June 7. : A lantern festival held on the night of August 3–5. Specialty goods : A talisman shakushi (Japanese ladle) from the reign of Empress Genshō. Allegedly the origin of the Japanese word otamajakushi. : A Japanese sweet made of mochi sticky rice sold at souvenir shops around the shrine. Itokiri-mochi was first made to celebrate the Japanese victory over the Mongols. Access The shrine is about a 20 minute walk from Taga Taisha-mae Station on the Ohmi Railway Taga Line, or about ten minutes by bus from Minami-Hikone Station on the JR West Biwako Line. See also Takamiya-juku, the closest of the 69 Stations of the Nakasendō to the shrine References External links Official website Shinto shrines in Shiga Prefecture Places of Scenic Beauty Taga, Shiga Ōmi Province