Population: 1,410,000 (28th in Japan)

Number of households: 503,600 (30th in Japan)

Area (km²): 3,766.90 (38th in Japan)

Gross prefectural product (in billions of yen): 6,284 (23rd in Japan)

Nagahama Dome

Hikone-jo Castle

Lake Biwa-ko

(C)Shiga Prefecture

Shiga is famous for Lake Biwa, Japan's largest lake, with a circumference of 241 kilometers and an area of 670 square kilometers. This lake is a water supply for the Kansai region. Shiga is also a prefecture that is leading the environmental progress by establishing regulations for water quality and the preservation of the environment and scenery through the active use of new energy forms that are environmentally sustainable. Moreover, Shiga is encircled by high mountains, including the peaks of Ibuki, Suzuka, Hira and Hie, which offer diverse and changing scenery.

With several main roads passing through the prefecture, including the intersection of the Tokaido and Nakasendo, Shiga fulfills an important role as a key transportation region that links not only eastern and western Japan, but also the northern part of the country. Lake Biwa, however, is the core of the culture and history of Shiga Prefecture. The vast Lake Biwa, which has been called an "umi" (sea) since ancient times, boasts beautiful scenery throughout the four seasons. Even the Manyoshu, the 8th century anthology of poetry, contains many poems that describe its natural features.

Shiga, which was once called Omi, is known as the home of the Omi merchants, who undertook numerous enterprises and were renowned in Japan. As befits their legacy, the prefecture fulfills a large role in the creation of a modern commercial foundation. In addition, Shiga has become a popular residential area for people who work in the Kyoto-Osaka-Kobe region in recent years, and it is one of the few prefectures in the nation that is growing in population. Shiga also boasts seven industrial parks with cutting-edge facilities, including Biwako Science Park, Nagahama Science Park and other research parks.

With its varied scenery through the year, Lake Biwa and its natural surroundings are popular tourist destination. In addition, Enryaku-ji Temple on Mt. Hiei, one of the headquarters of Japanese Buddhism, and Hikone Castle, a national treasure, are among the numerous other attractions.