The Area

With a total area of 263 square miles, Lake Biwa covers an area greater than any Japanese city, including Tokyo. A calm expanse of water dotted with islets, the lake is named after the biwa, a Japanese musical instrument whose outline it is said to resemble.

One of western Honshu's most beautiful places, Lake Biwa is fringed with historical shrines, temples, castles and quiet villages. One of the tallest structures in the area, the Otsu Prince Hotel is located on the southwest edge, in the lakeshore's largest city of Otsu.

Lake Biwa Sights

• Lake Biwa Water Fountain Show (10 minutes by car)
• Biwa-ko Museum (30 minutes by car)
• Lunch and Dinner Cruise (90 minutes) on Lake Biwa

• Annual Great Lake Biwa fireworks display in August

Sightseeing Nearby

• Ishiyama Temple - Famous as the place where Lady Murasaki wrote The Tale of Genji. A must-see in the fall for its colorful display of autumn leaves. (15 minutes by car)
• Mii-dera Temple (formally Onjo-ji Temple) - In its heyday, this Buddhist complex had more than 850 buildings and even today, boasts more than 60 structures. Don't miss the spring cherry blossoms. (10 minutes by car)
• Enryaku Temple - A cable car goes to the summit of Mount Hiei to Enryaku-ji, a temple built to protect the former capital of Kyoto from evil spirits from the northeast. The views from the observatory are magnificent. (30 minutes by car)
• Ukimidou - The Japanese poet, Basho Matsuo, stopped here to write his famous haiku poetry. (25 minutes by car)
• Hikone Castle - Remarkable for retaining its original 17th century structure, the castle offers a superb view of Lake Biwa.
• Shigarakiyaki Museum  - A well-known pottery museum. (40 minute by car)

Sports Facilities

• Seta Golf Course - Three golf courses offer wide fairways and a total of 54 holes. (20 minutes by car)
• Ryuo Golf Course - This picturesque 18-hole course is surrounded by green low-lying hills, natural waterfalls and ponds. (40 minutes by car)
• Ishiyama Bowling Center - (15 minutes by car)
• Mt. Hakodate Ski Area - (1 hour by car)

Shopping and Famous Eateries

• A-QUS, a new shopping and entertainment center featuring:

  • SEGA Arena - A game arcade offering the newest video games
  • A variety of restaurants - Western cuisine, Japanese cuisine, Chinese food, curry house, coffee shops and fast food
  • Books and music store
  • Karaoke room
  • Bowling center (40 lanes)
  • Movie theater
  • Parking (700 cars max)

• Seibu-Otsu Shopping Center  (2- 3 minutes by car & 10 minute walk)
• Otsu Parco Shopping Center  (2- 3 minutes by car & 10 minute walk)
• Funa-Zushi - Famous for sushi
• Omi-Beef - Beef dishes to die for