Ōtsu, Shiga

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**Otsu City**
**大津市**
Otsu City's location in Shiga Prefecture, Japan.
Location
Country	Japan
Region	Kansai
Prefecture	Shiga Prefecture
Physical characteristics
Area	374.06 km²
Population (as of 2003)
Total	324,497
Density	867.50/km²
Location	°′″N, °′″E
Symbols
Otsu City City Hall
Official website: Otsu City

Coordinates: °′″N, °′″E

Ōtsu (大津市, Ōtsu-shi^?) is the capital city of Shiga, Japan.

As of February, 2007, the city has an estimated population of 329, 355, with an age average of 40.7 years (15.42% of which have less than 15 years of age and 16.81% are over 65) and a density of 880.49persons per km². The total area is 374.06 km².

From Otsu, the Michigan paddlewheel boat offers cruises on Lake Biwa.

The city was founded on October 1, 1898. Prior to the existence of a settlement called "Ōtsu", the location was known as "Awazu"; one of the battles of the 12th century Genpei War occurred there.

Lake Biwa, the biggest lake in Japan, is in the center of the prefecture and also a site of significant relevance to the Japanese tourism industry. Sightseeing tours in Lake Biwa usually take up to several hours and tourists are given an opportunity to swim and take long strolls around the region. Lake Biwa is also a famous beaching spot in the Summer.

Built during the 1890's and later expanded during the Taisho Period, the Lake Biwa Canal played an important role in connecting Ōtsu and the nearby city of Kyoto, facilitating water and passenger transportation and also providing eletrical energy to power Japan's first streetcar railroad services.

1 References in popular culture
2 Sister cities
3 Gallery
4 Internal links
5 External links

[edit] References in popular culture

In Rurouni Kenshin "Recollection", following the thwarted attempt to set Kyoto on fire by the Miyabe faction of the Chōshū Clan, Kenshin Himura and Yukishiro Tomoe are instructed by Kido Takayoshi to flee the capital and head for Ōtsu City where the two would live as a married couple in order to avoid suspicion by Pro-Shogunate spies.

[edit] Sister cities

**Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto (Kyoto, Uji and **Otsu** Cities)**¹
**UNESCO World Heritage Site**

State Party	Japan
Type	Cultural
Criteria	ii, iv
Identification	#688
Region²	Asia-Pacific
Inscription History
Formal Inscription:	1994 18th WH Committee Session
WH link:	http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/688
1 Name as officially inscribed on the WH List 2 As classified officially by UNESCO