On November 13, 2007, an excursion for overseas students, researchers and their families was held. It turned out to be most impressive.

This year, we visited three places in Shiga: Hyakusai-ji, the riverside district in Omihachiman and Lake Biwa Museum, to learn about these interesting local places.

Hyakusai-ji is one of the “Koto-Sanzan”: the three mountain temples in the east side of Lake Biwa, which are famous for their beautiful autumn leaves. We enjoyed listening to a detailed explanation by the priest and seeing the beautiful garden where the leaves had just started to change color.

In Omihachiman, we spent a relaxing time riding in a boat rowed by a boatman on a watercourse thick with reeds.

Visiting Lake Biwa Museum was a good opportunity for us to appreciate the nature of Lake Biwa which occupies one-sixth of the surface of Shiga prefecture.