Known for its beautifully preserved old town and canals where traditional boat cruises crisscross throughout the historic townscape, Omihachiman in Shiga Prefecture’s history dates back to the 1500s when the warlord at the time, Hideyoshi Toyotomi, ordered his nephew to build a family base in Omi province.
They built a castle and town, and established it as a commercial hub which prospered due to its advantageous geographical location on the shores of the largest lake in Japan, Lake Biwa, and near the Nakasendo, which connected Kyoto with Edo (modern-day Tokyo).