Located in the Kansai region right beside Kyoto, Shiga Prefecture is best known for being home to Lake Biwa, Japan's largest freshwater lake. The lake's western side is famously clear and blue, offering stunning views in every season. Scenic spots around Lake Biwa, like the Metasequoia Tree-lined Road and Shirahige Shrine with its floating torii gate, are popular on social media. For history buffs, Shiga has plenty to offer: Hikone Castle is a National Treasure and only one of five in Japan whose main keep is original; then there’s Enryaku-ji Temple on Mt. Hiei which was founded in 788; and Koka City is known as the birthplace of ninja culture.

Shiga's rich natural environment also produces exceptional ingredients. Highlights include Omi beef, one of Japan's top three wagyu, as well as Omi rice, known for its perfect texture and sweetness, and fish from Lake Biwa.

Shiga is conveniently located near Kyoto, making it an ideal home base to explore both Kyoto and Osaka. From Otsu Station near Lake Biwa, it takes only 10 minutes via JR lines to reach Kyoto Station, offering an escape from the crowds. More travelers are choosing to stay in Shiga for a quieter lodging experience with Kyoto nearby.

If you're planning a trip to Tokyo, be sure to visit COCOSHIGA! Located in the Nihombashi area, this information hub for Shiga Prefecture features a market and bar on the first floor, where you can buy local specialties and traditional crafts, and a restaurant on the second floor where you can try dishes made with Shiga ingredients.

What sets this location apart from other shops selling prefectural goods is how the market, bar, and restaurant all highlight diverse aspects of Shiga. Within the market, there are two special areas (main and sub) which both swap out their lineup monthly, allowing visitors to discover lesser-known products and hidden gems all year round.

At the restaurant and bar, you can enjoy local dishes and sake from Shiga that are hard to find elsewhere in Tokyo. You'll encounter far more than just Shiga's most famous goods as the staff works hard to promote diverse and undiscovered parts of Shiga, helping visitors experience the region like true locals.

For example, during our visit, we were recommended the area north of Lake Biwa. This area includes towns like Nagahama, Takashima, and Maibara, and is still relatively unknown to foreign visitors compared to the southern part of Shiga, which is closer to Kyoto. In the market, you can find a curated selection of sweets and snacks from the area north of Lake Biwa, complete with insights from the staff to help you find the perfect item. The bar also features samplers of local sake from northern Shiga, including some options that are hard to find in Tokyo.

A tourism concierge is available in the General Guidance space from 11 AM to 5 PM, ready to assist with any questions you may have about sightseeing in this exciting prefecture.

A display at the entrance is updated monthly by knowledgeable staff to introduce the charm of Shiga in every season. During our visit, the theme was the First Rice Crop and Pottery Fair to celebrate the autumn harvest. It featured freshly harvested rice from Shiga, paired with ceramics like Shigaraki pottery that complement the rice beautifully.

The market on the first floor features a wide array of local Shiga specialties, showcasing everything from food and drinks to traditional crafts.

Popular food items include fresh cuts of Omi beef and a local delicacy called funazushi, which is fermented fish. The rare red konnyaku is another unique item. Originating from Omihachiman City in Shiga, this konnyaku gets its distinctive red color from iron oxide, making it ideal for those with iron deficiencies.

You'll also find products sold exclusively within Shiga Prefecture, with local bread being particularly popular. The Salad Bread (240 yen) from Tsuruya-pan Bakery, established in 1951, is stuffed with a generous helping of pickled daikon radish and mayonnaise, which has an addicting crunchy texture that keeps people coming back for more. This bread is only available on weekends and often sells out by midday, so getting your hands on one is a special treat!

Bento boxes and delicious sushi are also available. The grilled mackerel sushi (1,512 yen) made by Santoku Santaro highlights the juicy flavor of mackerel, accented by fresh shiso and ginger. The Saba Kaido (now known as Wakasa Kaido), meaning Mackerel Highway, once wound through Shiga, and was a primary route for transporting fish from Wakasa Bay in Fukui Prefecture to Kyoto. The importance of this road in the area made mackerel sushi a local specialty. Although Shiga is landlocked, don't pass on their delicious fish dishes, including fish pulled from the lake and the famed mackerel sushi.

Top 5 recommended items for international visitors at the COCOSHIGA MARKET

Among the many, many options in store, here are five items that the COCOSHIGA staff recommend for international visitors!

#1: Mini Tanuki Figurine / Shigaraki Pottery Wholesale Cooperative (1,320 yen)

These mini tanuki figurines are a quintessential representation of Shigaraki pottery, which originates in Koka City in Shiga. Said to be good luck charms used to bring prosperity, these tanuki statues are commonly placed at the entrances of izakayas and restaurants, so you may have encountered them in your travels through Japan. This cute, palm-sized tanuki is perfect for decorating your home!

#2: Omi Beef Yakiniku Rice Bowl / Uosho (1,458 yen)

This rice bowl features delicious Omi beef yakiniku, and is ready to eat any time. Simply pull the string to heat it up, an excellent choice for a late-night snack in your hotel. At under 1,500 yen, it's a more affordable alternative to regular Omi beef dishes and a perfect choice for travelers.

#3: Asamiya Matcha Green Tea Suiho / Katagi Koka En (972 yen)

The Asamiya area in Shigaraki is known for producing Asamiya tea, considered one of the five best teas in Japan. Boasting over 1,200 years of history, this area is often called the birthplace of Japanese tea, and is still renowned for its tea production to this day. The "suiho" matcha green tea powder is uniquely free from pesticides, chemical fertilizers, and herbicides. This high-quality matcha powder is perfect for lattes and baking, a versatile addition to any kitchen.

#4: Mini Shinkai Sake Barrel with Otsu-e Design 300ml / Fujimoto Sake Brewery (2,046 yen)

This sake is brewed primarily using rice grown in Shiga. The charming miniature barrel it comes in features Otsu-e art, which originated in the early Edo period (1603–1868) in Shiga. The illustration of a woman and wisteria, known as "Wisteria Maiden," is thought to bring good luck in relationships, making it an ideal gift and a delightful piece of local culture.

#5: Stone-Textured Chopsticks / Ebitani Kogei (3,850 yen)

Shiga is one of the production areas for paper lacquerware known as "ikkanbari." Ebitani Kogei in Konan City creates a lightweight and durable variation of this lacquerware called "Omi ikkanbari" using paper cords. They create a variety of lacquer products, with the stone-textured chopsticks being particularly popular. These gorgeous chopsticks are even dishwasher-safe. Grab the Omi ikkanbari chopstick rests to make a complete set!

Omi beef from Shiga Prefecture is one of Japan's three premier wagyu brands, renowned for its luxurious quality. Originally preserved using miso and used as a health tonic, it has a history dating back to the Edo period, making it Japan's oldest brand-name beef.

Omi beef is prized for its melt-in-your-mouth texture, gorgeous marbling, and rich flavor. Enjoy it as yakiniku (grilled), steak, sukiyaki, or even shabu-shabu (cooked in broth).

On the second floor of COCOSHIGA, the Omi Beef Morishima Kankankan restaurant offers a range of dishes featuring Omi beef. They use only carefully selected cuts from a shop in Omihachiman City in Shiga that handles only wagyu brands like Omi.

For dinner, guests can indulge in a course meal centered on Omi beef, set meals, and à la carte options that pair well with alcohol. You can also enjoy sake from Shiga, with recommendations tailored to your meal. Foreign-language menus are available, so even guests who can’t read Japanese can dine with ease.

If you've never had sukiyaki before, the restaurant's new sukiyaki course meal (20,000 yen/person) is the perfect choice. The course includes a sake flight with three varieties and Omi beef served in a plethora of styles—150g of sirloin, roast beef, and even beef sushi made with Omi rice. Though the beef sushi is usually served raw, you can request it be cooked.

Sukiyaki is a dish where thinly sliced beef is cooked in a base of soy sauce, sake, and sugar. At many sukiyaki restaurants, guests cook their own meat right at the table, but since the timing must be precise, it can be tricky for first-timers. However, with this course, the chef cooks everything for you, ensuring your beef is perfectly prepared. The sweet and savory beef dipped in fresh egg creates a rich, refined taste. The tender, melt-in-your-mouth meat is truly exceptional.

The Omi Beef Steak Set (starting from 5,400 yen for 100g) is a popular menu item that lets diners choose their preferred cut—filet, sirloin, or lean (price varies by cut). The meal features Omi rice, side dishes unique to Shiga, and grilled vegetables primarily sourced from Shiga farms. Additionally, the chopsticks used in the restaurant are crafted by Ebitani Kogei, and are available for purchase on the first floor, so you can take home a pair for yourself.

On the first floor, SHIGA's BAR offers a selection of Shiga Prefecture's alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, sweets, and snacks at its bar counter. During the day, it attracts shoppers from Nihombashi, while in the evening, it becomes a lively spot for businesspeople to unwind.

The abundant water that flows from Shiga's mountain ranges into Lake Biwa and the prefecture's other waterways allows for the production of high-quality rice and sake. Have a taste of this natural bounty at the bar with the Shiga Sake Flight (1,000 yen), featuring four varieties of sake selected by the knowledgeable staff. If you find a favorite, you can conveniently grab a bottle in the nearby MARKET.

The menu is full of bar snacks, all classic Shiga specialties. The Daily Snack Plate (bottom left photo, 600 yen) changes every day and features selections from the MARKET. Tonchan-yaki Karaage Fried Chicken (upper left, 380 yen), Omi Beef Croquettes (right, 380 yen), and other hot snacks make a perfect pairing with local sake.

For those who don't drink alcohol, try the cafe drinks and sweets. A new drink, the Lake Biwa Blue Float (750 yen), recreates the famous vibrant blue of Lake Biwa with flavorful ginger ale complemented by milky gelato, a combination that blends together for an intriguing, chai-like flavor.

Shiga Prefecture, famous for its scenic views of Lake Biwa and exquisite local cuisine like Omi beef and Omi rice, offers more than just the lake. COCOSHIGA provides a wonderful glimpse into this fascinating prefecture. Conveniently close to Tokyo Station, this location offers delicious Omi beef, local sake, and perhaps even a spark of inspiration for your next adventure.

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