Biwaichi Basics

Access to Lake Biwa

From Osaka / Kyoto

From Kansai International Airport to JR Otsu Sta., take the JR Haruka Limited Express train for 77 min, or a JR rapid service train for about 2 hours (transfer at JR Osaka Sta.).

Otsu Sta. Is about 10 mins from JR Kyoto Sta. by local train. From Otsu Sta. , it’s just a 5-minute bike ride to the lake. For the northern Hokko route only, which excludes the south end of the lake, take the JR Kosei Line for 25 min. from Kyoto to Katata, which is near the Biwako-ohashi Bridge.

From Tokyo

Take a westbound bullet train (JR Tokaido Shinkansen Line) to JR Maibara Sta. By Hikari, it takes 2 hours and 10 mins (only Kodama and some of the Hikari trains stop at Maibara Sta.) Bicycle rental is available at Biwaichi Rental Cycle by the station’s east gate.