2026 Otsu Shiga Fireworks Festival: A Full-Day Itinerary
Centered on the Otsu Shiga Fireworks Festival held on Wednesday, July 23, 2026, this full-day course lets you enjoy the Lake Biwa shoreline area from midday onward. In the afternoon, feel the coolness of the sacred forest at Hiyoshi Taisha Shrine (日吉大社) at the foot of Mt. Hiei, then take a relaxed historical stroll through Shigain Monzeki (滋賀院門跡) and Sakamoto's stone-paved Satobo Kaido street. In the evening, move to the Omi-Maiko area along Lake Biwa, claiming a spot on the lakeshore while grabbing a bite to eat. Once night falls, enjoy about 2,000 fireworks launched right in front of you from Lake Biwa, along with the light reflected on the water's surface. This is a luxurious summer plan in Shiga that lets you enjoy both the history at the foot of Mt. Hiei and the night view over Japan's largest lake in a single day.
Schedule
Visit the head shrine of Japan's Hiyoshi and Hie shrines, its grounds enveloped by the forests of Mt. Hiei
Stroll through a venerable Tendai-sect monzeki temple and the Sakamoto streets lined with Anotai stone walls
Claim a spot early on the fireworks-venue lakeshore, enjoying Lake Biwa before evening at the white-sand swimming beach
Dinner on a leisure sheet by the lake, waiting for the show while watching the Lake Biwa sunset
About 2,000 fireworks launched from Lake Biwa, with their reflection mirrored on the water
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