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Otsu, the capital city of Shiga Prefecture, is situated on the southern end of Lake Biwa, which is the largest body of freshwater in Japan, and only 10 minutes by train from the nation's former capital of Kyoto. The year 1998 marks the 100th anniversary of Otsu's municipal incorporation, an almost daily succession of events leading up to the main commemorative ceremony on October 1 has enveloped the city in a spirit of celebration. In planning for the centennial, the city has undertaken a number of improvement projects, particularly the redevelopment of central Otsu. A new downtown building housing retail shops and restaurants has been completed, and is already a beacon for young people as a place to congregate and exchange information. After more than 10 years of construction, the shoreline along Lake Biwa has been developed for improved public access to thewater, thanks to the installation of a stone masonry revetment and sandy beaches.
Yoriyuki Sugiyama, General Director, Department General Affairs, Otsu City, boasts enthusiastically of the positive effects of such projects. "Where once we had little in the way of night life," he says, "young people are now flocking in greater numbers to the shops and restaurants and the shoreline promenade." The natural beauty of the lake and surrounding mountains creates a comfortable living environment for the elderly and children as well. |
