Ōtsu, Shiga
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 Otsu City's location in Shiga Prefecture, Japan. |
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| Location | |
| Country | Japan |
| Region | Kansai |
| Prefecture | Shiga Prefecture |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Area | 374.06 km² |
| Population (as of 2003) | |
| Total | 324,497 |
| Density | 867.50/km² |
| Location | |
| Symbols | |
| Otsu City City Hall | |
| Official website: Otsu City | |
Ōtsu (大津市 Ōtsu-shi?) is the capital city of Shiga, Japan.
As of February, 2007, the city has an estimated population of 329, 355, with an age average of 40.7 years (15.42% of which have less than 15 years of age and 16.81% are over 65) and a density of 880.49persons per km². The total area is 374.06 km².
The city was founded on October 1, 1898. Prior to the existence of a settlement called "Ōtsu", the location was known as "Awazu"; one of the battles of the 12th century Genpei War occurred there.
Lake Biwa, the biggest lake in Japan, is in the center of the prefecture and also a site of significant relevance to the Japanese tourism industry. Sightseeing tours in Lake Biwa usually take up to several hours and tourists are given an opportunity to swim and take long strolls around the region. Lake Biwa is also a famous beaching spot in the Summer.
Built during the 1890's and later expanded during the Taisho Period, the Lake Biwa Canal played an important role in connecting Ōtsu and the nearby city of Kyoto, facilitating water and passenger transportation and also providing eletrical energy to power Japan's first streetcar railroad services.
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[edit] References in popular culture
- In Rurouni Kenshin "Recollection", following the thwarted attempt to set Kyoto on fire by the Miyabe faction of the Chōshū Clan, Kenshin Himura and Yukishiro Tomoe are instructed by Kido Takayoshi to flee the capital and head for Ōtsu City where the two would live as a married couple in order to avoid suspicion by Pro-Shogunate spies.
[edit] Sister cities
- Lansing, Michigan, USA
- Würzburg, Bayern, Germany
- Interlaken, Bern, Switzerland
- Mudanjiang, Heilongjiang, China
- Kumi, Gyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea
| State Party |  Japan |
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| Type | Cultural | |
| Criteria | ii, iv | |
| Identification | #688 | |
| Region2 | Asia-Pacific | |
| Inscription History | ||
| Formal Inscription: | 1994 18th WH Committee Session |
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| WH link: | http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/688 | |
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1 Name as officially inscribed on the WH List |
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[edit] Gallery
 Grave of Matsuo Bashō at Gichū-ji |
 Ishiyama-dera, a temple at which Murasaki Shikibu stayed |
 Entrance of Biwako Sosui |
[edit] Internal links
[edit] External links
- Official website in Japanese
- Photos of Otsu at PHOTOGUIDE.JP
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| Cities | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Higashiomi | Hikone | Koka | Konan | Kusatsu | Maibara | Moriyama | Nagahama | Otsu (capital) | Omihachiman | Ritto | Takashima | Yasu | |||
| Districts | |||
| Echi | Gamou | Higashiazai | Ika | Inukami | |||
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Buddhist Monuments, Horyu-ji Area | Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu | Himeji-jo | Hiroshima Peace Memorial (Genbaku Dome) | Itsukushima Shinto Shrine | Monuments of Ancient Kyoto (Kyoto, Uji and Otsu Cities) | Monuments of Ancient Nara | Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes, Kii Mountain Range | Shirakami-Sanchi | Shiretoko | Shrines and Temples of Nikkō | Villages of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama | Yakushima
| The subject of this article has been identified by the Missing Encyclopedic Articles project as being a high priority for expansion. |
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