Day 22 has us back in the well-known Kansai region of Japan to visit the landlocked prefecture of Shiga. Its capital is Otsu and it is home to Japan’s largest lake — Lake Biwa.
1. What does okoshiyasu (おこしやす) mean in Shiga?
2. What does jyurui (じゅるい) mean in Shiga?
3. What was the name of the province that Shiga replaced?
4. What is the name of this castle in Shiga which is one of only five national treasure castles in Japan?
5. What is the name of the island off the northern shore of Lake Biwa that is locally known as the Island of the Gods and has a Buddhist temple dating back to 724 AD and a Shinto shrine more than 1500 years old that is a National Treasure?
6. Shiga has 37 per cent of its total land area are listed as Natural Parks — the most of any prefecture in Japan: true or false?
7. What art museum in Shiga is affectionately known as “the floating museum” and houses a National Treasure: a bell from the southwest bell tower of Mt Hiei?
8. Shiga is also known for its high-quality wagyu beef. What is the name of its local beef that is thought to be the oldest beef brand in Japan?
9. What is the name of the highest mountain in Shiga?
10. Write a haiku poem that describe the beauty and charms of Shiga.
Answers for Day 21: (1) pumpkin or squash (2) welcome or thanks for coming (3) Suo (aka Boshu) and Nagato (aka Choshu) provinces (4) Motonosumi-jinja Shrine (元乃隅神社) (5) Akiyoshido Cave (秋芳洞) (6) Ube (7) Kawara soba (8) blowfish (aka fugu) (9) Yuda Onsen
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