Explore the ancient water town of Omihachiman near Kyoto and savor the popular Omi beef.

Located on the eastern side of Lake Biwa in Shiga, Omihachiman is an ancient town that has been under construction since the late 16th century. It is said that the retro style of Omihachiman has become a filming location for many period dramas. Omihachiman is very easy to reach, taking about fifty minutes by train from Kyoto Station. I recommend taking the Hachiman-yama Ropeway first to enjoy the beautiful scenery of Omihachiman. Although the small cable car ride is completed within ten minutes, you can see a relatively distant view from the mountain, making it a great spot. Because the canals of Omihachiman-bori are very famous, you can take a boat tour or, like us, prefer to walk along the river and enjoy the scenery along the shore. The number of tourists in Omihachiman is not very high, starting from Himure Hachimangu Shrine, you can slowly enjoy the riverside scenery and take photos. In addition, when you visit Omihachiman, you must try Omi beef! Omihachiman is located near the production area of Omi beef, which is one of the three major Wagyu beef in Japan along with Kobe beef and Matsusaka beef. This time we went for an Omi beef lunch, and the ingredients were very fresh. When eating Japanese Wagyu beef, I prefer the teppanyaki method because it can squeeze out the fat, not only giving the beef aroma but also not being too greasy. If you travel here, remember to savor it well.