【ひとり旅】近江八幡の趣深い古い町並みを歩く。水郷の名にふさわしい水のきれいなところでした。【滋賀観光】/ Japan travel, waliking in Omihachiman, Shiga.

【ひとり旅】近江八幡の趣深い古い町並みを歩く。水郷の名にふさわしい水のきれいなところでした。【滋賀観光】/ Japan travel, waliking in Omihachiman, Shiga.

This is a town where the good old Japan still remains. Or a peaceful town known as a water village. Take your time and enjoy this beautiful castle town surrounded by water and greenery. It’s the moment when the sky begins to brighten. “Omihachiman” A large torii gate stands tall, with a retro-modern building behind it. Lit from the side by the soft morning light, it stands out beautifully. The eastern sky turns red, creating a mystical morning atmosphere. The old buildings lined up enhance the fairytale-like mood. What a stunning view😌 The wooden houses have a nostalgic charm. The walls, darkened from brown to black, show the dignity of having supported this town for years. A little further ahead is a waterway glowing with orange light. The boats moored there will likely carry people during the day. This waterway is called Hachiman-bori, a castle moat. Old buildings and willow trees line both sides — such a scenic place. Once the sun rises higher, I’ll walk along that path. For now, I’ll explore the town center. This area is designated as a preservation district for important traditional buildings. The old townscape has been carefully preserved here. Straight rows of wooden buildings, with majestic pine trees in between. The streetlights still glow softly, remnants of the night. Even the walls in the backlight reflect gentle light. I knew Omi Hachiman had a charming townscape, but I never imagined it would be this wonderful. Looking at these streets feels like traveling back in time. Maybe it’s not an illusion — maybe it really is time travel. Under the eaves, lantana flowers bloom quietly. Flowers naturally suit the old townscape. Thanks to this beautiful old scenery, Omi Hachiman is often used as a filming location for movies and dramas. One famous example is “Rurouni Kenshin.” The town is so atmospheric, it feels like a movie set, so it’s no surprise that it’s used for filming😌 Looking up, you see a mix of wooden and white walls. Perhaps white-walled buildings were popular here in the past. Omi Hachiman once flourished as a merchant town, and its history dates back to the late 1500s. Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s nephew, Hidetsugu, built Hachiman-yama Castle here, and implemented policies like free markets to promote commerce. At the time, you had to join a local guild called “za” to do business, and without membership, you couldn’t trade in the market. In exchange for trading rights, guilds paid taxes to nobles, temples, and shrines. The abolition of this system was the free market policy. Because of this reform, everyone could start their own business freely, and commerce flourished — giving birth to the townscape we see today. Orange light begins to gently spread across the buildings. The sun seems to be rising on the horizon. The city bathed in morning light is breathtaking, and the shopping street will soon begin to awaken. Is it really allowed to walk so elegantly through this town? Such thoughts arise when faced with a view this enchanting. This area has many cafés in old houses and restaurants, a perfect place to spend time peacefully. Once the shops open, I’d like to rest somewhere. On this street, there are not only Japanese-style buildings but also Western ones. “Former Hachiman Post Office” Its retro façade is simply adorable😊 This building was designed by the famous architect Vories, and there are many of his works in Ōmi Hachiman. The fact that the town isn’t limited to Japanese style is one of its features. In the distance, behind the houses, I see a lovely building. No matter where I walk, everything has a pleasant atmosphere, three times more surprising than I expected😶 The Hakun-kan, bathed in morning light, is simply magnificent… Before I knew it, the sun had risen even higher. In less than 30 minutes, the orange light will be gone. I want to enjoy this dreamlike scenery a little longer. Further ahead, I entered an alley with traditional Japanese houses. The humid air glistens along with the buildings, and you can feel the temperature of a summer morning. On both sides of the street are many houses with white walls, it feels like I’m walking in front of a mansion. During the day, few tourists come this far, it seems to be a secret spot for quiet strolls. The merchant houses stretch out grandly to the sides, you can feel the influence of the Ōmi merchants. Here ends the street of white walls. With the sun’s position, I feel the passage of time and head toward Hachiman-bori. On the way, there’s a temple, and even the residential area has an elegant appearance. No matter where I walk, everything is fun and never boring😌 Even the mailbox has a special atmosphere. If I could live here, every day would be full of life💭 I’ve been walking since early morning and met many people, perhaps the locals also enjoy these charming morning walks. I’m truly envious😌 I’ve arrived at the castle moat. The reflection on the water’s surface is simply beautiful… There’s lush greenery all around, and the vibrant pink oleander flowers add a special touch. There’s also a resting spot that looks like a warehouse with a chimney. A large ginkgo tree makes me look forward to autumn. Walking along the path, a building comes into view. This area is known for Hachiman tiles, made from the soil of Lake Biwa, and this building seems to be a museum dedicated to them. Behind the swaying willow trees, a bridge appears. “Hachimanbori” The mirror-like water and the shadows of trees on white walls are stunning😶 The upside-down reflections of the warehouses are beautiful, whether looking up or down, everything feels refined. It’s a flawless landscape — nothing to criticize. Below the stone wall, four boats are moored. They seem to be waiting eagerly to carry passengers. The houses built along the stone wall radiate nostalgic tension. The reflection in the water shows a peaceful green space ahead, and in the distance, the nostalgic atmosphere of old Japan. Is there any other waterside place with such rich ambiance? Filtered light through the leaves creates unique patterns on the water. Looking up, I see old houses and lanterns against the blue sky. Their gentle swaying calms the heart, to the point of making me feel drowsy. This green and blue natural scenery seems perfect for sleepless nights😌 Several bridges cross the moat, you can pass beneath them or walk across. From above, I see boats gliding slowly, sailing through green waters surrounded by old houses will be unforgettable. Even the quiet scenery after the boat passes is charming, white walls along the water are rare even in Japan. I’m grateful this beautiful scenery has been preserved. I saw this boat before sunrise too, it was smaller than the previous one — maybe it’s not in service? It might be used by locals as a means of transport. On the water’s surface, willows and aquatic plants reflect, and dragonflies dance gracefully. The presence of many dragonflies suggests the water is clean. Ōmi Hachiman is also called a water village, and seeing the beauty of the water, I understand why. Today I won’t go far from the center, but they say there are beautiful rural landscapes along the moat. If I get the chance, I’d love to visit those natural spots next time. Leaving the riverbank, I climb to a higher point. In front of an old house, a white crape myrtle is blooming. Walking while watching the flowing water beside me is very pleasant. From the resting spot, you can see the moat surrounded by willows, and if you’re tired from walking, it’s the perfect place to relax. After resting, I continue walking along the warehouse street. The street isn’t very wide and feels like a residential road, and it gives a sense of calm more than open spaces do. Maybe I feel this way because I’ve always liked narrow places. Leaving the alley, I arrive at the main avenue. Ahead seems to be a district with Western-style buildings, so I head straight in that direction. “Western-style residential area built by Vories” The brick-decorated chimney is incredibly charming😊 Like the former Hachiman Post Office, this building was also designed by Vories, and its modest yet graceful appearance stands out. One of the hallmarks of Vories architecture is the fusion of Japanese and Western styles. Western architecture often brings to mind solid stone or brick buildings, but while incorporating those elements, Vories adapted Japanese house structures to the local climate, designing buildings that were practical and functional. Looking closely, this house has the warmth of wood like others, but the white window frames and orange roof tiles are eye-catching and adorable, while the brick chimney evokes a Western feel. It’s said that Vories buildings are scattered throughout Japan, such as at Kansai Gakuin University and Doshisha University, and also at Suikyōsō Villa in Karuizawa, which I’ve visited. They all have a retro-modern style that I really like, so I want to discover many more of them. In town, I see crape myrtles, morning glories, and hibiscus blooming😊 Looking at these colorful flowers refreshes my tired body from walking, and gives me energy to head toward the next destination. “Himurehachimangu Shrine” It’s said this shrine gave the town of Ōmi Hachiman its name, and has long been revered as the guardian deity of Ōmi. Its majestic appearance conveys the weight of having protected this town, while also radiating a sense of tranquility. This shrine is located at the foot of Mount Hachiman, and from here you can climb to the top on foot or by cable car. Since I’m here, I’ll enjoy the aerial ride to the summit of Mount Hachiman. “Mt. Hachiman” During the ascent, you can see a straight road typical of castle towns. Looking north, a beautiful rural landscape opens up. I’ve reached the summit. From here, there’s a walking trail that takes about 30 minutes. It’s a lovely trail where filtered sunlight creates patterns on the ground. Beside the path, lanterns made from bamboo baskets hang. Farther ahead, I see many colorful wind chimes. The wind was weak, so I couldn’t hear their sound, but just watching them sway in the breeze is soothing😌 Lately, the morning and evening temperatures have become milder, making the weather pleasant. It’s almost time to say goodbye to the wind chimes. As I walk, I see leaves here and there beginning to turn red, and in contrast to the cicadas’ song, the scent of autumn is already in the air. I love autumn, but I still want to enjoy the greenery, so in this season that could be called “late summer,” I want to capture as much nature as I can with my camera. “Zuiryūji Temple” There was a temple at the top of Mount Hachiman. It was originally founded in Kyoto by the mother of Toyotomi Hidetsugu, but later relocated to Ōmi Hachiman. This site was once the location of the main palace of the old Ōmi Hachiman Castle. Since Hidetsugu was the founder of the castle, this place is more than fitting. In the courtyard, I see a cat. Looking to the side, beyond the fence, I catch a glimpse of Ōmi Hachiman town, and climbing a bit higher, I reach a viewpoint overlooking the village. I can see Lake Biwa and the surrounding countryside. From the blue of the lake and the green and brown of the fields, I feel the power of life, it truly is a landscape that represents Japan. With this wonderful view of Ōmi Hachiman, I end my walk. Today I walked through the streets of Ōmi Hachiman, and the houses built by Ōmi merchants have a unique charm, while the beauty of the willows and warehouses reflected in the moat soothed me, and the solid yet graceful style of Vories architecture deeply impressed me. I actually wanted to visit Okishima Island and other towns in Shiga Prefecture too, but this place was so wonderful that I ended up exploring it slowly. Japanese towns with such atmosphere are precious and thought-provoking, so I recommend walking through them while feeling the history beneath your feet. That’s all for today. See you next time. Thank you for watching🙏 If you enjoyed it, please subscribe, give us a like, and send some hype😌

滋賀県の近江八幡を散策してきました。
両側に古い商家が並ぶ通りや水辺の白壁の様子から、昔へタイムスリップしたような気分になりました。
夏の終わりに素晴らしいものを見られて満足😌

0:00 オープニング / Opening
0:52 近江八幡散策開始 / Start of Omihachiman Stroll
2:48 新町通り / Shinmachi Street
8:29 永原町通り / Nagaharamachi Street
12:13 八幡掘 / Hachimanbori
17:50 ヴォーリズ建築 洋風住宅街 / Western-style residential area built by Vories
21:08 八幡山 / Mt. Hachiman

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