Shiga is surrounded by high mountains such as Ibuki, Suzuka, Hira and Hiei and has in its central area Japan’s largest lake, Biwa (235 km around and 670 km2), which accounts for about one sixth of the prefecture’s area. Inspired by the wish to preserve this monumental lake to future generations, Shiga has become an advanced “ecological” prefecture which has initiated ordinances for the protection of water quality, natural environment and scenery and which actively introduces alternative, recycling-oriented energy resources such as biomass.

Lake Biwa, once called umi (ocean), provides Shiga with four distinctively beautiful seasonal features, was admired in many poems collected in the literary classic Manyoshu of the 8th century. Situated at the meeting point of Tokaido and Nakasendo highways, Shiga has played the important role of a strategic transportation point, linking eastern and western parts with the northern part of Japan via many other major highways running across the prefecture.

The eastern coastline of Lake Biwa, known as home for “Ohmi merchants” who founded numerous companies representative of today’s Japan, greatly contributed to building the modern commercial base in the area. Shiga as a whole has a large percentage of secondary industry, well above the national average. It has large shipments of industrial products in such categories as electric and general equipment, transportation equipment, plastics and chemical industry.

Enryaku-ji Temple on Mt. Hiei, headquarters of a major Buddhist sect, and Hikone Castle, designated National Treasure, are well-known tourist attractions in Shiga. Many other scenic sights are found around Lake Biwa, particularly in Ohtsu, Ohmi Hachiman and Nagahama.