Ōtsu: Difference between revisions

Coordinates: 35°1′N 135°51′E / 35.017°N 135.850°E / 35.017; 135.850
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| coordinates = {{coord|35|1|N|135|51|E|region:JP-25|display=it}}
| coordinates = {{coord|35|1|N|135|51|E|region:JP-25|display=it}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = Japan
| subdivision_name = {{flagcountry|Japan}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[List of regions of Japan|Region]]
| subdivision_type1 = [[List of regions of Japan|Region]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Kansai region|Kansai]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Kansai region|Kansai]]
Line 39: Line 39:
| blank_name_sec1 = City hall address
| blank_name_sec1 = City hall address
| blank_info_sec1 = 3-1 Goryō-chō, Ōtsu-shi, Shiga-ken 520-8575
| blank_info_sec1 = 3-1 Goryō-chō, Ōtsu-shi, Shiga-ken 520-8575
| blank_name_sec2 = [[Köppen climate classification|Climate]]
| blank_name_sec2 = [[Köppen climate classification|Climate]]
| blank_info_sec2 = [[Humid subtropical climate|Cfa]]
| blank_info_sec2 = [[Humid subtropical climate|Cfa]]
| website = {{Official website|www.city.otsu.lg.jp/}}
| website = {{Official website|www.city.otsu.lg.jp/}}
| module = {{Infobox place symbols| embedded=yes
| module = {{Infobox place symbols| embedded=yes
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| fish =
| fish =
}}
}}
}}
{{Infobox Chinese
| title = Ōtsu
| pic = Otsu in Japanese Kanji 大津の日本語での漢字.png
| piccap = ''Ōtsu'' in ''[[kanji]]''
| picupright = 0.425
| kanji = 大津
| katakana = オオツ
| hiragana = おおつ
| l = Great Habor
| romaji = Ōtsu
| revhep = Ootsu
}}
}}
[[file:Otsu City Hall.JPG|thumb|right|270px| Ōtsu City Hall]]
[[file:Otsu City Hall.JPG|thumb|right|270px| Ōtsu City Hall]]
{{nihongo|'''Ōtsu'''|大津市|Ōtsu-shi}} is the capital [[Cities of Japan|city]] of [[Shiga Prefecture]], [[Japan]]. {{As of|2021|10|01}}, the city had an estimated [[population]] of 343,991 in 153,458 households and a [[population density]] of 740 persons per km<sup>2</sup>.<ref name="Ōtsu-hp">{{cite web |url=https://www.city.otsu.lg.jp/soshiki/001/1209/g/kokai/jinko/40971.html|title= Ōtsu city official statistics|location= Japan|language= ja}}</ref> The total area of the city is {{convert|464.51|sqkm|sqmi}}.
{{nihongo|'''Ōtsu'''|大津市|Ōtsu-shi}} is the capital [[Cities of Japan|city]] of [[Shiga Prefecture]], [[Japan]]. {{As of|2021|10|01}}, the city had an estimated [[population]] of 343,991 in 153,458 households and a [[population density]] of 740 persons per km<sup>2</sup>.<ref name="Ōtsu-hp">{{cite web |url=https://www.city.otsu.lg.jp/soshiki/001/1209/g/kokai/jinko/40971.html|title= Ōtsu city official statistics|location= Japan|language= ja}}</ref> The total area of the city is {{convert|464.51|sqkm|sqmi}}.


==Geography==
==History==
Ōtsu is part of ancient [[Ōmi Province]] and has been settled since at least the [[Yayoi period]]. It was an important center of inland water transportation on Lake Biwa and was referred to in the [[Man'yōshū]] as {{nihongo|Shiga no Ōwada|志賀の大わだ}} and {{nihongo|Shigatsu|志賀津}}.<ref name="c" /> It was also on the main land routes, the [[Tōkaidō (road)|Tōkaidō]] and the [[Nakasendō]] connecting the eastern provinces with the ancient capitals of Japan.<ref name="e" /><ref name="d" /> Additionally, the ancient [[Hokurikudō]], which connected Kyoto to the provinces of northern [[Honshu]], ran through Ōtsu.<ref name="d" /> From 667 to 672, the [[Ōmi Ōtsu Palace]] was founded by [[Emperor Tenji]] was the capital of Japan.<ref name="e" /> Following the [[Jinshin War]] Ōtsu was renamed {{nihongo|''Furutsu''|古津||"old port"}}.<ref name="c" /> A new capital, [[Heian-kyō]], (now [[Kyoto]]), was established in the immediate neighborhood in 794, and Ōtsu (meaning "big port") was revived as an important traffic point and satellite town of the capital. With the establishment of the new capital, the name of the city was restored to "Ōtsu".<ref name="k" /><ref name="c" />
Ōtsu is located on the southern and western shore of [[Lake Biwa]] and occupies most of the southwestern portion of Shiga Prefecture.<ref name="k"/> The city is "L"-shaped and stretches along the southwest shore of [[Lake Biwa]], Japan's largest lake.<ref name="d" /> Ōtsu ranges from the densely populated [[alluvium]] depressions near the shore of Lake Biwa to sparsely populated hilly and mountainous areas to the west ([[Hira Mountains]] and [[Mount Hiei]]) and south of the city.<ref name="k" /> [[Mount Hiei]] to the east forms the border of the city and Shiga Prefecture with [[Kyoto]].


Ōtsu prospered during the [[Edo period]] because of its port on Lake Biwa and as [[Ōtsu-juku]], a major ''[[shukuba]]'' on the Tōkaidō and Nakasendō highways. The city was under direct administration of the [[Tokugawa shogunate]], both for its strategic location and for its role as a center of travel and trade.<ref name="d" /> [[Zeze Domain]] was based in Zeze, a neighboring [[jōkamachi|castle town]], and the smaller [[Katada Domain]] occupied the northern area of the present-day city from 1698 to 1826.<ref name="zeze" /><ref name="katada" />
=== Neighboring municipalities ===
Shiga Prefecture
*[[Kusatsu, Shiga|Kusatsu]]
*[[Rittō, Shiga|Rittō]]
*[[Kōka, Shiga|Kōka]]
*[[Takashima, Shiga|Takashima]]
Kyoto Prefecture
*[[Kyoto]]
*[[Uji, Kyoto|Uji]]
*[[Ujitawara, Kyoto|Ujitawara]]


===Climate===
===Modern period===
The [[Meiji Restoration]] of 1868 saw the establishment of a new central government in Tokyo and the [[abolition of the han system]]. Numerous [[Prefectures of Japan|prefectures]] under control of the [[Meiji government]] were created, and part of the old province of [[Ōmi Province|Ōmi]] was designated as [[Ōtsu Prefecture]] in 1868. Several smaller prefectures were merged into Ōtsu Prefecture in 1871, which became part of present-day Shiga Prefecture on January 1, 1872. Ōtsu was named the prefectural capital of Shiga.<ref name="jkn21" /><ref>{{cite encyclopedia |year=2012 |encyclopedia=Kokushi Daijiten |publisher=Shogakukan |location=Tokyo |url=http://rekishi.jkn21.com/ |access-date=2012-11-10 |language=ja |trans-title=Shiga Prefecture |oclc=683276033 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070825113418/http://rekishi.jkn21.com/ |archive-date=2007-08-25 |script-title=ja:滋賀県 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The town of Ōtsu was established on 1 April 1889 with the creation of the modern municipalities system. It was raised to city status on 1 October 1898.
Ōtsu has a [[Humid subtropical climate]] (Köppen ''Cfa'') characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light to no snowfall. The average annual temperature in Ōtsu is 13.8&nbsp;°C. The average annual rainfall is 1430&nbsp;mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 25.8&nbsp;°C, and lowest in January, at around 2.3&nbsp;°C.<ref>[https://en.climate-data.org/asia/japan/shiga/otsu-4800/ Ōtsu climate data]</ref>


The [[Ōtsu incident]], a failed [[assassination]] attempt on [[Tsarevich]] Nicholas Alexandrovich of [[Imperial Russia|Russia]] (1868 – 1918, later Tsar [[Nicholas II]]), occurred on 11 May 1891. Nicholas, returning to Kyoto after a day trip to [[Lake Biwa]], was attacked with a [[saber]] by [[Tsuda Sanzō]] (1855 – 1891), an escort policeman. Nicholas survived the assassination attempt, but the incident was seen as a crisis in Japanese-Russian relations.<ref name="jkn211" /><ref name="jkn212" /> For a while the local populace considered renaming the city to avoid the stigma associated with the scandal, but the idea was eventually shelved.
{{Weather box |width=auto

|location = Otsu (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1977−present)
The [[Lake Biwa Canal]] ({{Convert|8.7|km|mi}}) was constructed in the 1890s between [[Greater Kyoto|Ōtsu and Kyoto]]. The canal, which was later expanded during the [[Taishō period]], played an important role in connecting the cities, facilitating water and passenger transportation, and providing electrical energy to power Japan's first [[streetcar]] railroad services. The canal was [[Cultural Properties of Japan|designated]] a [[Historic Sites of Japan|Historic Site]] in 1996.<ref name="bunka" /><ref name="Lake Biwa Canal" />
|single line = Y

|metric first = Y
The city area gradually expanded by annexation of the village of Shiga in 1932, towns of Zeze and Ishiyama in 1933, villages of Sakamoto, Ogoto, Sakashita-honmachi, Oishi and Shimoda-kamimura in 1951, and towns of Katata and Seta in 1967. On March 20, 2006, the town of [[Shiga, Shiga|Shiga]] (from [[Shiga District, Shiga|Shiga District]]) ceased to exist after merging into Ōtsu.<ref name="d" />
|Jan record high C = 16.5
|Feb record high C = 20.3
|Mar record high C = 24.0
|Apr record high C = 28.8
|May record high C = 33.2
|Jun record high C = 36.1
|Jul record high C = 37.4
|Aug record high C = 38.0
|Sep record high C = 37.5
|Oct record high C = 31.7
|Nov record high C = 26.6
|Dec record high C = 20.0
|Jan record low C = -5.4
|Feb record low C = -6.6
|Mar record low C = -2.7
|Apr record low C = -0.4
|May record low C = 3.4
|Jun record low C = 8.6
|Jul record low C = 15.1
|Aug record low C = 16.5
|Sep record low C = 9.9
|Oct record low C = 3.4
|Nov record low C = 0.2
|Dec record low C = -4.1
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 56.8
|Feb precipitation mm = 69.7
|Mar precipitation mm = 117.9
|Apr precipitation mm = 125.6
|May precipitation mm = 156.9
|Jun precipitation mm = 217.7
|Jul precipitation mm = 211.8
|Aug precipitation mm = 159.5
|Sep precipitation mm = 172.0
|Oct precipitation mm = 149.1
|Nov precipitation mm = 79.3
|Dec precipitation mm = 60.2
|year precipitation mm = 1566.6
|Jan mean C = 4.1
|Feb mean C = 4.4
|Mar mean C = 7.6
|Apr mean C = 13.1
|May mean C = 18.2
|Jun mean C = 22.1
|Jul mean C = 26.2
|Aug mean C = 27.3
|Sep mean C = 23.3
|Oct mean C = 17.4
|Nov mean C = 11.5
|Dec mean C = 6.5
|year mean C = 15.1
|Jan high C = 7.9
|Feb high C = 8.5
|Mar high C = 12.6
|Apr high C = 18.6
|May high C = 23.7
|Jun high C = 26.8
|Jul high C = 30.9
|Aug high C = 32.5
|Sep high C = 28.1
|Oct high C = 22.2
|Nov high C = 16.1
|Dec high C = 10.5
|year high C = 19.9
|Jan low C = 0.7
|Feb low C = 0.6
|Mar low C = 3.2
|Apr low C = 8.0
|May low C = 13.3
|Jun low C = 18.2
|Jul low C = 22.6
|Aug low C = 23.5
|Sep low C = 19.6
|Oct low C = 13.3
|Nov low C = 7.3
|Dec low C = 2.8
|year low C = 11.1
|Jan humidity =
|Feb humidity =
|Mar humidity =
|Apr humidity =
|May humidity =
|Jun humidity =
|Jul humidity =
|Aug humidity =
|Sep humidity =
|Oct humidity =
|Nov humidity =
|Dec humidity =
|year humidity =
|Jan sun = 120.4
|Feb sun = 125.4
|Mar sun = 160.9
|Apr sun = 183.0
|May sun = 192.8
|Jun sun = 142.1
|Jul sun = 159.3
|Aug sun = 202.9
|Sep sun = 150.2
|Oct sun = 157.1
|Nov sun = 141.1
|Dec sun = 133.1
|year sun = 1870.2
|Jan snow cm =
|Feb snow cm =
|Mar snow cm =
|Apr snow cm =
|May snow cm =
|Jun snow cm =
|Jul snow cm =
|Aug snow cm =
|Sep snow cm =
|Oct snow cm =
|Nov snow cm =
|Dec snow cm =
|year snow cm =
|unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 7.2
|Feb precipitation days = 7.9
|Mar precipitation days = 10.6
|Apr precipitation days = 10.4
|May precipitation days = 10.3
|Jun precipitation days = 12.4
|Jul precipitation days = 12.0
|Aug precipitation days = 9.1
|Sep precipitation days = 10.7
|Oct precipitation days = 9.2
|Nov precipitation days = 7.0
|Dec precipitation days = 7.5
|year precipitation days = 114.6
|source 1 = Japan Meteorological Agency<ref>{{cite web
| url = https://www.data.jma.go.jp/obd/stats/etrn/index.php?prec_no=60&block_no=0586&year=&month=12&day=&view=h0
|script-title=ja:気象庁 / 平年値（年・月ごとの値）
| publisher = [[Japan Meteorological Agency]]
| access-date = May 19, 2021}}</ref>
}}


==Demographics==
== Demographics ==
Per Japanese census data,<ref>[https://www.citypopulation.de/php/japan-shiga.php Ōtsu population statistics]</ref> the population of Ōtsu has grown steadily over the past century.
Per Japanese census data,<ref>[https://www.citypopulation.de/php/japan-shiga.php Ōtsu population statistics]</ref> the population of Ōtsu has grown steadily over the past century.


Line 226: Line 94:
| 2010 | 337,634
| 2010 | 337,634
| 2020 | 345,070
| 2020 | 345,070
| align = none
| source = [http://www.pref.shiga.lg.jp/data/population/renew/index.html#nenp]}}
| source = [http://www.pref.shiga.lg.jp/data/population/renew/index.html#nenp]}}


==Geography==
<ref name="e"/> Ōtsu is known as the main port of [[Lake Biwa]], the largest lake in Japan. It briefly served as the capital of Japan from 667 to 672 AD during the [[Asuka period]] (538 – 710).<ref name="jkn216"/> The city is home to numerous sites of historical importance, notably the temples of [[Mii-dera]], [[Ishiyama-dera]], and [[Enryaku-ji]] and the [[Hiyoshi Taisha]] shrine. Enryaku-ji is part of the [[UNESCO]] [[World Heritage Site]] "[[Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto (Kyoto, Uji and Otsu Cities)]]".<ref name="Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto (Kyoto, Uji and Otsu Cities)"/> Ōtsu was incorporated as a town on April 1, 1889. On October 1, 1898, Ōtsu-town was officially changed to Ōtsu-city.
Ōtsu is located on the southern and western shore of [[Lake Biwa]] and occupies most of the southwestern portion of Shiga Prefecture.<ref name="k" /> The city is L-shaped and stretches along the southwest shore of [[Lake Biwa]], Japan's largest lake.<ref name="d" /> Ōtsu ranges from the densely populated [[alluvium]] depressions near the shore of Lake Biwa to sparsely populated hilly and mountainous areas to the west ([[Hira Mountains]] and [[Mount Hiei]]) and south of the city.<ref name="k" /> [[Mount Hiei]] to the east forms the border of the city and Shiga Prefecture with [[Kyoto]].


=== Neighboring municipalities ===
==History==
Shiga Prefecture
Ōtsu is part of ancient [[Ōmi Province]] and has been settled since at least the [[Yayoi period]]. It was an important center of inland water transportation on Lake Biwa and was referred to in the [[Man'yōshū]] as {{nihongo|Shiga no Ōwada|志賀の大わだ}} and {{nihongo|Shigatsu|志賀津}}.<ref name="c" /> It was also on the main land routes, the [[Tōkaidō (road)|Tōkaidō]] and the [[Nakasendō]] connecting the eastern provinces with the ancient capitals of Japan.<ref name="e" /><ref name="d" /> Additionally, the ancient [[Hokurikudō]], which connected Kyoto to the provinces of northern [[Honshu]], ran through Ōtsu.<ref name="d" /> From 667 to 672, the [[Ōmi Ōtsu Palace]] was founded by [[Emperor Tenji]] was the capital of Japan.<ref name="e" /> Following the [[Jinshin War]] Ōtsu was renamed {{nihongo|''Furutsu''|古津||"old port"}}.<ref name="c" /> A new capital, [[Heian-kyō]], (now [[Kyoto]]), was established in the immediate neighborhood in 794, and Ōtsu (meaning "big port") was revived as an important traffic point and satellite town of the capital. With the establishment of the new capital, the name of the city was restored to "Ōtsu".<ref name="k" /><ref name="c" />
*[[Kusatsu, Shiga|Kusatsu]]
*[[Rittō, Shiga|Rittō]]
*[[Kōka, Shiga|Kōka]]
*[[Takashima, Shiga|Takashima]]
Kyoto Prefecture
*[[Kyoto]]
*[[Uji, Kyoto|Uji]]
*[[Ujitawara, Kyoto|Ujitawara]]


===Climate===
Ōtsu prospered during the [[Edo period]] because of its port on Lake Biwa and as [[Ōtsu-juku]], a major a ''[[shukuba]]'' on the Tōkaidō and Nakasendō highways. The city was under direct administration of the [[Tokugawa shogunate]], both for its strategic location and for its role as a center of travel and trade.<ref name="d" /> [[Zeze Domain]] was based in Zeze, a neighboring [[jōkamachi|castle town]], and the smaller [[Katada Domain]] occupied the northern area of the present-day city from 1698 to 1826.<ref name="zeze" /><ref name="katada" />
Ōtsu has a [[Humid subtropical climate]] (Köppen ''Cfa'') characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light to no snowfall. The average annual temperature in Ōtsu is 13.8&nbsp;°C. The average annual rainfall is 1430&nbsp;mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 25.8&nbsp;°C, and lowest in January, at around 2.3&nbsp;°C.<ref>[https://en.climate-data.org/asia/japan/shiga/otsu-4800/ Ōtsu climate data]</ref>


{{Weather box
===Modern period===
|width= auto
[[File:三井寺疎水 - panoramio.jpg|thumb|left|Lake Biwa Canal]]
|collapsed = Y
The [[Meiji Restoration]] of 1868 saw the establishment of a new central government in Tokyo and the [[abolition of the han system]]. Numerous [[Prefectures of Japan|prefectures]] under control of the [[Meiji government]] were created, and part of the old province of [[Ōmi Province|Ōmi]] was designated as [[Ōtsu Prefecture]] in 1868. Several smaller prefectures were merged into Ōtsu Prefecture in 1871, which became part of present-day Shiga Prefecture on January 1, 1872. Ōtsu was named the prefectural capital of Shiga.<ref name="jkn21"/><ref>{{cite encyclopedia | encyclopedia = Kokushi Daijiten |script-title=ja:滋賀県 | url = http://rekishi.jkn21.com/ | access-date = 2012-11-10 | year = 2012 | publisher = Shogakukan | location = Tokyo | language = ja | trans-title = Shiga Prefecture | oclc = 683276033 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070825113418/http://rekishi.jkn21.com/ | archive-date = 2007-08-25 | url-status = dead }}</ref> The town of Ōtsu was established on 1 April 1889 with the creation of the modern municipalities system. It was raised to city status on 1 October 1898.
|single line = Y

|metric first = Y
The [[Ōtsu incident]], a failed [[assassination]] attempt on [[Tsarevich]] Nicholas Alexandrovich of [[Imperial Russia|Russia]] (1868 – 1918, later Tsar [[Nicholas II]]), occurred on 11 May 1891. Nicholas, returning to Kyoto after a day trip to [[Lake Biwa]], was attacked with a [[saber]] by [[Tsuda Sanzō]] (1855 – 1891), an escort policeman. Nicholas survived the assassination attempt, but the incident was seen as a crisis in Japanese-Russian relations.<ref name="jkn211"/><ref name="jkn212"/> For a while the local populace considered renaming the city to avoid the stigma associated with the scandal, but the idea was eventually shelved.
|location = Otsu (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1977−present)

| Jan record high C = 16.5
The [[Lake Biwa Canal]] ({{Convert|8.7|km|mi}}) was constructed in the 1890s between [[Greater Kyoto|Ōtsu and Kyoto]]. The canal, which was later expanded during the [[Taishō period]], played an important role in connecting the cities, facilitating water and passenger transportation, and providing electrical energy to power Japan's first [[streetcar]] railroad services. The canal was [[Cultural Properties of Japan|designated]] a [[Historic Sites of Japan|Historic Site]] in 1996.<ref name="bunka"/><ref name="Lake Biwa Canal"/>
| Feb record high C = 20.3

| Mar record high C = 24.0
The city area gradually expanded by annexation of the village of Shiga in 1932, towns of Zeze and Ishiyama in 1933, villages of Sakamoto, Ogoto, Sakashita-honmachi, Oishi and Shimoda-kamimura in 1951, and towns of Katata and Seta in 1967. On March 20, 2006, the town of [[Shiga, Shiga|Shiga]] (from [[Shiga District, Shiga|Shiga District]]) ceased to exist after merging into Ōtsu.<ref name="d" />
| Apr record high C = 28.8
| May record high C = 33.2
| Jun record high C = 36.1
| Jul record high C = 38.4
| Aug record high C = 38.5
| Sep record high C = 37.5
| Oct record high C = 31.7
| Nov record high C = 26.6
| Dec record high C = 20.0
| Jan record low C = -5.4
| Feb record low C = -6.6
| Mar record low C = -2.7
| Apr record low C = -0.4
| May record low C = 3.4
| Jun record low C = 8.6
| Jul record low C = 15.1
| Aug record low C = 16.5
| Sep record low C = 9.9
| Oct record low C = 3.4
| Nov record low C = 0.2
| Dec record low C = -4.1
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation mm = 56.8
| Feb precipitation mm = 69.7
| Mar precipitation mm = 117.9
| Apr precipitation mm = 125.6
| May precipitation mm = 156.9
| Jun precipitation mm = 217.7
| Jul precipitation mm = 211.8
| Aug precipitation mm = 159.5
| Sep precipitation mm = 172.0
| Oct precipitation mm = 149.1
| Nov precipitation mm = 79.3
| Dec precipitation mm = 60.2
| year precipitation mm = 1566.6
| Jan mean C = 4.1
| Feb mean C = 4.4
| Mar mean C = 7.6
| Apr mean C = 13.1
| May mean C = 18.2
| Jun mean C = 22.1
| Jul mean C = 26.2
| Aug mean C = 27.3
| Sep mean C = 23.3
| Oct mean C = 17.4
| Nov mean C = 11.5
| Dec mean C = 6.5
| year mean C = 15.1
| Jan high C = 7.9
| Feb high C = 8.5
| Mar high C = 12.6
| Apr high C = 18.6
| May high C = 23.7
| Jun high C = 26.8
| Jul high C = 30.9
| Aug high C = 32.5
| Sep high C = 28.1
| Oct high C = 22.2
| Nov high C = 16.1
| Dec high C = 10.5
| year high C = 19.9
| Jan low C = 0.7
| Feb low C = 0.6
| Mar low C = 3.2
| Apr low C = 8.0
| May low C = 13.3
| Jun low C = 18.2
| Jul low C = 22.6
| Aug low C = 23.5
| Sep low C = 19.6
| Oct low C = 13.3
| Nov low C = 7.3
| Dec low C = 2.8
| year low C = 11.1
| Jan humidity =
| Feb humidity =
| Mar humidity =
| Apr humidity =
| May humidity =
| Jun humidity =
| Jul humidity =
| Aug humidity =
| Sep humidity =
| Oct humidity =
| Nov humidity =
| Dec humidity =
| year humidity =
| Jan sun = 120.4
| Feb sun = 125.4
| Mar sun = 160.9
| Apr sun = 183.0
| May sun = 192.8
| Jun sun = 142.1
| Jul sun = 159.3
| Aug sun = 202.9
| Sep sun = 150.2
| Oct sun = 157.1
| Nov sun = 141.1
| Dec sun = 133.1
| year sun = 1870.2
| Jan snow cm =
| Feb snow cm =
| Mar snow cm =
| Apr snow cm =
| May snow cm =
| Jun snow cm =
| Jul snow cm =
| Aug snow cm =
| Sep snow cm =
| Oct snow cm =
| Nov snow cm =
| Dec snow cm =
| year snow cm =
| unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
| Jan precipitation days = 7.2
| Feb precipitation days = 7.9
| Mar precipitation days = 10.6
| Apr precipitation days = 10.4
| May precipitation days = 10.3
| Jun precipitation days = 12.4
| Jul precipitation days = 12.0
| Aug precipitation days = 9.1
| Sep precipitation days = 10.7
| Oct precipitation days = 9.2
| Nov precipitation days = 7.0
| Dec precipitation days = 7.5
| year precipitation days = 114.6
| source 1 = Japan Meteorological Agency<ref>{{cite web
| url = https://www.data.jma.go.jp/obd/stats/etrn/index.php?prec_no=60&block_no=0586&year=&month=12&day=&view=h0
|script-title=ja:気象庁 / 平年値（年・月ごとの値）
| publisher = [[Japan Meteorological Agency]]
| access-date = May 19, 2021}}</ref>
}}


==Government==
==Government==
Line 289: Line 301:


===Highway===
===Highway===
* [[File:E1 Expressway (Japan).png|20px|link=|alt=]] [[Meishin Expressway]]
* [[File:JP Expressway E1.svg|20px|link=|alt=]] [[Meishin Expressway]]
* [[File:E1A Expressway (Japan).png|20px|link=|alt=]] [[Shin-Meishin Expressway]]
* [[File:JP Expressway E1A.svg|20px|link=|alt=]] [[Shin-Meishin Expressway]]
* {{jct|country=JPN|Route|1}}
* {{jct|country=JPN|Route|1}}
* {{jct|country=JPN|Route|8}}
* {{jct|country=JPN|Route|8}}
Line 308: Line 320:
The city is home to two major libraries. The [[Shiga Prefectural Library]], which houses approximately 1.2 million volumes, is located in the Setaminamigaya-chō district and operates as the central prefectural library. The library opened in 1943.<ref name="Timeline"/> The [[Ōtsu Municipal Library]] operates as a general public library for the city. The Municipal Library has a main building in the Hama-Ōtsu district, as well as three branch libraries and several [[bookmobile]]s.<ref name="shiga5"/>
The city is home to two major libraries. The [[Shiga Prefectural Library]], which houses approximately 1.2 million volumes, is located in the Setaminamigaya-chō district and operates as the central prefectural library. The library opened in 1943.<ref name="Timeline"/> The [[Ōtsu Municipal Library]] operates as a general public library for the city. The Municipal Library has a main building in the Hama-Ōtsu district, as well as three branch libraries and several [[bookmobile]]s.<ref name="shiga5"/>


==Local attractions==
== Local attractions ==
[[File:三井寺疎水 - panoramio.jpg|thumb|Lake Biwa Canal|223x223px]]
[[File:Ishiyamadera29n4272.jpg|thumb|right|Pagoda of Ishiyama-dera, a National Treasure of Japan]]
[[File:Ishiyamadera29n4272.jpg|thumb|right|Pagoda of Ishiyama-dera, a National Treasure of Japan]]
[[File:Hiroshige Evening view of a temple in the hills.jpg|thumb|right|''The Evening Bell at Mii-dera'', an [[ukiyo-e]] woodblock print by [[Hiroshige]] (1797 – 1858)]]
[[File:Hiroshige Evening view of a temple in the hills.jpg|thumb|right|''The Evening Bell at Mii-dera'', an [[ukiyo-e]] woodblock print by [[Hiroshige]] (1797 – 1858)]]
Ōtsu is home to numerous historical sites, temples, shrines, and other buildings, many of them designated as [[National Treasures of Japan]].
Ōtsu is home to numerous historical sites, temples, shrines, and other buildings, many of them designated as [[National Treasures of Japan]].


===Lake Biwa===
=== Lake Biwa ===
Lake Biwa, the largest freshwater lake in Japan, covers {{convert|673.9|km2|mi2}} and is located at the center of the Shiga Prefecture.<ref name="biwa2" /> The north part of the lake reaches a depth of {{Convert|50|m|ft}}, and the south part of the lake near Ōtsu is much shallower and reaches a depth of {{Convert|5|m|ft}}. Lake Biwa provides water for the industrial areas of the Kansai Region, irrigation and drinking water in the Shiga area. The lake has been a travel destination since ancient times, and continues to support the tourism industry of the prefecture.<ref name="biwa" /> The lake is protected as part of [[Biwako Quasi-National Park]].<ref name="biwa2" /> Lake Biwa is home to the [[Lake Biwa Marathon]], which started in Osaka in 1946, and moved to Lake Biwa in 1962. It is considered to be the oldest marathon in Japan.<ref name="marathon" />
Lake Biwa, the largest freshwater lake in Japan, covers {{convert|673.9|km2|mi2}} and is located at the center of the Shiga Prefecture.<ref name="biwa2" /> The north part of the lake reaches a depth of {{Convert|50|m|ft}}, and the south part of the lake near Ōtsu is much shallower and reaches a depth of {{Convert|5|m|ft}}. Lake Biwa provides water for the industrial areas of the Kansai Region, irrigation and drinking water in the Shiga area. The lake has been a travel destination since ancient times, and continues to support the tourism industry of the prefecture.<ref name="biwa" /> The lake is protected as part of [[Biwako Quasi-National Park]].<ref name="biwa2" /> Lake Biwa is home to the [[Lake Biwa Marathon]], which started in Osaka in 1946, and moved to Lake Biwa in 1962. It is considered to be the oldest marathon in Japan.<ref name="marathon" />


Line 353: Line 366:


===Ōtsu Matsuri===
===Ōtsu Matsuri===
The [[Ōtsu Matsuri]] is the largest [[Japanese festivals|festival]] in the city. It begins Saturday, October 6 and ends on Sunday, October 7 in 2018 and is connected to the [[Tenson Shrine]] in the Kyō-machi district of the city. The Ōtsu Matsuri is similar to the [[Gion Matsuri]] in Kyoto, and features thirteen tall lantern floats, which resemble those of the Gion. The floats feature ''karakuri ningyō'', or mechanical dolls which operate via special mechanisms.<ref name="renmei"/> The thirteen floats each have their own tradition, customs, and lineage, and are paraded through the city from 9:30 am until 5 pm on the day of the festival.<ref name="biwako-visitors"/> The Ōtsu Matsuri is thought to have begun in the early Edo period, and the first written record of the festival dates to 1624. Many of the ''hikiyama'' in use today date from the Edo period, and are accompanied by ''matsuri-bayashi'' festival music unique to the city.<ref name="renmei" /> The Ōtsu Matsuri is designated a Prefectural Intangible Folk Treasure by Shiga Prefecture.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia | encyclopedia = Nihon Kokugo Daijiten |script-title=ja:大津祭 | trans-title = Ōtsu Matsuri | url = http://rekishi.jkn21.com/ | access-date = 2012-11-13 | year = 2012 | publisher = Shogakukan | location = Tokyo | language = ja | oclc = 56431036 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070825113418/http://rekishi.jkn21.com/ | archive-date = 2007-08-25 | url-status = dead }}</ref>
The [[Ōtsu Matsuri]] is the largest [[Japanese festivals|festival]] in the city. It begins Saturday, October 6 and ends on Sunday, October 7 and is connected to the [[Tenson Shrine]] in the Kyō-machi district of the city. The Ōtsu Matsuri is similar to the [[Gion Matsuri]] in Kyoto, and features thirteen tall lantern floats, which resemble those of the Gion. The floats feature ''karakuri ningyō'', or mechanical dolls which operate via special mechanisms.<ref name="renmei"/> The thirteen floats each have their own tradition, customs, and lineage, and are paraded through the city from 9:30 am until 5 pm on the day of the festival.<ref name="biwako-visitors"/> The Ōtsu Matsuri is thought to have begun in the early Edo period, and the first written record of the festival dates to 1624. Many of the ''hikiyama'' in use today date from the Edo period, and are accompanied by ''matsuri-bayashi'' festival music unique to the city.<ref name="renmei" /> The Ōtsu Matsuri is designated a Prefectural Intangible Folk Treasure by Shiga Prefecture.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia | encyclopedia = Nihon Kokugo Daijiten |script-title=ja:大津祭 | trans-title = Ōtsu Matsuri | url = http://rekishi.jkn21.com/ | access-date = 2012-11-13 | year = 2012 | publisher = Shogakukan | location = Tokyo | language = ja | oclc = 56431036 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070825113418/http://rekishi.jkn21.com/ | archive-date = 2007-08-25 | url-status = dead }}</ref>

==Notable People from Otsu==
*[[Saori Anou]], professional wrestler
*[[Satoru Mochizuki]], former [[association football|football]] player, current manager of [[Indonesia women's national football team]]
*[[Koji Nakata]], former [[association football|football]] player
*[[Hikaru Takahashi]], actress and model
*[[Yuji Takahashi (footballer)|Yuji Takahashi]], [[association football|football]] player
*[[Takashi Uchino (footballer, born 1988)|Takashi Uchino]], former [[association football|football]] player


==References==
==References==
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<ref name="Enryakuji">{{cite encyclopedia | encyclopedia = Encyclopedia of Japan | title = Enryakuji | url = http://rekishi.jkn21.com/ | access-date = 2012-11-12 | year = 2012 | publisher = Shogakukan | location = Tokyo | oclc = 56431036 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070825113418/http://rekishi.jkn21.com/ | archive-date = 2007-08-25 | url-status = dead }}</ref>
<ref name="Enryakuji">{{cite encyclopedia | encyclopedia = Encyclopedia of Japan | title = Enryakuji | url = http://rekishi.jkn21.com/ | access-date = 2012-11-12 | year = 2012 | publisher = Shogakukan | location = Tokyo | oclc = 56431036 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070825113418/http://rekishi.jkn21.com/ | archive-date = 2007-08-25 | url-status = dead }}</ref>


<ref name="Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto (Kyoto, Uji and Otsu Cities)">{{cite web | url = https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/688 | title = Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto (Kyoto, Uji and Otsu Cities) | year = 2012 | publisher = UNESCO World Heritage Centre | location = Paris, France | access-date = 13 November 2012}}</ref>
<!-- <ref name="Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto (Kyoto, Uji and Otsu Cities)">{{cite web | url = https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/688 | title = Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto (Kyoto, Uji and Otsu Cities) | year = 2012 | publisher = UNESCO World Heritage Centre | location = Paris, France | access-date = 13 November 2012}}</ref> -->


<ref name="History of the Seto River">{{cite web | url = http://www.mlit.go.jp/river/toukei_chousa/kasen/jiten/nihon_kawa/86060/86060-1_p1.html |script-title=ja:瀬田川の歴史 | trans-title = History of the Seto River | year = 2007 | publisher = Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism | location = Tokyo | access-date = 13 October 2012}}</ref>
<ref name="History of the Seto River">{{cite web | url = http://www.mlit.go.jp/river/toukei_chousa/kasen/jiten/nihon_kawa/86060/86060-1_p1.html |script-title=ja:瀬田川の歴史 | trans-title = History of the Seto River | year = 2007 | publisher = Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism | location = Tokyo | access-date = 13 October 2012}}</ref>

Latest revision as of 13:15, 31 March 2024

For other uses, see Ōtsu (disambiguation).
Ōtsu
大津市
Core city
Enryaku-ji, Ishiyama-dera Otsu Festival and the tram, Mangetsu-ji Ukimido City view and Lake Biwa
Enryaku-ji, Ishiyama-dera
Otsu Festival and the tram, Mangetsu-ji Ukimido
City view and Lake Biwa
Flag of Ōtsu
Flag
Official seal of Ōtsu
Seal
Location of Ōtsu in Shiga Prefecture
Location of Ōtsu in Shiga Prefecture
Ōtsu is located in Japan
Ōtsu
Ōtsu
Location in Japan
Coordinates: 35°1′N 135°51′E / 35.017°N 135.850°E / 35.017; 135.850
Country Japan
RegionKansai
PrefectureShiga
Government
 • MayorKenji Sato (from January 2020)
Area
 • Total464.51 km2 (179.35 sq mi)
Population
 (October 1, 2021)
 • Total343,991
 • Density740/km2 (1,900/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+09:00 (JST)
City hall address3-1 Goryō-chō, Ōtsu-shi, Shiga-ken 520-8575
ClimateCfa
WebsiteOfficial website
Symbols
BirdBlack-headed gull
FlowerViola eizanensis
TreePrunus serrulata
Ōtsu
Ōtsu in kanji
Japanese name
Kanji大津
Hiraganaおおつ
Katakanaオオツ
Ōtsu City Hall

Ōtsu (大津市, Ōtsu-shi) is the capital city of Shiga Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 October 2021, the city had an estimated population of 343,991 in 153,458 households and a population density of 740 persons per km2.[1] The total area of the city is 464.51 square kilometres (179.35 sq mi).

History[edit]

Ōtsu is part of ancient Ōmi Province and has been settled since at least the Yayoi period. It was an important center of inland water transportation on Lake Biwa and was referred to in the Man'yōshū as Shiga no Ōwada (志賀の大わだ) and Shigatsu (志賀津).[2] It was also on the main land routes, the Tōkaidō and the Nakasendō connecting the eastern provinces with the ancient capitals of Japan.[3][4] Additionally, the ancient Hokurikudō, which connected Kyoto to the provinces of northern Honshu, ran through Ōtsu.[4] From 667 to 672, the Ōmi Ōtsu Palace was founded by Emperor Tenji was the capital of Japan.[3] Following the Jinshin War Ōtsu was renamed Furutsu (古津, "old port").[2] A new capital, Heian-kyō, (now Kyoto), was established in the immediate neighborhood in 794, and Ōtsu (meaning "big port") was revived as an important traffic point and satellite town of the capital. With the establishment of the new capital, the name of the city was restored to "Ōtsu".[5][2]

Ōtsu prospered during the Edo period because of its port on Lake Biwa and as Ōtsu-juku, a major shukuba on the Tōkaidō and Nakasendō highways. The city was under direct administration of the Tokugawa shogunate, both for its strategic location and for its role as a center of travel and trade.[4] Zeze Domain was based in Zeze, a neighboring castle town, and the smaller Katada Domain occupied the northern area of the present-day city from 1698 to 1826.[6][7]

Modern period[edit]

The Meiji Restoration of 1868 saw the establishment of a new central government in Tokyo and the abolition of the han system. Numerous prefectures under control of the Meiji government were created, and part of the old province of Ōmi was designated as Ōtsu Prefecture in 1868. Several smaller prefectures were merged into Ōtsu Prefecture in 1871, which became part of present-day Shiga Prefecture on January 1, 1872. Ōtsu was named the prefectural capital of Shiga.[8][9] The town of Ōtsu was established on 1 April 1889 with the creation of the modern municipalities system. It was raised to city status on 1 October 1898.

The Ōtsu incident, a failed assassination attempt on Tsarevich Nicholas Alexandrovich of Russia (1868 – 1918, later Tsar Nicholas II), occurred on 11 May 1891. Nicholas, returning to Kyoto after a day trip to Lake Biwa, was attacked with a saber by Tsuda Sanzō (1855 – 1891), an escort policeman. Nicholas survived the assassination attempt, but the incident was seen as a crisis in Japanese-Russian relations.[10][11] For a while the local populace considered renaming the city to avoid the stigma associated with the scandal, but the idea was eventually shelved.

The Lake Biwa Canal (8.7 kilometres (5.4 mi)) was constructed in the 1890s between Ōtsu and Kyoto. The canal, which was later expanded during the Taishō period, played an important role in connecting the cities, facilitating water and passenger transportation, and providing electrical energy to power Japan's first streetcar railroad services. The canal was designated a Historic Site in 1996.[12][13]

The city area gradually expanded by annexation of the village of Shiga in 1932, towns of Zeze and Ishiyama in 1933, villages of Sakamoto, Ogoto, Sakashita-honmachi, Oishi and Shimoda-kamimura in 1951, and towns of Katata and Seta in 1967. On March 20, 2006, the town of Shiga (from Shiga District) ceased to exist after merging into Ōtsu.[4]

Demographics[edit]

Per Japanese census data,[14] the population of Ōtsu has grown steadily over the past century.

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1920 85,759—    
1930 105,585+23.1%
1940 117,697+11.5%
1950 144,626+22.9%
1960 155,114+7.3%
1970 181,164+16.8%
1980 228,982+26.4%
1990 277,290+21.1%
2000 309,793+11.7%
2010 337,634+9.0%
2020 345,070+2.2%
Source: [1]

Geography[edit]

Ōtsu is located on the southern and western shore of Lake Biwa and occupies most of the southwestern portion of Shiga Prefecture.[5] The city is L-shaped and stretches along the southwest shore of Lake Biwa, Japan's largest lake.[4] Ōtsu ranges from the densely populated alluvium depressions near the shore of Lake Biwa to sparsely populated hilly and mountainous areas to the west (Hira Mountains and Mount Hiei) and south of the city.[5] Mount Hiei to the east forms the border of the city and Shiga Prefecture with Kyoto.

Neighboring municipalities[edit]

Shiga Prefecture

Kyoto Prefecture

Climate[edit]

Ōtsu has a Humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light to no snowfall. The average annual temperature in Ōtsu is 13.8 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1430 mm with September as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 25.8 °C, and lowest in January, at around 2.3 °C.[15]

Climate data for Otsu (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1977−present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 16.5
(61.7) 		20.3
(68.5) 		24.0
(75.2) 		28.8
(83.8) 		33.2
(91.8) 		36.1
(97.0) 		38.4
(101.1) 		38.5
(101.3) 		37.5
(99.5) 		31.7
(89.1) 		26.6
(79.9) 		20.0
(68.0) 		38.5
(101.3)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 7.9
(46.2) 		8.5
(47.3) 		12.6
(54.7) 		18.6
(65.5) 		23.7
(74.7) 		26.8
(80.2) 		30.9
(87.6) 		32.5
(90.5) 		28.1
(82.6) 		22.2
(72.0) 		16.1
(61.0) 		10.5
(50.9) 		19.9
(67.8)
Daily mean °C (°F) 4.1
(39.4) 		4.4
(39.9) 		7.6
(45.7) 		13.1
(55.6) 		18.2
(64.8) 		22.1
(71.8) 		26.2
(79.2) 		27.3
(81.1) 		23.3
(73.9) 		17.4
(63.3) 		11.5
(52.7) 		6.5
(43.7) 		15.1
(59.2)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 0.7
(33.3) 		0.6
(33.1) 		3.2
(37.8) 		8.0
(46.4) 		13.3
(55.9) 		18.2
(64.8) 		22.6
(72.7) 		23.5
(74.3) 		19.6
(67.3) 		13.3
(55.9) 		7.3
(45.1) 		2.8
(37.0) 		11.1
(52.0)
Record low °C (°F) −5.4
(22.3) 		−6.6
(20.1) 		−2.7
(27.1) 		−0.4
(31.3) 		3.4
(38.1) 		8.6
(47.5) 		15.1
(59.2) 		16.5
(61.7) 		9.9
(49.8) 		3.4
(38.1) 		0.2
(32.4) 		−4.1
(24.6) 		−6.6
(20.1)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 56.8
(2.24) 		69.7
(2.74) 		117.9
(4.64) 		125.6
(4.94) 		156.9
(6.18) 		217.7
(8.57) 		211.8
(8.34) 		159.5
(6.28) 		172.0
(6.77) 		149.1
(5.87) 		79.3
(3.12) 		60.2
(2.37) 		1,566.6
(61.68)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 7.2 7.9 10.6 10.4 10.3 12.4 12.0 9.1 10.7 9.2 7.0 7.5 114.6
Mean monthly sunshine hours 120.4 125.4 160.9 183.0 192.8 142.1 159.3 202.9 150.2 157.1 141.1 133.1 1,870.2
Source: Japan Meteorological Agency[16]

Government[edit]

Ōtsu has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 38 members, who serve a term of four years. Ōtsu contributes two members to the Shiga Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is part of Shiga 1st district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan. The city hall of Ōtsu is located in the central Goryō-chō district of the city.[17][18] The mayor of Ōtsu is Kenji Sato, who became the 24th mayor of the city in 2020.

Economy[edit]

Ōtsu was historically noted for the production of several products, including Ōtsu-e, a form of folk drawing purchased by travelers in the Edo period; the Ōtsu soroban, an abacus used widely in Japan from the early 17th century; Zeze-yaki and Konan-yaki, forms of ceramics produced in the Edo period; and Zeze-cha, the first Japanese tea to be exported to the United States.[19][20][21][22]

Ōtsu, while not an agricultural city, is home to the production of edible chrysanthemums, used in Japanese cuisine in tempura and decoratively on platters of sashimi.[23]

Education[edit]

Universities and colleges[edit]

Primary and secondary education[edit]

Ōtsu has 37 public elementary schools and 18 public middle schools operated by the city government and one private elementary school and four private middle schools. There are nine public high schools operated by the Shiga Prefectural Department of Education and three private high schools. The prefecture also operates three special education schools for the handicapped.

On April 1, 1963 Shiga Prefectural Ishiyama High School was established.

International schools: The city has a North Korean school, Shiga Korean Elementary School (滋賀朝鮮初級学校).[24]

The Finnish School in Japan, nicknamed Jasuko, was formerly in operation in Otsu.

Transportation[edit]

Main Gate of JR West Ōtsu Station
Keihan Sakamoto

Railway[edit]

Ōtsu Station is the central railroad station of the city, but the busiest station of the city is Ishiyama Station: 48 thousands users per a day as of 2007.[25] Ōtsu and Ishiyama are major stations of the West Japan Railway Company (JR West) Biwako Line, a subsection of the Tōkaidō Main Line that runs between Maibara Station and Kyoto Station. The Keihan Electric Railway runs two interurban lines, the Keihan Keishin Line from Ōtsu to Kyoto, and the Keihan Ishiyama Sakamoto Line, which runs entirely within Ōtsu.[26][27] The JR Central Tōkaidō Shinkansen runs through areas of Ōtsu, but stops at no stations in the city.[28]

JR West – Biwako Line (Tōkaidō Main Line)

JR West – Kosei Line

Keihan Keishin Line

Keihan Ishiyama Sakamoto Line

Sakamoto Cable (Cable Sakamoto Station to Cable Enryakuji Station, all within Ōtsu)

Highway[edit]

Sister cities relations[edit]

Arts and culture[edit]

Ōtsu is home to numerous museums. The Shiga Prefectural Lake Biwa Culture Museum, founded in 1948, has exhibits on the culture of the Lake Biwa region.[30] The Museum of Modern Art, Shiga, was founded in 1984 and is located in the Setaminamigaya-chō district of the city.[31] The Ōtsu City Museum of History houses exhibits on the history of the city, as well as operating as a repository for cultural assets of Ōtsu. The museum is in the central Goryo-chō district directly north of Mii-dera.[32]

The city is home to two major libraries. The Shiga Prefectural Library, which houses approximately 1.2 million volumes, is located in the Setaminamigaya-chō district and operates as the central prefectural library. The library opened in 1943.[33] The Ōtsu Municipal Library operates as a general public library for the city. The Municipal Library has a main building in the Hama-Ōtsu district, as well as three branch libraries and several bookmobiles.[34]

Local attractions[edit]

Lake Biwa Canal
Pagoda of Ishiyama-dera, a National Treasure of Japan
The Evening Bell at Mii-dera, an ukiyo-e woodblock print by Hiroshige (1797 – 1858)

Ōtsu is home to numerous historical sites, temples, shrines, and other buildings, many of them designated as National Treasures of Japan.

Lake Biwa[edit]

Lake Biwa, the largest freshwater lake in Japan, covers 673.9 square kilometres (260.2 sq mi) and is located at the center of the Shiga Prefecture.[35] The north part of the lake reaches a depth of 50 metres (160 ft), and the south part of the lake near Ōtsu is much shallower and reaches a depth of 5 metres (16 ft). Lake Biwa provides water for the industrial areas of the Kansai Region, irrigation and drinking water in the Shiga area. The lake has been a travel destination since ancient times, and continues to support the tourism industry of the prefecture.[36] The lake is protected as part of Biwako Quasi-National Park.[35] Lake Biwa is home to the Lake Biwa Marathon, which started in Osaka in 1946, and moved to Lake Biwa in 1962. It is considered to be the oldest marathon in Japan.[37]

Yodo River[edit]

The Yodo River (120 kilometres (75 mi)) emerges from the south of Lake Biwa.[38] The portion of the river that emerges from the lake is called the Seta River; the portion of the river in Kyoto is referred to as the Uji River; and the portion in Osaka as the Yodo River. The Setagawa Dam was constructed in 1961 to regulate the level of Lake Biwa, is located in the Nangō district of Ōtsu.[39] The Yodo River is noted for having the largest number of tributaries of any river in Japan, and for supplying water for the Hanshin Industrial Region.[40][41]

National Historic Sites[edit]

Ōtsu was the site of at least four castles: Sakamoto Castle, Ōtsu Castle, Zeze Castle, Ōsakanoseki Castle. None of the castle structures remain.[2]

Temples and shrines[edit]

Mii-dera

Ōtsu is home to three temples with structures designated as National Treasures.

Eight Views of Ōmi[edit]

The Eight Views of Ōmi refer to a series of scenic views of Ōmi Province, the present-day Shiga Prefecture. The eight views were chosen in 1500 by a court noble and poet of the Muromachi period, Konoe Masaie (1444 – 1505). The views were inspired by the Eight Views of Xiaoxiang, China, and are located at the southern end of Lake Biwa. Six of the sites are within the city of Ōtsu, and two are located just beyond the borders of the city. The sights were depicted by Hiroshige (1797 – 1858) in several different series of ukiyo-e pictures, and served as an inspiration for other artists and literary figures.[50][51]

Ōtsu Matsuri[edit]

The Ōtsu Matsuri is the largest festival in the city. It begins Saturday, October 6 and ends on Sunday, October 7 and is connected to the Tenson Shrine in the Kyō-machi district of the city. The Ōtsu Matsuri is similar to the Gion Matsuri in Kyoto, and features thirteen tall lantern floats, which resemble those of the Gion. The floats feature karakuri ningyō, or mechanical dolls which operate via special mechanisms.[52] The thirteen floats each have their own tradition, customs, and lineage, and are paraded through the city from 9:30 am until 5 pm on the day of the festival.[53] The Ōtsu Matsuri is thought to have begun in the early Edo period, and the first written record of the festival dates to 1624. Many of the hikiyama in use today date from the Edo period, and are accompanied by matsuri-bayashi festival music unique to the city.[52] The Ōtsu Matsuri is designated a Prefectural Intangible Folk Treasure by Shiga Prefecture.[54]

Notable People from Otsu[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Ōtsu city official statistics" (in Japanese). Japan.
  2. ^ a b c d 大津 [Ōtsu]. Nihon Rekishi Chimei Taikei (in Japanese). Tokyo: Shogakukan. 2012. OCLC 173191044. dlc 2009238904. Archived from the original on 2007-08-25. Retrieved 2012-11-16.
  3. ^ a b "Ōtsu". Encyclopedia of Japan. Tokyo: Shogakukan. 2012. OCLC 56431036. Archived from the original on 2007-08-25. Retrieved 2012-11-10.
  4. ^ a b c d e 大津 [Ōtsu]. Dijitaru Daijisen (in Japanese). Tokyo: Shogakukan. 2012. OCLC 56431036. Archived from the original on 2007-08-25. Retrieved 2012-11-10.
  5. ^ a b c 大津 [Ōtsu]. Kokushi Daijiten (in Japanese). Tokyo: Shogakukan. 2012. OCLC 683276033. Archived from the original on 2007-08-25. Retrieved 2012-11-10.
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