Lake Biwa (琵琶湖) is located in the center of Shiga Prefecture. It is named so due to the shape reminiscent of the traditional Japanese biwa lute. The length of the coastline is about 253 kilometers. Here you can swim, walk along the lake and around it, go to the islands.
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| Lake Biwa |
How to get there
Although Lake Biwa is located in Shiga Prefecture, it is very close to Kyoto. It takes only 10 minutes to get to Otsu Station from there. The lake is also easily accessible from Kansai International Airport and Nagoya City.
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| Lake Biwa |
From Kyoto Station, take the JR Tokaido Line to Otsu Station on the southern shore of Lake Biwa or Hikone Station on the east. From Kansai International Airport to the lake is a little less than an hour and a half by the Haruka Express.
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| Lake Biwa |
It is interesting
Biwa is one of the oldest lakes in the world, it was formed at least four million years ago.
The lake located very close to Kyoto is mentioned in legends and depicted in paintings.
There are many endemic species of fish, birds and rare molluscs.