For this entry, we’re heading into Kansai – Japan’s second most populous area. Home to a number of sake distilleries and craft beer breweries, it truly is a powerhouse for drinking. For this entry, we’re going to start in Shiga, a landlocked prefecture with Japan’s largest freshwater lake – Lake Biwa. The lake itself covers almost 20% of the prefecture.
Background to Shiga
Shiga is known for its numerous factories, with it having the largest proportion of manufacturing in all of Japan. However, it’s also one of the lowest visited prefectures by tourists, perhaps due to Osaka and Kyoto being preferred. In 2015, the Shiga Governor Taizō Mikazuki conducted a survey asking citizens whether they felt it necessary to change the name of the prefecture, partly to raise its profile as a destination for domestic tourism.
A Brief History of Shiga
In ancient times, Shiga was known as Ōmi Province. Its proximity to the ancient capitals of Nara and Kyoto made it an important cultural and political crossroads. The region was a key transportation route between eastern and western Japan. Many nobles, merchants, and travelers passed through, contributing to the region’s development.
During the Heian period (794–1185), the powerful Buddhist monastery Enryaku-ji was founded on Mount Hiei by the monk Saichō. It became the headquarters of the Tendai sect and wielded significant religious and political influence for centuries. The temple’s warrior monks (sōhei) played an active role in national affairs until the complex was destroyed by Oda Nobunaga in 1571.
In the Sengoku (Warring States) period (15th–16th century), Shiga was a battleground among rival warlords. The most notable figure during this time was Oda Nobunaga, who constructed Azuchi Castle on the eastern shore of Lake Biwa. Azuchi Castle was revolutionary in its design, combining military function with luxurious aesthetics and symbolizing Nobunaga’s ambition to unify Japan. Although the castle was destroyed shortly after his death, it marked a turning point in Japanese castle architecture and politics.
Under the Tokugawa shogunate (1603–1868), Shiga flourished as a hub of travel and commerce. The Tōkaidō and Nakasendō, two of the five major roads of Edo Japan, passed through the prefecture. The castle town of Hikone grew in importance, and Hikone Castle—completed in 1622—remains one of the best-preserved castles in Japan today.
After the Meiji Restoration in 1868, Ōmi Province was reorganized as Shiga Prefecture. The region gradually modernized, developing railways, industry, and education. In the 20th century, Shiga became a center for manufacturing, while also preserving its rich natural environment and cultural heritage.
Beer in Shiga
Shiga does not have a long history with beer – unlike its sake production which is some of the best in Japan, due to the freshwater found in Lake Biwa, and the high production of rice in the area.
Before the modern craft boom, Shiga had little in terms of beer production, as large breweries like Asahi, Kirin, and Sapporo dominated the Japanese market. However, things began to change after the Japanese government relaxed brewing regulations in 1994, allowing small-scale breweries to operate with lower production thresholds. This reform sparked a nationwide ji-bīru movement, and Shiga quickly became one of the key areas in the Kansai region for craft beer.
At the time of writing, there are 16 craft beer breweries located in Shiga prefecture.
