Written by Roger Shitaki
Researched by Jane Pipkin
Lake Biwa, Japan’s largest lake, takes up at least a third of Shiga Prefecture. Its variegated scenery and beauty is immortalized in the historic Eight Views of Ōmi ukiyo-e (woodblock) pictures. Mighty is Lake Biwa — and there’s a lot to do and discover about its culture, ecology, and place in Japanese history.
A day trip from Osaka or Kyoto will get you anywhere along Biwako, but we connect the dots so you can get the most out of a fun-tastic day.
Pro tip: You can book lots of Lake Biwa activities via Klook.
How to get to and around Lake Biwa
The main rail service for Lake Biwa is the JR West Line. Running along the lake’s east side is the Tōkaidō / Biwako Line usually bound for Maibara or Nagahama. The opposite line is the Kosei (west lake) usually going to Katata, Ōmi-Maiko, Ōmi-Imazu, or beyond.
Trains from Osaka will always go along the east side, so for the west side you have to change at Kyoto or Yamashina.
Alternatively, for the western shore of the lake, there’s the Keihan Ishiyama Line which runs from Ishiyama-dera (a major temple) via Hamaōtsu to Keihan Sakamoto-Hieizanguchi connecting to the Mount Hiei cable car. You can connect to this line from Keihan Yodoyabashi Station in Osaka.
How to really do Lake Biwa
There’s enough to do around Lake Biwa to fill several days. We suggest, therefore, that you choose an activity that strikes a chord, and then start from there. You can often do at least two or three things in a day.
From Ōmi-hachiman, you can head north to Hikone and Nagahama, or loop south to Ōtsu. Likewise, it’s easy to combine Ōtsu with Sakamoto, Hieizan or Chikubu Island. There are Lake Biwa boat cruises from Ōtsu Port, but a unique way to traverse the lake is a cross-island ticket between Ōmi-Imazu and Nagahama via Chikubu Island.
Read on and we’ll connect the dots for you along the way.
Boat cruises on Lake Biwa
Nothing beats a boat ride on a big lake — so here are the best two cruise options for Lake Biwa. If you do both, you will get to see the whole of Lake Biwa by boat.
Michigan Paddle Steamer
Leaves from Ōtsu Port60- or 90-minute cruises
Between ¥2,600 and ¥3,400
Ticket info
The Michigan is an American-inspired four-deck paddle boat that does a tour loop around the south part of Lake Biwa. There are two morning, one afternoon, and one evening cruises. There are also periods where it doesn’t run. You can check the details on the Biwako Kisen website (English).
A night cruise is a great way to end a day of sightseeing around Biwa. Keihan Hamaōtsu Station connects directly to the port. From JR Ōtsu it is a 20-minute walk.
Chikubu Island
Leaves from Ōmi-Imazu or Nagahama portsTakes 25-30 minutes
¥3,600 (round-trip from Nagahama port)
Ticket info
Chikubu Island, with Hōgonji Temple, is in the northern part of Biwako and it’s ¥600 to enter once you land. Being an island, many of its buildings have survived fires and other historic calamities. Sightseeing can take an hour or two.
You can buy a return ticket from either port or a lake-crossing ticket with Chikubu Island as the mid-stop. If you set off early, there’s enough time to explore sites either side of the lake, such as Nagahama, Hikone, or places near Ōtsu.
Castles of Lake Biwa
There are two castles at Lake Biwa. One is in Nagahama in the north, and the other in Hikone on the east side.
Useful info: It’s 25 minutes on the JR Line train between the two, and it takes about 50 minutes from Kyoto to Hikone.
Hikone Castle
¥1,000 for entry (Hikone Castle and Genkyu-en Garden)¥700 for Hikone Castle Museum
Hikone Castle is the better of the two castles and is considered one of the best preserved and most beautiful castles in Japan. It can take two hours or more to explore, including its wonderful Genkyuen garden. Photography is best in the afternoon, when the sun is more to the west.
Hikone is a great combo ticket with Ōmi-hachiman in the morning. From the castle, there are broader views of Lake Biwa compared to the Hachimanyama Ropeway, but they complement each other nicely.
Pro tip: For more, see our dedicated guide to Hikone Castle.
Nagahama Castle
¥500 for entryNagahama Castle is a reconstruction dating from as early as 1983. It’s a smallish castle with some decent views of the lake. It’s near the station and port, so it’s worth a visit if you’re getting a boat to or from Chikubu Island.
There are quite a few things to do in Nagahama itself, which is the key city of northern Lake Biwa.
Temples and shrines of Lake Biwa
There are rather a lot dotted around the lake, but here are four to visit:
- Mii-dera: A beautiful temple complex on the Ōtsu mountain side. The slanted roof of its Kondo Hall is one of the most beautiful in Japan.
- Omi-Jingu: A famous and historic shrine to the Emperor Tenji who founded Ōtsukyō. Get off at Keihan Ōmi-jingumae station.
- Hōgonji: The main temple of Chikubu Island. At Tsukubusuma Shrine, you can throw earthen plates off the terrace aiming for between the torii gate below.
- Chōmeiji: A delightfully beautiful temple with a view of Lake Biwa. The bus there leaves from JR Ōmi-hachiman Station.
Mangestuji Ukimidō — best scenic spot of Lake Biwa
¥300 for entry
The Ukimidō is a small wooden temple built on the end of a jetty into the lake. It’s part of the Mangetsuji Temple complex, a 20-minute walk from JR Katata Station towards the lake. The local neighborhood and lakeside walk are really nice.
This can be a great stop on the way to Biwako Valley (Shiga Station) or Chikubu Island (Ōmi-Imazu Station). It’s perfect in summer, with beaches further up near Horai, Hirai, or Ōmi-Maiko stations.
Hiei Mountain World Heritage Site
¥1,000 for entry
Mount Hiei, or Hieizan, is a mountain Buddhist enclave and a World Heritage Site similar to Kōyasan in Wakayama but much smaller. Its main temple, Enryakuji, was founded in 788, but the Hiei of today dates to the Edo period. The Tōdō, or Main Hall, is defined by its inner garden and magnificent stone sunken altars.
The best way to Mount Hiei is the Sakamoto Funicular Cable. The other route from Kyoto is north to Yase, then a cable train, the Eizan Ropeway, and a bus — which is rather time-consuming. The Eizan Ropeway also closes early January to mid March.
Sakamoto Town — shrines and temples
There is plenty of sightseeing to enjoy in Sakamoto. Right near the cable-car station is Hiyoshi Taisha Shrine, with numerous shrines dotted around the forest. It’s ¥500 to enter. Before the shrine is the picturesque Chikurin-in garden tea house, which is ¥330 to enter.
If you like temples, Saikyō-ji has good views of Lake Biwa. The best way there is a bus from JR Hieizan Station, and then to walk the 1 kilometer via the mountain back path to Hiyoshi Taisha. Walking from Hiyoshi Taisha to Saikyō-ji and back is a waste of time.
As you exit Saikyō-ji walking down the hill, take the second right, and you’ll see a footpath sign with English pointing to 日吉大社東本宮, to Hiyoshi Taisha.
Best views of Lake Biwa by cable car
The best way to see Lake Biwa is by cable car to a mountain top. There are four cable car rides around the lake, each with their own vantage point and nearby attractions.
Hachimanyama Ropeway
¥950 for a return ticketThe Hachimanyama Ropeway station is in the old town of Ōmi-hachiman. The views of Lake Biwa here are less urban than from the west side. In particular, you get a great view of the small Sainoko Lake with its surrounding rice paddies.
At Ōmi-hachiman Station, catch the bus from Stand 2. There’s a tourist information office nearby with various English pamphlets. It takes less than an hour, and coming down you can catch a canal-boat ride and explore Ōmi-hachiman.
Note: Hikone Castle has much wider views of Lake Biwa, and it’s less than 20 minutes by train from JR Ōmi-hachiman Station.
Sakamoto Funicular Cableway
¥870 one-way, ¥1,660 returnKeihan Sakamoto-Hieizanguchi Station
The Sakamoto Funicular Cableway is an experience all on its own. It’s the longest cabled railway in Japan, and it exudes olden-day charm — it first opened in 1927.
On the way up, there are first glimpses and finally broad views of Lake Biwa. Make sure to sit on the right-hand side as you board for better views. At the top is a viewing platform with excellent Lake Biwa scenery.
As you walk along the forest road to the entrance of Hieizan, there are other great views of the lake. If you don’t want to pay ¥1,000 to enter Hieizan, there’s a bus stop in the car park for a bus back to Kyoto. Additionally, there’s a bus that goes to the Eizan Ropeway with fantastic valley views, and it runs later than the Sakamoto Cableway.
It’s an easy 15-minute-walk up the slope from Keihan Sakamoto-Hieizanguchi Station along an old stone-walled footpath to the cable station. Signs are clearly marked in English, and there’s a bus too.
Biwako Valley Cableway and Terrace
¥4,000 to ¥4,500 for a ticketBus from Shiga
Biwako Valley has some of the best views of Lake Biwa. It’s a mountaintop “valley” between a lower and higher peak. In winter, it’s a popular ski field suited for beginner skiers and children.
At the stunning Biwako Terrace Café, there are heaps of seats for customers. There’s a free observation deck, and plenty of grassy areas and picnic tables, so bringing a bento can save on food costs.
From April to November, there are activities like zip lining, sky walking, and you can take the “ski” lifts to the higher elevation with a viewpoint and restaurants.
Pro tip: Even in late September and October it gets cold, so have at least a jacket or layered clothing.
Since photography is better from noon onwards, you can spend some time in either Ōtsu or Sakamoto in the morning. The last cable down is at 4:30 p.m. though, so keep an eye on your watch.
Shizugatake Ropeway Lift Nagahama
¥900 for a return ticketThe Shizugatake Ropeway consists of one-person open lift seats that gently take you up to the top of Mount Shizugatake. In May, it passes through fields of blooming irises. The views here of north Lake Biwa are superb, with lots of natural scenery.
To get here, you take the train from Nagahama to Kinomoto Station (15 min / ¥240) and a 5-minute taxi ride or the Kokoku bus for 15 minutes, getting off at Oto. The last ride down the mountain is 4:45 p.m. (even earlier in November), so you need to be mindful of the time. The ropeway doesn’t run in winter.
Hakodateyama Lake Biwa
¥2,600 for round-tripŌmi-Imazu Station → Bus → Gondola
Hakodateyama is another mountainous viewpoint of Lake Biwa. It’s 35 km inland by road from Ōmi-Imazu Station. Along the train journey, you get great close-up views of paddies, mountains, and villages typifying the Satoyama esthetic.
In winter, Hakodateyama is one of the best snow fields in Kansai — not to be confused with Hakodate of Hokkaidō. There’s a ton of activities throughout the seasons, which you can view on the Hakodateyama website.
It’s debatable which has the better views — Biwa Valley or Hakodateyama?
Hakodateyama takes longer to get to and is basically a full-day activity — but there’s a lot to do on the mountain. There are buses from Osaka and Kyoto for a more direct route.
Top tourist towns to visit around Lake Biwa
If you’re looking for towns or cities near Biwa Lake with plenty of activities, the best three are Nagahama in the north, Ōmi-hachiman on the mid east side, and Ōtsu in the south.
Ōtsu City
Ōtsu is the key city on the south side of Biwako. In addition to the lovely Mii-dera Temple, Ōmi Jingū Shrine, and numerous cultural activities, the best beaches of Biwako are not far from Ōtsu City.
If you want to avoid too much “time on the road”, Ōtsu City and Sakamoto Town are two good choices. In early October, the Ōtsu Hikiyama Festival is something not to be missed.
Ōmi-hachiman old town
Ōmi-hachiman is one of the most charming traditional towns around Lake Biwa. There’s not much to do around the station’s “new town”, so just take the bus down to the old town nearer the lake.
Apart from the Hachiman Ropeway, you can wander the nearby old merchant house streets, enjoy the cafés and restaurants, and take a boat ride down the main canal (adults ¥1,500, children and dogs ¥1,000).
Note: You will see the motorboats to the right as you cross the bridge to the ropeway, but the punting boats are to the left by the wide water edge steps.
You can enjoy most of the sites here in a morning. From Ōmi-hachiman, it’s not too far to the Lake Biwa Museum, Ōtsu City, or Hikone Castle.
Fun fact: Ōmi-hachiman is one of our team’s favorite spots.
Nagahama City
Nagahama is two stations north of Maibara Station, which is the key interchange to Hokuriku and also a Shinkansen stop. Popular things to do in Nagahama lean more local and traditional.
For example, there’s a cool train museum just down from the castle-side station exit. The nearby Keiunkan Villa features a famous bonsai exhibition from February to March. On the opposite side of the tracks is the Nagahama Roman craft beer, whiskey distillery, and restaurant. And for better views of Lake Biwa than the Nagahama Castle, you can ride the Shizugatake Ropeway Lift.
If you’re sold on Nagahama for its quieter tourist vibe, you can start your day here and move on to Hikone or Ōmi-hachiman, or take a boat to Chikubu Island.
Extra: Hikone
Staying in Kyoto? Seeing Lake Biwa from Hikone is a great option. This historic shoreside city is a direct train ride away, making it an easy day trip.
In addition to the aforementioned Hikone Castle, the city also boasts a charming traditional street and a shrine. Hikone is known for its maneki-neko (beckoning cats), so you’ll spot them in many shop windows. The local mascot is also a cat — specifically a samurai cat — whom you can meet at the castle or the dedicated Hikonyan Museum.
Pro tip: It is also possible to take a boat from Hikone Port to Chikubu Island. For a more detailed rundown, check out our Kyoto to Lake Biwa Day Itinerary.
Beaches, swimming, and watersports on Lake Biwa
The best beaches of Lake Biwa are on the more protected west side. Good places for swimming in summer are around Horai, Shiga, Hirai, and Ōmi-Maiko stations.
Ōmi-Maiko is the most popular beach, with decent facilities. At the Ōmi Maiko Chūhama Swimming Field Office (近江舞子中浜水泳場事務所), you can organize barbecues, fishing, bicycle rentals, and camping, but online information is in Japanese only.
Watersports providers
Top pick: The family-run Wildwater offers accessible marine activities for all bodies, at really good rates.
Near Hirai Station is the Kalpa Lake Sports renting paddleboards, kayaks, windsurfers and windfoils, but English is not guaranteed.
Opal Outdoor Sports down from Ogoto-onsen Station have lots of activities, including cycling, and you can consult the Opal website for English services.
Walking about 10 minutes up from Sakamoto Castle Ruins Park, you will find a number of boat-rental places. Face Bass Club do jet skies, fishing boats, surf wake boards and more. Route 558 rents basic motorboats, and Cover do wakeboards, SUPs, and even banana boats.
Bicycle rentals and cycling around Lake Biwa
Popular tourist spots like Ōtsu, Ōmi-hachiman, Hikone, and Nagahama usually have hourly or by-the-day bicycle rentals. They tend to be around the station, but best to consult the Tourist Information Office near or in the particular station. Most speak English.
Good to know: Giant Store rents pro-bikes and has a one-day cycling tour to the south and west of Biwako, or a half-day around Ōmi-hachiman departing near JR Moriyama.
Some enthusiasts like to cycle the complete 200 km around Lake Biwa. This takes about two nights and three days, with sightseeing and a professional bike. A good starting point is Maibara Station, which is a Shinkansen stop. Check out the Biwachi website for details on this adventure.
Lake Biwa FAQs
Is Lake Biwa worth visiting?
Lake Biwa offers a wide range of things to see and explore. Whether you’re looking to admire the lake from a breathtaking viewpoint or learn about the culture of the surrounding towns, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Additionally, the stunning natural beauty of the lake itself makes it a must-visit destination. Personally, we love it.
How do I get to Lake Biwa from Tokyo?
The quickest way is to take the Tōkaidō Shinkansen from Tokyo to Maibara. It takes around 2 hours and 15 minutes and costs ¥12,630 (it is completely covered by the JR Pass). That said, Lake Biwa is much more accessible from Kyoto or Osaka so we recommend traveling from one of those cities instead.
Can I swim in Lake Biwa?
Yes, you can swim in designated swimming areas, with the most popular being Ōmi-Maiko. The best time to swim is during the summer months, July and August. It generally is not recommended to swim during the winter months, as the water is too cold.
While we do our best to ensure it’s correct, information is subject to change. Post first published in December 2022. Last updated in October 2025, by Jane Pipkin.
