Ōtsu, Shiga

Ōtsu
大津市

Ōtsu's location in Shiga, Japan.
Location
Country	Japan
Region	Kansai
Prefecture	Shiga
Physical characteristics
Area	km² ( sq mi)
Population (as of 2003)
Total
Density	/km² (/sq mi)
Location	35°01′N, 135°51′E
Symbols
Ōtsu Government Office
Official website: Ōtsu City

Ōtsu (大津市, Ōtsu-shi^?) is the capital city of Shiga, Japan.

As of February, 2007, the city has an estimated population of 329, 355, with an age average of 40.7 years (15.42% of which have less than 15 years of age and 16.81% are over 65) and a density of 880.49persons per km². The total area is 374.06 km².

From Otsu, the Michigan paddlewheel boat offers cruises on Lake Biwa.

The city was founded on October 1, 1898. Prior to the existence of a settlement called "Ōtsu", the location was known as "Awazu"; one of the battles of the 12th century Genpei War occurred there.

Lake Biwa, the largest lake in Japan, is in the center of the prefecture and also a site of significant relevance to the Japanese tourism industry. Sightseeing tours in Lake Biwa usually take up to several hours and tourists are given an opportunity to swim and take long strolls around the region. Lake Biwa is also a famous beaching spot in the Summer.

Built during the 1890s and later expanded during the Taisho Period, the Lake Biwa Canal played an important role in connecting Ōtsu and the nearby city of Kyoto, facilitating water and passenger transportation and also providing electrical energy to power Japan's first streetcar railroad services.

Sister cities

• Lansing, Michigan, USA
• Würzburg, Bavaria, Germany
• Interlaken, Bern, Switzerland
• Mudanjiang, Heilongjiang, China
• Kumi, Gyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea

Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto (Kyoto, Uji and Otsu Cities)*
UNESCO World Heritage Site
State Party	Japan
Type	Cultural
Criteria	ii, iv
Reference	688
Region†	Asia-Pacific
Inscription History
Inscription	1994  (18th Session)
* Name as inscribed on World Heritage List. † Region as classified by UNESCO.

Gallery

Grave of Matsuo Bashō at Gichū-ji

Ishiyama-dera, a temple at which Murasaki Shikibu stayed

The bell of Mii-dera, the sound of which is one of the Eight Scenes of Omi

Entrance of Biwako Sosui

External links

• Official website in English

World Heritage Sites in Japan

Buddhist Monuments, Hōryū-ji Area · Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu · Himeji Castle · Hiroshima Peace Memorial (Genbaku Dome) · Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto (Kyoto, Uji and Otsu Cities) · Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara · Historic Villages of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama · Itsukushima Shinto Shrine · Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine and its Cultural Landscape · Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range · Shirakami-Sanchi · Shiretoko · Shrines and Temples of Nikkō · Yakushima

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