Shigaraki was a town located in Kōka District, Shiga Prefecture, Japan. As of 2004, the town had an estimated population of 13,885 and a density of 84.92 persons per km2. The total area is 163.5 km2. On October 1, 2004, Shigaraki, along with the towns of Kōka, Kōnan, Minakuchi and Tsuchiyama, was merged to create the city of Kōka. It also served as the imperial capital for several months in 745, before moving to Heijō-kyō due to a forest fire destroying the palace.