Lake Yogo

**Still mornings are the whole point.** The reflection is why it is called the mirror lake, and any wind removes it. Early is better than late. **Take the chairlift for both lakes at once.** Six minutes up the Shizugatake ridge and you can see Yogo on one side and Lake Biwa with Chikubushima on the other. The walk up takes about 40 minutes if the lift is not running. **Smelt fishing from November to March.** Two piers, tackle sold on the spot, and no experience needed. It is one of the few winter activities in northern Shiga that does not involve snow. **This is snow country.** Yogo gets heavy snow and the road and rail can be affected. The frozen lake edge is the reward. **The feather robe legend is recorded here first.** The oldest surviving Japanese version of the story is set at this lake, and the cedar the robe was hung on is marked on the shore. **The battle decided the succession.** Hideyoshi beat Shibata Katsuie on the ridge in 1583 and that is why he rather than anyone else inherited Nobunaga's position. The site markers are along the lift route.