WHAT AND WHERE IS SHIGA PREFECTURE?
Shiga-ken, or Shiga Prefecture, is one of the 47 prefectures (states or
provinces more or less) that make up the country of Japan. Just two and
a half hours west of Tokyo by bullet train, in northern Kansai, Shiga
Prefecture is centrally located on Japan's main island of Honshu.
Boasting Japan's largest freshwater lake, Lake Biwa-ko, and bordered by
the picturesque mountains of the Japanese Alps, Shiga Prefecture has a
wide range of activities on offer for the outdoor enthusiast. From the
watersports and beaches of Biwa-ko, to the excellent cycling, hiking,
and skiing found throughout, Shiga Prefecture has something for
everyone. And if location is everything, then, with its culturally and
historically rich neighbors to the south, Kyoto and Nara, and the
bustling business, entertainment, and fashion centers of Osaka and Kobe
within close proximity, it is easy to see why Shiga Prefecture is one
of the best places to live in Japan.
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The
Shiga Survival Guide is a reference book produced by Shiga Prefecture
Coordinators for International Relations, the Shiga Prefectural
Government, and Shiga AJET. The Shiga Survival Guide was designed to
give the foreigners living in Shiga within the context of the Japan
Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program the information necessary to live a
full and independent life during their tenure in Shiga Prefecture.
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The
function of the Shiga Survival Guide is to provide information. As a
source of information, there are many reasons for there to be an
on-line version. In an age where the world and information is
constantly changing, an on-line format allows the guide to stay on top
of these changes, supplying the most current information possible. The
interactivity of an on-line guide allows the pinpoint directing of a
user, through links, to desired information wherever that information
might be, both inside and outside of the guide. And finally, the
on-line format allows access to the information contained within to
anyone with access to the internet. This final reason makes the Shiga
Survival Guide on-line a valuable asset not only for the community of
foriegners and JET Program participants living within Shiga Prefecture,
but for anyone with an interest in Shiga Prefecture, Lake Biwa, or the
JET Program. For JETs living outside of Shiga Prefecture, the Shiga
Survival Guide on-line can provide, or in the very least, point the way
towards, the solutions to any problems they may have, wherever they may
be. The accessiblity of the Shiga Survival Guide on-line provides
insight into Shiga Prefecture and the life-style of participants in the
JET Program to anyone who may be considering the JET Program or travel
to Shiga Prefecture. So, whether acting as a supplement to the book, or
on its own, the Shiga Survival Guide on-line is a valuable resource.
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