A practical English guide to Koka in Shiga: the ninja heritage, the pottery town of Shigaraki and access from Kyoto and Otsu.
Operational details such as opening hours, admission fees, and train times can change. Prefer official pages and reconfirm before you travel (sources checked on 07 November 2026).
Why visit
- Koka is a city in southern Shiga, in the hills between Lake Biwa and the mountains of Mie, and it is known for two things: ninja and pottery. The area was home to one of the two great schools of ninja, and it was also the district that produced the Shigaraki kilns, one of the oldest pottery traditions in Japan.
- The ninja heritage is presented in a small museum and in the old houses of the area, with displays on the families and the techniques. Shigaraki, in the same city, is a pottery town with kilns, workshops and shops, and the tanuki figures that line the streets.
- The landscape is one of tea fields, forest and small valleys, with old roads between the villages, and it is an easy day trip from Kyoto and Otsu.
Top places and highlights
Ninja heritage
A museum and old houses connected to the Koka ninja school.
Shigaraki pottery
Kilns, workshops and shops in the pottery town of Shigaraki.
Tea fields
Tea country in the hills, with views over the fields and valleys.
Old roads
Quiet roads and paths between the villages of the district.
Food and drink
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Getting there and around
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Where to stay
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Best time to visit
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Practical tips
- Shigaraki is spread out; check bus times if you are not driving.
- Some kilns and museums close on irregular days.
- The ninja museum is popular with families; go early.
Suggested day-trip outline
- Morning: train from Kyoto or Otsu.
- Late morning: the ninja museum and the old houses.
- Lunch: a local restaurant or a cafe in Shigaraki.
- Afternoon: the pottery town and the kilns.
- Late afternoon: a drive through the tea fields.
- Evening: back to Kyoto or Otsu.
Before you go
Timetables, fares, admission fees, and seasonal access rules can change. Check the official tourism and transport sites linked below for the latest information before you travel.
Explore More of Japan
Published guides that pair with this one:
- Azuchi Travel Guide: Nobunaga’s Castle and the Lake Shore
- Nagahama Travel Guide: Kurokabe Glass and the Lake Biwa Town
- Iga Travel Guide: Ninja Country in Mie
- Kameyama Travel Guide: A Tokaido Castle Town in Mie
- Kashihara Travel Guide: Nara’s Ancient Capital and Great Shrine
Browse every Kansai guide on this site for the rest of the region.
Sources
- city.koka.lg.jp (checked 2026-11-07)
- biwako-visitors.jp (checked 2026-11-07)
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