ANOTHER SPECIAL REASON TO VISIT SHIGA PREFECTURE

Is to soak up the beauty of Hikone Castle beside the Lake, perhaps the most beautiful castle in Japan, and its neighboring Genkyu-en garden, one of Japan's finest and most diversely interesting gardens (both conveniently mentioned earlier in one post).

This year commemorates the 400th anniversary of completion of the Castle's main tower, so Hikone City is holding a 250-day festival (!), from March 21 to Nov. 25, to celebrate.

Here's an excellently detailed article on the long festival. If you see a long-white-haired foreigner walking around taking pictures, it's probably me.