Shiga, Shiga

Shiga (志賀町, Shiga-chō) was a town located in Shiga District, Shiga Prefecture, Japan. It is on the western shore of Lake Biwa and the eastern foot of Hira Mountains.

As of 2003, the town had an estimated population of 21,964 and a density of 306.20 persons per km². The total area was 71.73 km².

On March 20, 2006, Shiga was merged into the expanded city of Ōtsu.

The original village called Shiga (kanji was "滋賀", not 志賀) was located slightly north of Ōtsu, and merged with Ōtsu on May 10, 1932. A new town called Shiga was established on October 1, 1955 upon the mergers of Wani (和邇), Kido (木戸), and Komatsu (小松) villages, further north of Ōtsu.