Database: Omi
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The province of Omi's name carries the meaning, "freshwater lake near the capital." As the phrase implies, the region extends around Lake Biwa, the closest such lake to Kyoto (not to be confused with Totoumi province's Lake Hamana, which gives that province's name its meaning of "distant freshwater lake"). Bordered by Wakasa and Echizen to the north and by Mino and Ise to the east, Omi province was an important logistics and shipping hub, where goods from the Sea of Japan and the Tokaido region were shipped across Lake Biwa, unloaded at Otsu, and then delivered to Kyoto, the capital.
The looming presence of Mount Hiei stood between Omi and Kyoto, and Enryaku-ji held the ports of Otsu, Sakamoto and Katada (all at the foot of the mountain). Enryaku-ji also held sway over several manors in the area, helping them to maintain great influence in the province. On the other hand, the Kutsuki valley and the Koga township (also known as "Koka") were located in the mountainous regions to the west and south. These were separated from Lake Biwa by those mountains and occupied by mostly independent lords who ruled over small fiefs tucked away in individual valleys. The Koga were particularly independent, and their region became known as a ninja area, just like Iga.