Nagahama Passport
The Nagahama Passport grants entry to over 10 different attractions around the city for a one-time cost of 1,500 yen. Passport holders also receive discounts and other perks at local restaurants, hot springs, and hotels.
Nagahama’s location at the north end of Lake Biwa made it a crossroads for commerce, culture, and warring samurai armies, and its museums reflect a history that spans many periods and themes. Visitors can use the passport to craft an itinerary that matches their interests, from the battles of Japan’s war-torn sixteenth century to anime and manga figurines.
Passport Details:
–Valid for two days from first use
–Admission is limited to one person per site
–Some sites subject to sudden closure (no refunds)
–Additional charges may apply for temporary or special exhibitions
–Customers who book through travel agencies or pay by credit card may not be eligible for discounts or other perks at certain participating businesses
Sample Itineraries
Kids and Parents
(Yanmar Museum, Nagahama Railway Museum, Kaiyodo Figure Museum)
Families arriving at Nagahama Station and traveling on foot can easily reach these three child-friendly attractions. Start the day at the Yanmar Museum, with its game-like interactive exhibits, then climb aboard the locomotives at the Nagahama Railway Museum before mingling with Godzilla and other pop culture icons at the Kaiyodo Figure Museum. A Nagahama Passport saves a total of 700 yen in adult admission fees at these three stops. (Please note: For children ages 15 and under, it is cheaper to pay admission at the gate than to purchase a Nagahama Passport.)
City Center: Ōtemon-Dōri Shopping Street
(Kaiyodo Figure Museum, Nagahama Hikiyama Museum, Daitsūji Temple)
A walkable route in and around the city center. Begin at the Kaiyodo Figure Museum, then head to the Nagahama Hikiyama Museum to see the towering floats of the Nagahama Hikiyama Festival. Finish at Daitsūji Temple with a tour of its many decorative screens and other artworks. Passport holders save a total of 600 yen.
Sengoku Samurai
(Nagahama Castle Museum, Kunitomo Gun Museum, Odani Castle Sengoku Historical Museum)
An itinerary designed for visitors interested in samurai battles, castles, and warfare. This route includes the Nagahama Castle Museum, the Kunitomo Gun Museum, and the Odani Castle Sengoku Historical Museum, located at the base of the Odani Castle ruins. Visitors will need to travel by bus, train, or taxi to complete everything in one day. (Hiking to Odani Castle’s 495-meter hilltop peak is an option for outdoor enthusiasts.) To save on admission fees, users should combine this course with other stops on the second day.
Flower-Viewing **Limited to Second and Third Weeks of March**
(Daitsūji Temple, Nagahama Castle Museum, Keiunkan)
This springtime course begins at Daitsūji Temple and its display of Japanese andromeda, then continues to the Nagahama Castle Museum, whose adjoining park (Hōkō Park) is home to some 150 plum trees. The day finishes at Keiunkan, a traditional guesthouse that hosts Japan’s premier plum bonsai exhibition. To see flowers in bloom at all three sites, users will need to time their visit to coincide with the second and third weeks of March. To save on admission fees, users should combine this course with other stops on the second day.