Ōmihachiman facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ōmihachiman 近江八幡市
City
Old city view from Mt. Hachiman
Flag Seal
Location of Ōmihachiman in Shiga Prefecture
Ōmihachiman Location in Japan
Country	Japan
Region	Kansai
Prefecture	Shiga Prefecture
Area
• Total	177.45 km2 (68.51 sq mi)
Population  (31 August 2021)
• Total	82,233
• Density	463.415/km2 (1,200.24/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+09:00 (JST)
City hall address	236 Sakuragi-chō, Ōmihachiman-shi, Shiga-ken 523-8501
Phone number	0748-33-3111
Symbols Flower Salvia Tree Azalea, Sakura

City Hall

Traditional buildings Preservation Area

Ōmihachiman (近江八幡市, Ōmihachiman-shi) is a city located in Shiga Prefecture, Japan. It's a cool place with a rich history and beautiful nature.

As of August 31, 2021, about 82,233 people lived in Ōmihachiman. They lived in 34,747 homes. The city covers an area of about 76.97 square kilometers (29.72 square miles).

Geography and Nature

Ōmihachiman is in the middle part of Shiga Prefecture. It sits on flat land along the eastern shore of Lake Biwa. Lake Biwa is the largest freshwater lake in Japan. The city also stretches inland towards the Suzuka Mountains.

Neighboring Cities and Towns

Ōmihachiman shares borders with a few other places in Shiga Prefecture:

• Higashiōmi
• Ryūō
• Yasu

Climate and Weather

Ōmihachiman has a climate called a Humid subtropical climate. This means it has warm summers and cool winters. There is usually light or no snowfall.

The average temperature each year is about 14.7°C (58.5°F). The city gets about 1602 mm (63 inches) of rain per year. September is usually the wettest month. August is the hottest month, with temperatures around 26.6°C (79.9°F). January is the coldest, with temperatures around 3.7°C (38.7°F).

Population Over Time

The number of people living in Ōmihachiman has grown a lot over many years. Recently, the population has stayed about the same.

History of Ōmihachiman

Ōmihachiman was once part of an old area called Ōmi Province. It started as a post station on a main road. This road connected the old capital city, Heian-kyō, with other parts of Japan.

Castles and Merchants

During the Sengoku period (a time of wars in Japan), a powerful leader named Oda Nobunaga built Azuchi Castle nearby. Later, another leader, Toyotomi Hidetsugu, built Hachimanyama Castle. A new town grew around this castle. Many merchants, known as "Ōmi shōnin," moved there. They were very important for trade.

Today, you can still see old merchant homes and a canal that was used for transport. This area is protected as a special place with traditional buildings and a beautiful landscape.

Modern City Development

The town of Hachiman officially started on April 1, 1889. In 1905, an American architect named William Merrell Vories came to Ōmihachiman. He was an English teacher at first. He loved the city so much that he stayed and helped build many Western-style buildings. He also started a medicine company, an education group, and a hospital.

On March 31, 1954, Hachiman merged with several nearby villages to form the city of Ōmihachiman. The name was changed to "Ōmihachiman" to avoid confusion with another city in Japan. Later, on March 21, 2010, the town of Azuchi also joined Ōmihachiman.

Economy and Jobs

The economy of Ōmihachiman relies on a few main things:

• Agriculture: Farming is important here.
• Commercial Fishing: Fishing in Lake Biwa helps the economy.
• Tourism: Many people visit Ōmihachiman, especially during certain seasons.
• Manufacturing: Making medicines is a key industry in the city.

Education in Ōmihachiman

Ōmihachiman has many schools for kids and teens:

• 12 public elementary schools
• 4 public middle schools
• 3 public high schools

There is also one private elementary school, one private middle school, and one private high school.

Getting Around: Transportation

Trains

You can travel by train in Ōmihachiman.

• JR West – Biwako Line
  • Azuchi
  • Ōmi-Hachiman
  • Shinohara
• Ohmi Railway – Main Line
  • Musa
  • Ōmi-Hachiman

Highways

Major roads that pass through Ōmihachiman include:

• National Route 8
• National Route 421
• National Route 477

Friendship Cities

Ōmihachiman has special "sister city" and "friendship city" relationships with other cities, both in Japan and around the world. These connections help people from different places learn about each other's cultures.

In Japan

• Fujinomiya, Shizuoka
• Matsumae, Hokkaidō

Outside Japan

• Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States (friendship city since 1986)
• Leavenworth, Kansas, United States (sister city since 1997)
• Mantua, Lombardy, Italy (friendship city since 2005)
• Miryang, Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea (friendship city since 1994)

Fun Places to Visit

There are many interesting places to see and things to do in Ōmihachiman!

Hachiman Area Attractions

• Himure Hachiman-gū: This is the biggest shrine in Ōmihachiman. The city's name comes from this shrine.
  • Sagichō Festival: A cool fire festival held every March near the Himure Hachimangū.
• Hachimanyama Castle: The ruins of a castle built by Toyotomi Hidetsugu. You can take the Hachimanyama Ropeway to the top of the mountain for great views.
• Hachiman-bori canal: A historic canal that was important for trade.
• Suigō meguri: You can take sightseeing boats through the beautiful rural lagoons.
• Kawara Museum: A museum about traditional Japanese roof tiles.
• Dainaka Lake Minami Site: An ancient settlement from the Yayoi period. It's a National Historic Site.
• Lake Biwa: Japan's largest lake.
  • Okishima: A fishing island in Lake Biwa. It's the only inhabited lake island in Japan!
  • Isaki no Sao-tobi: A water festival in August where brave people jump into the lake from Isaki Temple.
• Musa-juku: Another historic post station along an old highway.

Azuchi Area Attractions

• Azuchi Castle: The ruins of a famous castle built by Oda Nobunaga. It's a Special National Historic Site.
• Kannonji Castle ruins: Another historic castle ruin, a National Historic Site.
• Chōmei-ji: The 31st temple on the Saigoku Kannon Pilgrimage (西国三十三箇所, Saigoku sanjūsankasho).
• Kannonshō-ji: The 32nd temple on the Saigoku Kannon Pilgrimage (西国三十三箇所, Saigoku sanjūsankasho).
• Yukinoyama Kofun: An ancient burial mound, a National Historic Site.
• Azuchi-Hyōtanyama Kofun: Another ancient burial mound, a National Historic Site.
• Oiso Shrine: A historic shrine, a National Historic Site.

Famous People from Ōmihachiman

Many talented people come from Ōmihachiman:

• Kota Aoki: A football (soccer) player.
• Takashi Inui: Another football (soccer) player.
• Yukiko Inui: An artistic swimmer.
• Tatsuo Kawabata: A politician.
• Miku Tanabe: An entertainer.
• Kazuyo Matsui: An actress.

See also

In Spanish: Ōmihachiman para niños