Shiga : Otsu Bar Hopping with Local Food in Your Chosen Area

Ōtsu, the capital of Shiga Prefecture, is a city where food culture thrives under the influence of Lake Biwa, Japan’s largest lake, and its fertile plains. Long a crossroads between Kyoto and the wider Lake Country, Ōtsu developed a culinary identity shaped by both its waters and trade. Freshwater fish from Lake Biwa, including funazushi—one of Japan’s oldest sushi traditions—show centuries of ingenuity, while rice, vegetables, and sake brewed from pure local water highlight the richness of its farmlands. On a guided food tour in Ōtsu, travelers taste these specialties while learning their stories—how Lake Biwa shaped daily life, how merchants and pilgrims spread its flavors, and how izakaya and family-run restaurants preserve these traditions. More than dining, it is an immersion into the culture and hospitality of the Lake Country’s historic gateway.