Shigalandlocked ken (prefecture), southern central Honshu, Japan, containing . It contains Lake Biwa, the largest lake in Japan. Ōtsu, the prefectural capital, is situated at the south end of the lake.


the prefectural capital,

Hikone, and Nagahama

are dependent

depend on Lake


Biwa for their water supply. Area


square miles (


square km). Pop.

(2005) 1,380,361