Ōtsu
Capital of Shiga Prefecture, historic capital of Japan.
Ōtsu is the capital city of Shiga Prefecture, Japan. The city was an important center of inland water transportation on Lake Biwa and a key junction on the Tōkaidō, Nakasendō, and Hokurikudō routes.
- capital_of
- Shiga Prefecture, Japan
Lore & Background
Ōtsu is part of ancient Ōmi Province and has been settled since at least the Yayoi period. It was an important center of inland water transportation on Lake Biwa and was referred to in the Man'yōshū as Shiga no Ōwada and Shigatsu. Following the Jinshin War, Ōtsu was renamed Furutsu ("old port"). During the Edo period, Ōtsu prospered as a port on Lake Biwa and as Ōtsu-juku, a major shukuba on the Tōkaidō and Nakasendō highways. The city was under direct administration of the Tokugawa shogunate. Ōtsu was named the prefectural capital. Nicholas was attacked with a saber by Tsuda Sanzō, an escort policeman.
Reader's Guide
Ōtsu's significance lies in its long history as a strategic transportation hub and its brief period as Japan's capital. Its location on Lake Biwa and along major highways made it a center of travel and trade for centuries. The Lake Biwa Canal, built in the 1890s, connected Ōtsu to Kyoto and provided water transportation and electrical energy for Japan's first streetcar railroad services. It is home to several universities, museums, and cultural institutions, including the Shiga Prefectural Lake Biwa Culture Museum and the Museum of Modern Art, Shiga. The city's economy historically included products such as Ōtsu-e folk drawings, Ōtsu soroban abacuses, Zeze-yaki and Konan-yaki ceramics, and Zeze-cha tea. Ōtsu also produces edible chrysanthemums used in Japanese cuisine.
Did You Know?
- The Lake Biwa Canal, built in the 1890s, provided electrical energy for Japan's first streetcar railroad services.
- Ōtsu is home to the production of Zeze-cha, the first Japanese tea exported to the United States.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Ōtsu?
Ōtsu is the administrative seat of Shiga Prefecture and one of Japan's oldest continuously inhabited settlements, with roots stretching back to the Yayoi era. It briefly held the distinction of being the nation's capital during Emperor Tenji's reign in the late 7th century.
What is Ōtsu's role in the overall 'series'?
Think of Ōtsu as the logistical backbone of the region: it sat at the crossroads of three major ancient highways (Tōkaidō, Nakasendō, and Hokurikudō) and controlled the inland shipping lanes of Lake Biwa. That made it an indispensable relay point for goods and travelers moving across central Japan.
More in Japanese Cities 1-23
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