Shiga Live Houses

Huckleberry (Katata) A nice place. Interesting, asymmetrical decor; Malts, Heineken and Budweiser. Elevated stage; adequate airconditioning and toilets, especially since there's no good reason not to use the gents if there's a queue for the ladies. It was a bit quiet the only time I went there even though there were a bunch of great bands but I've only been there the one time. Shiga may seem like a long way away but I didn't find it a difficult commute from Osaka. The web page is OK and the map, under "contact" is good although all in Japanese. You get out at JR Katata station and turn right up the main street opposite. There's a big supermarkety-thing called "Heiwado" on the far (i.e. left hand) side of the street and diagonally across from that is Huckleberry on the station side. The night-time photo will probably be more useful.

Huckleberry. Note that the name isn't written in romaji anywhere, just in katakana.

B-flat (Otsu) As you walk out of Keihan Hamaotsu station take some time to look around from the upper level you come out on. Look one way and you can check out Lake Biwa. Look the other and you should be able to make out the 6-storey building "Ark 21" that houses B-flat. "Ark" is written in white and in katakana, the "21" is in blue. Then you can just wander down to street level and follow the train/tram tracks as they lead you past the building. There's a nice little park with sakura just across the small street where the entrance is. The signage at ground level is pretty subtle but there's not much to distract you in the area. Ignore the stairs next to the sign and walk a bit further in to find the lift that saves you walking up 6 flights. Small and a little quiet but I've only been there the once and it was a Wednesday. Only one rather daggy toilet but with an exotic scarf draped lovingly over the cistern so full marks for effort. Heineken only is harder to forgive but I managed.

B-flat. Perhaps not the most useful of reference photos but dead pretty, eh?

U★Stone U★Stone's pretty big but has a nice, high stage and you can see well from everywhere, especially since the lighting is good too. There's no smoking in the stage area. 2 ladies toilets. Heineken in cans. No re-entry. Instead of lockers they shove your stuff into plastic bags but don't seem to mind if you dump your bag against a wall instead. Not big on vibe but a good place to see a show. The website is mostly Japanese and the map is just a link to Google Maps. You should be able to find it without reading Japanese though. Go out of the south exit of Ishiyama station and up the street with the Maccas on the corner then turn right at the (not so very) main road, with the lights. A short way up you'll see this.

U★Stone.