Shiga (志賀), known for the waka poem by Tadanori Taira: ‘The capital of Shiga, with its ripples, how the wild cherry trees still flourish there.’ Shiga (志賀) was a place name referring to the cu rrent area of Otsu City. It’s a name that also contributed to the origin of Shiga (滋賀) Prefecture’s name. The name ‘Shiga (志賀)’ remains in the region adjacent to Takashima City in the northern part of Otsu City. This narrow area is nestled between the Hira Mountain Range and Lake Biwa, and during winter, it often gets a considerable amount of snowfall. Most of the land is dedicated to rice paddies, with early-harvested rice planted, soon to be harvested. This area boasts clear waters from Lake Biwa and stretches of sandy beaches, making it a popular destination for swimmers. The scent of barbecues wafts through the air, adding to the atmosphere.
Shiga Prefecture, blessed with abundant water resources from Lake Biwa, is renowned for its temperate climate and fertile soil, making it one of the leading rice-producing areas in the country. It is known for producing high-quality strains of Omi rice like ‘Mizukagami’ and ‘Koshihikari,’ and next year, a new variety called ‘Kiramizuki’ will be introduced, said to rival or even surpass the taste of ‘Koshihikari’.

平忠度の和歌「さざなみや志賀の都は荒れにしを昔ながらの山桜かな」で知られる志賀は、今の大津市一帯を表す地名でした。滋賀県の県名の由来にもなった地名です。大津市の北部、高島市に隣接する地に志賀の名前が残っています。比良山系と琵琶湖に挟まれた狭い地域で、冬にはけっこう雪も積もります。ほとんどが田んぼで早稲が植えられていて、間もなく収穫です。この辺りは琵琶湖の水も澄み、砂浜が広がっているので、水泳客も多く、バーベキューの匂いと煙が立ち込めています。「琵琶湖」という豊富な水資源を有する滋賀県では、その温和な気候と豊かな土壌が稲作に適していることもあり、全国でも有数の米所です。「みずかがみ」や「コシヒカリ」といった近江米の産地としても知られ、来年は新品種の「きらみずき」が発売されます。「コシヒカリ」と同等以上の食味らしいです。