Has anyone ventured out into Shiga? Years ago I went on an exchange program, and we went to this supercool market-giftshop-museum of local fish, and other delicacies, like tsukemono and mochi and what else?!?!? Either it was all free, or we paid a small admission fee and had unlimited samples all afternoon. However, I can't find that place now,and I want to go on my imminent trip. My old exchange program manager from Shiga told me it is Ayuya, near Omi-hachiman? Anyone out there know what I'm talking about or where it is?
Robin

Sorry...I don't know this place.

But, if you want to look and sample local products like that, any market will do...the bigger the more variety. Department store basement floors also have all this kind of stuff and you can sample it. The samples are unlimited in a way. It is free in a way. You are actually expected to buy something.

The following webpage says something about ayuya in Yasu, Shiga, which is about 6 miles from Omihachiman
http://pchoice.jp/ayuya.htm

Does ayuya mean fish market?

From my limited Japanese, Ayu, I know is the name of this fish, and -ya is the suffix for "store" or "shop".