Hachiman-bori

　When guests tell me that Kyoto is too crowded and they’d like to enjoy the Japanese scenery in a slightly quieter setting, I take them to Shiga Prefecture.

　In particular, Ōmi-Hachiman is very convenient, being just over 30 minutes by train from Kyoto Station, and it retains the old townscape that has become increasingly rare in Kyoto.

　In the late 16th century, Toyotomi Hidetsugu—who later became Kampaku—built Hachiman-yama Castle. The moat was developed, connecting the town to Lake Biwa and leading to the growth of water transport, which transformed Ōmi-Hachiman into a major commercial centre.

　Hachiman-bori offers a glimpse of what the town was like in those days. It is said that the moat was filled with sludge and rubbish in 1970’s, and there were plans to fill it in to create a car park. Led by the Junior Chamber, a clean-up campaign was carried out, and today it is even used as a filming location for films and television dramas. During the ‘Hachiman-bori Festival’, held every autumn, the moat is illuminated. This year’s festival is scheduled for 10 October, and there will reportedly be a fireworks display as well.