Otsu City, located in the southwestern corner of Shiga Prefecture, is both the prefectural capital and a designated core city. It shares a deep relationship with Kyoto City, which borders Mount Hiei. The city's climate is characterized by two distinct zones: a Seto Inland Sea-style climate in the south and a Sea of Japan-style climate in the north. Many areas within the city have historically played important roles, including Lake Biwa, a key waterway transportation hub; Otsu, a post town on the Tokaido; Zeze, the castle town of the Zeze Domain; Sakamoto, a temple town and port for Mount Hiei; and Katata, a hub for lake transportation. As an ancient capital with a history dating back 1,300 years, Otsu boasts numerous historical sites, including the World Heritage Sites Enryaku-ji Temple, Onjo-ji Temple, Hiyoshi Taisha Shrine, and Ishiyama-dera Temple.