Shiga Prefecture facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Shiga Prefecture
滋賀県
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| Japanese transcription(s) | |||
| • Japanese | 滋賀県 | ||
| • Rōmaji | Shiga-ken | ||
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| Country | Japan | ||
| Region | Kansai | ||
| Island | Honshu | ||
| Capital | Ōtsu | ||
| Subdivisions | Districts: 3, Municipalities: 19 | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 4,017.38 km2 (1,551.12 sq mi) | ||
| Area rank | 38th | ||
| Population
(October 1, 2015)
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| • Total | 1,412,916 | ||
| • Rank | 26th | ||
| • Density | 351.7009/km2 (910.9010/sq mi) | ||
| ISO 3166 code | JP-25 | ||
| Website | |||
| Symbols | |||
| Bird | Little grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis) | ||
| Flower | Rhododendron (Rhododendron metternichii var. hondoense) | ||
| Tree | Japanese maple (Acer palmatum) | ||
Shiga Prefecture (滋賀県, Shiga-ken) is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kansai region of Honshu. Shiga Prefecture has a population of 1,412,916 (1 October 2015) and has a geographic area of 4,017 km² (1,551 sq mi). 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, Nagamhama, and Higashiōmi. Shiga Prefecture encircles Lake Biwa, the largest freshwater lake in Japan, and 37% of the total land area is designated as 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 national treasure castles in Japan.
Contents
History
Shiga used to be called Ōmi Province or Gōshū before Japan began using the prefectural system.
Geography
Shiga borders Fukui Prefecture in the north Gifu Prefecture is in the east. Mie Prefecture is in the southeast. Kyoto Prefecture is in the west.
Lake Biwa is at the center of this prefecture. The lake divides the prefecture into four areas:
- Kohoku (湖北), north of lake and centered at Nagahama
- Kosei (湖西), west of lake and centered at Imazu
- Kotō (湖東), east of lake and centered at Hikone
- Konan (湖南), south of lake and centered at Ōtsu
Cities
Cities in Shiga Prefecture include
- Higashiōmi
- Hikone
- Iga
- Kōka
- Konan
- Kusatsu
- Maibara
- Moriyama
- Nagahama
- Ōtsu (capital)
- Ōmihachiman
- Rittō
- Takashima
- Yasu
National Parks
National Parks are established in about 37% of the total land area of the prefecture.
Education
There are ten universities, two junior colleges, and a learning center of The Open University of Japan in Shiga.
- Shiga University (Hikone and Otsu)
- Shiga University of Medical Science (Otsu)
- University of Shiga Prefecture (Hikone)
- Shiga Junior College (Otsu)
- Shiga Bunkyo Junior College (Nagahama)
- Seian University of Art and Design (Otsu)
- Seisen University (Hikone)
- Nagahama Institute of Bio-Science and Technology (Nagahama)
- Biwako-Gakuin University (Higashiomi)
- Biwako-Gakuin College (Higashiomi)
- Biwako Seikei Sport College (Otsu)
- Ritsumeikan University (Kyoto and Kusatsu)
- Ryukoku University (Kyoto and Otsu)
Sister states
Shiga has agreements with three states.
Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
Michigan, USA
Hunan, People's Republic of China
Shrines and Temples
Takebe jinja is the chief Shinto shrine (ichinomiya) in the prefecture.
Related pages
Images for kids
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Lake Biwa in Shiga Prefecture viewed from space
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Hikone
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Nagahama
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Merchant mansions in Omihachiman
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Sagawa Art Museum
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Aquarium of Lake Biwa Museum
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Ukimidō hall at Mangetsu-ji temple near Katata, Ōtsu
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From Otsu port, the Michigan paddlewheel boat offers cruises on Lake Biwa
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Hikone Castle
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Biwako Ohashi Bridge
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A fish store in Ōtsu
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Funa-zushi – fermented crucian carp
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Nagahama yaki-saba sōmen
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Hikone champon
See also
In Spanish: Prefectura de Shiga para niños
