, there are sliding door paintings made by Ōkyo Maruyama and Kano school painters reflecting the wonderful atmosphere of Momoyama culture. Daitsū-ji Garden has been designated a National Scenic Garden. Along the street leading to Daitsū-ji, there are many shops built in the Machiya style, the traditional style of merchant houses.
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- 4 Hikiyama Museum (長 浜 市 曳 山 博物館, nagahama hikiyama hakubutsukan) 14-8 Motohama-chō (To 08 min from the east exit of Nagahama station; at Kurokabe Square), 81 749-65-3300 9 h - 17 h, end of entries at 16 h 30. adults: 600 JPY; children: 300 JPY. – The Nagahama Hikiyama (floats) Matsuri (festival) has a history of over 400 years and is one of the three largest float festivals in Japan. In this museum are the magnificent floats that are paraded through the city during the Hikiyama festival. A film shows the highlights of the festival, such as kabuki played by boys aged 5 to 12 as in the old days.
- 5 Kaiyōdō Figure Museum (海洋 堂 フ ィ ギ ュ ア ミ ュ ー ジ ア ム 黒 壁, kaiyōdō figyuā myūjiamu kurokabe) 13-31 Motohama-chō (located in Kurokabe Square, in an easily spotted building with a gigantic animated character in front), 81 749-68-1680 10 h - 17 h. adults: 800 JPY, children: 500 JPY (both including a souvenir character). – Heaven for otaku. This museum exhibits figurines of all shapes and sizes like dioramas, with a recent boom in collections, dinosaurs, anime characters… These figures are on sale in the store on the ground floor of the museum.
- 6 Jinshō-ji temple (神 照 寺) 323 Shinjotera-chō (buses to Jinshōji-mae leave from stop 1 at Nagahama station, 280 JPY), 81 749-62-1629 – It is the oldest temple in Nagahama, founded in 895 (year 7 of the Kanpyō era). There are many valuable cultural goods such as a statue of a goddess with multiple arms, and a statue of Cetaka looking over her shoulder. The "Kinginto Sukashibori Keko" (金銀 鍍 透彫 華 籠, an arabesque flower basket design etched in gold and silver), a national treasure, is particularly worth attention given that it has been on display at the Boston Museum of Art and in d other famous international art museums.
- 7 Hachiman-gū shrine (八 幡 宮) 13-55 Miyamae-chō (at about 15 min walk east of the station.), 81 749-62-0481 – This shrine has a history of over 1000 years. He protects the community of Nagahama. Hikiyama Matsuri festival takes place every April 15th.
- 8 Ōmi Kōhō-an temple (近 江 孤 篷 庵) 135 Uwano-chō (上 野 町) (To 30 min taxi / car from the station, or 20 min those of Torahime or Kawake) 9 h - 17 h, closed on Nov.. 300 JPY. – It is a temple located in the tranquility of the mountains and greenery that console the spirit of Enshū Kobori (1579-1647), lord of Komuro Castle, known as one of the three great masters of the tea ceremony . Enshū had the secondary temple of “Kōhō-an” built within the grounds of Daitoku-Ji in Kyoto. This one on the other hand is called "Ōmi Kōhō-an". The garden of this temple is notable for using the natural environment by applying "Karesansui" (dry garden style) and "Chisen Kaiyuu Shiki Teien" (Japanese garden style whose layout includes a pond, small mountains, a bridge… and where visitors can walk). The garden is designated a “scenic point” by the prefectural government and is known as one of the best places to view autumn leaves in Kohoku (the northern part of Lake Biwa).
- 9 Nagahama Railway Square (長 浜 鉄 道 ス ク エ ア, nagahama tetsudō sukuea) 1-41 Kita Funa-chō (03 min walk south of the west exit of the station), 81 749-63-4091 9 h 30 - 16 h 30, closed from 29 Dec.-3 Jan.. adults: 300 JPY,; children aged 15 and under: 150 JPY; -20% on groups of more than 20. – There are 3 buildings in the square. The old Nagahama station building is the oldest in Japan. His station master's room and waiting room have been preserved as they were in ancient times. In the 2e building, the Cultural Pavilion of the Nagahama Railways, a large number of valuable things related to rail are on display. In the 3e building, the Museum for the commemoration of the electrification of the Hokuriku line, you can get steam locomotives which used on this line before its electrification.
Do
- Hikiyama Festival (曳 山 祭 り hikiyama matsuri) April 15. – Starts at Hachiman-gū Shrine and winds its way to Kurokabe Square. Young boys play traditional kabuki on floats.
- Nagahama and Kita-Biwako Fireworks Festival (長 浜 と 北 琵琶湖 花火 大会 nagahama to kitabiwako hanabitaikai) (August 5) – A huge fireworks festival launched from the Lake Biwa harbor area. The Green Hotel Yes Nagahama Minato-kan offers the best view, but usually any rooftop will do. Consider wearing your yakata.
- Nagahama Shusse Festival (長 浜 出世 ま つ り, nagahama shusse matsuri) in October. – This festival began in 1983 to commemorate the reconstruction of Nagahama Castle. It is nowadays a major event of the month October in Nagahama. The festival includes various events, the most notable being the “big kimono garden party” where thousands of young women from here and elsewhere don extraordinarily ornate kimonos and parade around the city.
- Art in Nagahama (ア ー ト イ ン ナ ガ ハ マ, āto in nagahama) usually during the Shusse festival (2015: October 3 and 4). – Artists from various disciplines from all over Japan come together to exhibit, demonstrate and sell their work at various locations in Kurokabe Square. In other words, this event is an outdoor market for artists.
- 1 Nagahama Bonbai Exhibition (長 浜 盆 梅 展 nagahama bonbaiten) Keiun-kan, 2-5 Minato-chō (at Keiunkan (慶雲 館)) each year, January 20-March 10: 9 h - 17 h. adults: 500 JPY; children aged 15 and under: 200 JPY. – The "bonbaiIs a Japanese apricot tree in a bonsai style. The annual exhibition began in 1952 when the late Shichizo Takayama donated his bonbai to the city of Nagahama. The exhibition includes a 400-year-old tree. It is considered the first exhibition of bonbai, both chronologically and because of its importance.
To buy
Nagahama is famous for its glass art. There are plenty of places in Kurokabe Square to see, buy and even learn glassmaking! The following two are the most famous:
- 1 Kurokabe Glass Shop (黒 壁 ガ ラ ス 館, kurokabe garasu-kan) 12-38 Motohama-chō, 1 Kurokabe (Go east on Ekimaedōri on the left sidewalk. Follow the small signs), 81 749-65-2330 10 h - 18 h. – It was she who gave its name to the square, which was originally built in 1890 as the Nagahama facility of the Daihyaku Sanjū (第 ablissement aga 銀行) bank. The two floors contain glassware, jewelry, stemware ... The ground floor is a store of glassware and other accessories, while the one above exhibits glassware from around the world which are also available at the sale.
- 2 Kurokabe Studio (ス タ ジ オ ク ロ カ ベ) 12-38 Motohama-chō, 2 Kurokabe (located directly behind the Kurokabe Glassware Store), 81 749-65-2330 10 h - 18 h. – Everything sold in this studio is made by artists who live here. There is a window through which you can see them working.
Eat
- Yokarō (翼 果 楼) (in the Kurokabe district), 81 749-63-3663, fax : 81 749-63-4020 11 h-until the noodles run out. dishes from 840 JPY. – The specialty of this noodle restaurant is the yakisoba-somen (thin noodles with cooked mackerel).
Have a drink / Go out
Housing
Communicate
Around
- Takashima
- Maibara – Large railway junction
- Hikone (彦 根) – Where is one of the few unreconstructed castles in Japan.
- Omihachiman – The birthplace of the ancient culture of commerce, rural boating, and western buildings by William Merrell Vories
- Tsuruga
- Sekigahara
- Ogaki
- Ōtsu (大 津) – The capital of the prefecture which includes many historical sites.
- Kyoto (京都) – Former capital of Japan, with its temples and geisha
| Routes via Nagahama |
| Fukui ← Tsuruga ← | NOT  S | → Maibara → O |
| Fukui ← Tsuruga ← | NOT  S | → Maibara → O E |
