2025 Lake Biwa Travel Guide: Must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transportation routes (updated in August)

Lake Biwa, with a total area of 670 square kilometers, reveals a vast expanse of vibrant energy and charm that changes with the climate and seasons. This is why it's home to magnificent and ever-changing natural landscapes such as the "Eight Views of Lake Biwa" and the "Eight Views of Omi." A visit to Lake Biwa is essential on a sunny day with good visibility to admire the lake surrounded by vibrant greenery. Enjoy a cup of coffee and a sea of clouds from the mountaintop Lake Biwa Observatory. In winter, the area transforms into the Lake Biwa Ski Resort, offering skiing and snow fun. 🎫 Tickets: 4,000 yen/adult, 2,000 yen/elementary student. Purchase in advance online for 3,000 yen/person. ✅ Transportation ❗ 🚗 From Osaka → Take the JR Kyoto Line to Kyoto Station (30 minutes) → Take the JR Kosai Line to Shiga Station (40 minutes) → Take a bus to the cable car terminal (10 minutes). 🚗 From Kyoto → Take the JR Kosai Line to Shiga Station (40 minutes) → Take a bus to the cable car terminal (10 minutes). ⚠️Please note the cable car and shuttle bus schedules within the area (transfer to a direct bus to the cable car station). See page 6 for the bus schedule. ❗ 🎫 Bus fare: 410 yen for adults, 210 yen for children. ⏰Cable car service is open from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Tickets close at 4:00 PM and service ends at 5:00 PM. Cable car runs every 15 minutes. 1⃣ First cable car: The first 🚠 💰 express cable car takes you to an altitude of 1,100 meters in just 5 minutes! 2⃣ Second/Third Gondola: Slow, open-air gondola, chairlift-style cable car for skiing; transfer point offers rides such as unicycles, stilts, and Frisbees; 3⃣ Summit Experience: Enjoy stunning views of Lake Biwa from Cafe 360, high above Lake Biwa. ✅ Summit Dining ・ Ekinaka Kitchen ・ HALUKA Grill & Bar ・ Terrace Café ・ Infinity Lounge ・ The Main Coffee Stand ・ Café 360 ✅ Lake Biwa Attractions: 🏯 Ukimido Home to the Katada Rakugan, one of the Eight Scenic Views of Omi 🏞 Shirahige Shrine Maintains a festival on May 3rd and September 5th-6th each year, praying for longevity and health. 🎨 Sagawa Museum of Art: Admission: 1200 yen for adults, 800 yen for students 🏝 Okinoshima Cat Walk ✅🍣 Food 🍱 Korian · Sushi Kaiseki Signature Dish: Two-year-fermented "Kanruzuke" sushi, served with mochi pancakes and chazuke (tea rice), a true revelation of traditional sushi. Must-Tries: Biwa trout sashimi with sansho soy sauce and grilled ayu (the roe bursts with a delicious texture). 🍝 Sower's Contemporary Cuisine Cooked by a Michelin-starred chef, sushi pasta and biwa trout sashimi with sansho soy sauce are both creative and delicious. Hidden Menu: Shichibon Gunnoku Namamoto (award-winning IWC wine), only available in select restaurants. 🍵 Shiga Station Snacks Satiate your cravings with freshly grilled Omi beef skewers and matcha ice cream right at the station; The tea-flavored gelato at the café halfway up the mountain is rich and refreshing without being cloying. Nearby Attractions: Hikone Castle, Mitsui-dera Temple, Ishiyama-dera Temple, Daidori-ji Temple, Takebushima Island, Kurokabe Square, Omi-Hachiman Temple, Kyurin Bamboo Garden ⚠️ Tips 1. Check the weather before your trip; sunny days are beautiful. 2. Make sure you arrive at the cable car before 5:00 PM to descend the mountain. Watch for the last bus back to Shiga Station and catch the return bus as soon as you get off the cable car. #July2025

The Lake Biwa Fireworks Festival is one of Japan's most iconic fireworks events, held in Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture. Around 10,000 vibrant fireworks light up the night sky and reflect beautifully on Lake Biwa, creating a magical atmosphere. With a wide variety of fireworks, you're guaranteed to have an unforgettable experience! ⭐︎ There are several great spots for photography, but this time, I captured the view from Mount Hiei! The combination of the nightscape and fireworks was absolutely stunning. In 2025, the event is scheduled for August 8th. Time: 7:30 PM to 8:30 PM * Light rain will not cancel the event, but it will be canceled in case of severe weather.

Shiga Prefecture - Lake Biwa Fireworks Festival The Lake Biwa Grand Fireworks Festival is a summer tradition in Shiga Prefecture! The fireworks display at Japan's largest lake is grand and breathtaking.👏 ☑️ This fireworks festival features 10,000 fireworks✨ ☑️ The launch site is right in front of the Lake Biwa Hotel! ☑️ A powerful fireworks festival! ☑️ Lake Biwa, the largest lake in Japan, offers stunning reflections of the fireworks on its surface. ☑️ The venue, Otsu City, and Kusatsu City, where the fireworks can be seen, are easily accessible from Osaka and Kyoto, even though they are in Shiga Prefecture! 📍 Lake Biwa Fireworks Festival

⁡ I went to Oku-no-shima (Nagahama City, Shiga Prefecture), a small island that became connected to the mainland due to the drop in the water level of Lake Biwa! ⁡ Oku-no-shima is a bird habitat and floats about 200 meters offshore. Since the beginning of December last year, the water has receded, and a road has appeared. Since there is a single road from the shore to the island, it has been in the news as if it were the French monastery "Mont Saint-Michel" 😌 ⁡ The road was in the water, but when you walk on it, it feels solid and feels like you are on a sandy beach 😳 There were many birds swimming in the lake, and it was beautiful ✨🦢 ⁡ In Oku-no-shima, my shoes got stuck in the mud and sank, but I was able to take a beautiful picture while rinsing them in the lake (6th photo) 👟😂 7th to 9th photos are photos I took in Oku-no-shima 📷 ⁡ ⁡ 📍Oku-no-shima Location: Kohoku-cho, Nagahama-shi, Shiga Parking: Free ⁡ ⁡ ⁡ #Lake Biwa #Shiga Prefecture Tourism #Island #Wild Birds #Oku-no-shima #Scenic Spot #Tourist Spot ⁡

I went to see the sunrise at Lake Biwa in Shiga ✨ It seems like the sunrise is at 4:44 at this time of year 🌅 The sunset always falls on the opposite side of Lake Biwa, so Lake Biwa seems like a good place to see the sunrise 🌊🌿 All of the sky is unprocessed ✨ It was really nice to be along Lake Biwa in the morning when there was no one around 🎵 When it comes to beach mornings, coffee and hot sandwiches are the best ✨ We prepared our own and enjoyed it ☕️ I recommend early morning Lake Biwa mornings 🌿 The sun sets on most of the seas in Kansai, so I think Lake Biwa is a hidden gem for the sunrise ❤️ I was moved by the moment the sunrise came out 🌅🌟 I want to do it again when I can get up early ☕️✨ #ShigaTourism #LakeBiwa #BeachMorning

It’s too late to write Tim🤣 There should be no snow now in summer I went to this ski resort in Lake Biwa in early March this year! To be at JR "Shiga Station", then there is a bus stop as soon as you exit JR To note that the shifts are not frequent, you have to find the schedule on the Internet and then change the time to go better! However, there are some taxis in the head that will tempt you to get on the bus, but the day I went it was just right to get the bus so I don't know how much the taxi costs! Take the bus up and have to buy tickets to take the cable car up the mountain! The cable car seems to be the fastest in Japan? ! 5 minutes to the mountain You can rent skiing when you go up in the winter however we did not choose to ski that day Although I was still able to ski when I went! But actually it melts the snow has a lot to hold! I see it has different little games and can ride the d crane! If you have time it is highly recommended to go because the view is beautiful! It should be said that from sitting under the jr the view is beautiful! #Register HotelSleeper #OsakaTrip #OsakaFreeTrip #OsakaGood Places #Lake Biwa

An art museum on the shores of Lake Biwa in Shiga Prefecture. I enjoyed the works of Hirayama Ikuo and Raku Kichizaemonkan. It seems like they put more effort into special exhibitions than permanent exhibitions. The Fujii Fumiya and Banksy exhibitions are also on! I didn't have much time that day, so I wasn't able to explore much, but there is a cafe inside, so it looks like you can relax and browse the museum. #artmuseum #gw2022jp

Hikone Castle is a quick stop away from the Shinkansen. It's one stop from Maibara Station to Hikone Station, and from there it's about a 15-20 minute walk. One of the few castles with a remaining castle tower, it's a small but beautiful sight that you can look at for ages. The view of Lake Biwa is also magnificent. Perhaps because the grounds are so large, it's surprisingly not visible from the surrounding area, so when you finally reach the top after climbing the stone steps and see the castle tower, you'll be quite excited. The admission fee is 800 yen, which also allows you to see Genkyuen Garden on the grounds.

The exterior of the Sagawa Art Museum. There were sculptures on display, and the garden and museum were so beautiful that many people were taking photos! An art museum on the shores of Lake Biwa in Shiga Prefecture. This is also one of Kyoto's most representative art museums, along with the Miho Museum. I enjoyed the works of Hirayama Ikuo and Raku Kichizaemonkan. It seems that they put more effort into special exhibitions than permanent exhibitions. Fumiya Fujii and Banksy exhibitions are also being held!! #artmuseum #gw2022jp

To Shiga Prefecture • Lake Biwa Everglades! This is a continuation from last time!! We came to Shiga Prefecture for a glamping experience! The bath is like the picture. The dinner for the easy plan was a great treat! The T-bone steak was super delicious! #gourmettrip The kids were also very happy! It was a fun memory! We have also uploaded a video of this trip to YouTube! Please take a look!! #family #familytrip #familyfriendly #familymemories #shiga #glamping #lakebiwaeverglades #everglades #canoe #outdoors #yassantv1977 #youtuber #tourism #tourismsupport #touristtouristplace #touristdestination #withkids #wanttoconnectwithhotellovers #photographyguideattouristtouristplaces#travelinspiration#instagrammable×beautifulwomen#immediatelyusablephotographytechniques#distinctiveaccommodation

To Everglades Lake Biwa in Shiga Prefecture! This time, we came to experience glamping for the first time in a while! This is a facility that just opened! We enjoyed canoeing with the family! This time, we chose the easy plan, so all the ingredients for dinner were prepared. Glamping is really fun! The kids were very happy! It became a fun memory! We have also uploaded a video of this trip to YouTube! Please take a look! #family #familytrip #familyfriendly #familymemories #shiga #glamping #EvergladesLakeBiwa #Everglades #canoeing #outdoors #yassantv1977 #youtuber #tourism #tourismsupport #touristtouristplace #touristdestination #withkids #wanttoconnectwithhotellovers #photographyguidefortouristplaces #travelinspiration #instagrammable×beautifulwomen #immediatelyusablephotographytechniques #distinctiveaccommodation

Shirahige Shrine A vermilion-lacquered torii gate floating in the lake, a spectacular power spot⛩ There is a large vermilion-lacquered torii gate in the middle of Lake Biwa, and the shrine is located across National Route 161. Widely known as 'Shirahige-san' or 'Myojin-san', it is the oldest shrine in Omi, also known as Omi's Itsukushima. The daytime view is wonderful, but the view in the evening is also exceptional. If you look at the torii gate on the lake at different times of the day, you can see a wonderful ⛩ large torii gate✨✨🌅 215 Ukawa, Takashima City, Shiga Prefecture #Lake Biwa #Power Spot #Spectacular View

I've picked out 5 recommended spots in Shiga Prefecture that I'm glad I visited! ① Biwako Terrace ② Hikone Castle ③ Enryakuji Temple on Mount Hiei ④ Lake Biwa ⑤ Ishiyama-dera Temple Shiga has lots of great tourist spots, including Lake Biwa! If you're going to Shiga, be sure to visit them 🤗 #recommendedlist #shiga

Hello! My name is Shinya and I post about architecture and travel on Instagram! Today, I'd like to introduce Shiga Prefecture, which has a variety of tourist attractions! My house is close to Shiga Prefecture, so I often go there for drives, and it's fun because there are so many things to see! If you're interested, please take a look at this😚 #Springtimetrip #Themepark #Amazingview #Cooltravelexperience #Readytousephotographytechniques

I visited Hikone Castle. I went with a history buff and he said, "It's a traditional structure. There are many ingenious measures that make it difficult for enemies to attack." I think it's meant to be difficult to attack, but it's located on a slight hill and has a great view. I went at dusk, so there were few tourists and it was a quiet and relaxed time. #2021c #Retro townscape

Hikone Castle is located in Hikone City, Shiga Prefecture. This is the home ground of Hikonyan, the mascot character that took the world by storm a few years ago. Hikonyan shows are held here several times a day. He's so cute and hasn't lost his charms... You should definitely see him... Also, I love Omi beef, it's tender and juicy. #Snowscape #FreeSpot

〒521-0081 Address: 605-10 Tawada, Maibara City, Shiga Prefecture Opening hours: 10:00-17:00 Closed: Tuesday Parking: 360 spaces (free) Admission fee: 1300 yen for adults (junior high school students and above), 700 yen for ages 4 and above, free for ages 3 and under This place is a place where you can feel the healing of nature with all five senses. Beautiful mountains and gardens. The sound of swaying trees and chirping birds. The scent of flowers and trees that change with the seasons. The taste of freshly picked vegetables and fruits. The warmth of coming into contact with animals and nature. You can spend your time leisurely as you like. #ShigaPrefecture #RoseBerryTawada　#WeekendTrip #Walk #BotanicalGarden #CoupleTrip

Hikone Castle in Shiga Prefecture Hikone Castle in Shiga Prefecture is famous for its mascot character Hikonyan. It is especially recommended to visit during the autumn leaves and cherry blossom seasons. I have been there several times, and Hikonyan sometimes greets you at the entrance, and you can take photos with him. You have to climb very steep steps to reach the castle tower. Hikone Castle 1-1 Kanagicho, Hikone City, Shiga Prefecture #Autumn Leaves #Maple

Eigenji Temple, Shiga Prefecture Eigenji Temple is located deep in the mountains of Shiga Prefecture. This temple is famous for its autumn leaves. You have to climb the stone steps to get to the temple, which is lined with maples, and it is very beautiful in the autumn leaves season, so it is crowded with many tourists. The admission fee is 500 yen. 41 Takano-cho, Eigenji, Higashiomi City, Shiga Prefecture #autumn leaves #maple

#Hikone Hikone Castle is a national treasure. There are only five national treasure castles in Japan, so it is one of the precious castles. You can enjoy the view of Hikone City and the surrounding towns from the castle tower. (However, there is a fence.) In addition, Ii Naosuke, who was born here in Hikone, was the protagonist of the first taiga drama, and there is a stone monument in his honor. (Outside the castle) Also, Hikone City's mascot, Hikonyan. It was on display at a stone statue shop in the city. Also, Omi Chanpon, a specialty of Shiga Prefecture. Omi Chanpon itself is said to have originated in Moriyama City, but it is very delicious and contains a lot of vegetables, so it is a healthy dish. Also, although I did not visit this time, the annual Birdman Contest is also held in Hikone City, and I think there are still many wonderful places to see in Hikone. By the way, the time spent on the ground on this trip was about 3 hours. #Summer trip

You can take the ropeway to the top of the mountain and enjoy a panoramic view of Lake Biwa. The view is beautiful even on a cloudy day. The price is a little high, but I was able to relax in the cafe, which was very relaxing.

This is a very mysterious torii gate at Lake Biwa. I took a taxi from a nearby station, and got a business card to use on my way back. The shrine is on the other side of the road, and there is a lot of traffic and no crossings, so please follow the traffic rules. There were many people doing things like w sup, which looked fun. I'll try it next time.

When you think of glamping sites, what comes to mind❓🤔 The glamping site "Stagex Takashima" in Shinasahi-cho, Shiga Prefecture is a stylish facility where you can enjoy camping, glamping, and day-trip BBQs😳🏕 Lake Biwa is nearby, so you can spend a very relaxing and elegant time‼️✨ Why not come and visit once? 😁 #camping #Lake Biwa #Stagex Takashima #supporting tourism#great views#trip to enjoy spring

●Name Biwako Terrace ●Access 40 minutes on JR from Kyoto Station to Shiga Station 10 minutes on a local bus to Biwako Valley After arriving at the foot of the mountain, take the ropeway to the top 2,600 yen *It's easier to go by car, but you'll need to use the ropeway, so it'll cost 2,600 yen ●Points Biwako Terrace has three areas: Main, North Terrace, and Cafe 360 There are plenty of outdoor activities so children can enjoy themselves all day Also, flowers🌼 bloom according to the season, so you can take a stroll As a mountaintop terrace with a spectacular view, you can see the magnificent view of Lake Biwa from every area. You'll feel like you're in a Western mountain🏔 resort #Shiga #Spectacular views #Enjoy nature #Spectacular views #Famous flower spots

Lake Biwa, the largest lake in Japan. 🇯🇵 Since I discovered this treasure, every time I go to Kansai, I will definitely stay here for two or three days. After breakfast in the morning, I borrow the hotel's bicycle to travel half a circle, looking at the beautiful scenery of the lake, my mood is infinitely comfortable, and I really feel like I don't want to wake up from the dream🍃 #Lake Biwa #lakebiwa #Shiga Prefecture #Overseas Travel

The most significant and historical building and castle in the city of Hikone, Shiga, Japan. You walk up lots of stairs while you visit here. The museum was excellent and had a lot of English on signs and many beautiful artifacts and an Edo house on show here. Then up the stairs to the castle to join a small queue up ladder stairs to get to the top! Great adventure. We then walked to the plum orchard via nesting herons which was a beautiful walk. Popped into the garden the plum orchard walk was so gorgeous we skipped walking around the small garden. Highly recommended trip from Kyoto- only an hour on the train and we spent all morning walking to and around the castle ( about 15 mins walk from train station). Definitely worth a visit, castle, museum and garden with a nice view. #givethanks #givethanks

Beautiful cry! Japan's dreamy waterbirds, Kyoto, small travel guides, nets, red photographs, holy places, hh/ , have always been obsessed with Japanese vermilion, and looking for distinctive torii is every time I come to Japan. One of the goals. This time I came to Kyoto to finally check out the net red water bird house: Baishou Shrine. Transportation From Kyoto Station, take JR to Yamagata Station and transfer to the Biwa Line to Omi Takashima Station. You can choose to take a taxi or walk after you leave the station. Personally, you can walk on the one hand. On the one hand, it is because it is quite biased. It is not an easy task to get a car. On the other hand, it is about 30 minutes on foot. Moreover, the road will pass through Wuhu, which is very suitable for taking pictures. Stopping and taking pictures at the edge of Lake Biwa will soon arrive. Photo Raiders: The road to Baishen Shrine will pass through Wuhu. The water here is very clear. You must know that Wuhu is the only designated water source for SK2 products. When the weather is good, the lake is very Blue, it is very suitable for taking photos of Japanese style. If you want to take a good-looking Baishou Shrine, it is recommended to choose a sunny day. In the afternoon, it will be backlit at noon. The afternoon light is best for shooting, especially when it is more than five o'clock. Very beautiful evening (the dusk I met this time is not the most beautiful, I have seen other photographers shoot, really fried chicken!!) next to the white mustard / Hh/ Near the Shishou Shrine, the stone monument facing the Shisu Shrine is about 3 minutes left. There is a traditional Japanese ramen shop, a very authentic Japanese ramen, recommended to you.

The Otsu Festival, one of Lake Biwa's three major festivals, takes place October 11th and 12th. From the nighttime array of lanterns to the daytime puppet performances on the floats, the sheer spectacle is truly breathtaking and worth experiencing! The Otsu Festival, established in the early Edo period and designated an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property, is held every autumn around Tenson Shrine near Otsu Station. Thirteen large, two-story floats carry mechanical puppets, which stop at 20 locations along the parade for performances. The day before the main festival, there's a festival called "Yogumi" (Yoya Palace), where the puppets are removed from the floats and illuminated rows of lanterns are displayed throughout the streets. Although the Otsu Festival is relatively close to Kyoto, it's only a 50-minute Shinkansen ride from Nagoya Station! For those interested in traveling to Kansai, traveling via Chubu Centrair International Airport (Central Japan International Airport) is a great option to avoid the airport's crowdedness and surrounding traffic. Attraction Information Otsu Festival Address 3-3-36 Kyomachi, Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture (Tenson Shrine) October 11, 2025 (Saturday), evening until approximately 9:00 PM Main Festival: October 12, 2025 (Sunday), 9:00 AM - 5:30 PM Access From Nagoya: From JR Nagoya Station, take the Shinkansen for 34 minutes to Kyoto Station. Transfer to the Tokaido and Sanyo Main Lines and proceed to Otsu Station for approximately 10 minutes. From there, walk about 5 minutes to the destination. (Total approximately 50 minutes)