Hiyoshi Taisha Shrine

Hiyoshi Taisha Shrine is the main shrine of the Sannou Festival, which has more than 3800 branch shrines around the country. It also had a long history which is recorded in Japan's oldest history record. The shrine consists of 21 different halls over a large area of land, including the east and west main halls (designated national treasures), which contain many cultural properties. Inside the shrine, imortant cultural properties are exhibited, such as Mikoshi (a portable shrine), which is used in the Sannou Festival every year. The whole shrine is designated as a national historical landmark. The Hiyoshisankyo Bridge, spanning across the Omiya River which flows throughout the grounds, is also designated as an important cultural property. Hiyoshi Taisha Shrine is also one of the best places to view the in the Lake Biwa area.