Ōtsu, Shiga

city of Shiga Prefecture, Japan

Ōtsu (大津市, Ōtsu-shi) is a city in the Kansai region of Japan on the island of Honshu. It is the capital city of Shiga Prefecture.[1]

Ōtsu
大津
大津市 · Ōtsu City
Flag of Ōtsu
Official seal of Ōtsu
Location of Ōtsu in Shiga
Location of Ōtsu in Shiga
Ōtsu is located in Japan
Ōtsu
Ōtsu
Location in Japan
Coordinates: 35°1′N 135°51′E / 35.017°N 135.850°E / 35.017; 135.850
CountryJapan
RegionKansai
PrefectureShiga
Government
 • MayorKenji Sato
Area
 • Total464.10 km2 (179.19 sq mi)
Population
 (August 1, 2011)
 • Total336,430
Symbols
 • TreePrunus serrulata
 • FlowerViola eizanensis
 • BirdBlack-headed Gull
Time zoneUTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
City hall address3-1 Goryō-chō, Ōtsu-shi, Shiga-ken
520-8575
Websitewww.city.otsu.shiga.jp

It has been recognized as a core city since 2009.[2]

History

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Ōtsu was the site of an Imperial palace from 667 to 672. Emperor Tenji lived in Ōtsu.[3]

In the Edo period, Ōtsu was one of fifty-three shogunate-maintained waystations (shuku-eki) along the road which connected Edo and Kyoto.[4]

Geography

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Ōtsu is on the south shore of Lake Biwa.

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References

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  1. Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Ōtsu" in Japan Encyclopedia, p. 765; "Kansai" at p. 477.
  2. Jacobs, A.J. "Japan's Evolving Nested Municipal Hierarchy: The Race for Local Power in the 2000s," Urban Studies Research, Vol. 2011 (2011), p. 8 [PDF 8 of 14]; retrieved 2012-12-5.
  3. Nussbaum, "Ōtsu-no-miya" at p. 477.
  4. Nussbaum, "Tōkaidō" at p. 973.

Other websites

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  Media related to Otsu, Shiga at Wikimedia Commons