Cycling Lake Biwa in two days is possible if you are up for a fitness challenge, but if you want to take your time, spending 3 or 4 days on this adventure is fine. In this article, you will read about the two-day route, get tips, and get advice on the necessary preparations.
Biwa is the largest lake in Japan, and the views around it are beautiful. Visiting the lake during the cherry blossom season will add a special touch.
There are plenty of shrines and a few temples to explore on the way. Many towns were built around the lake, so there’s always something to see or a simple place to stop for a break.
It is an exciting and inviting ride. Let’s talk about the details of this adventure based on my experience.
Table of Contents
The route
There are many ways to cycle around the lake, but I chose to start from the Otsu Station and rent a bicycle near the bike lanes in the area.
I chose the Biwako Rental Bike Shop to get a bicycle, and everything was super easy to set up. They have a webpage where you can book your bicycle online and pick it up quickly. I recommend booking online so they have enough time to prepare everything for you in advance.
I had to pay extra for a rear rack to put my backpack on, and ordering that in the shop took more than 20 minutes for them to install. If you decide to complete the tour in two days, every minute counts because the shop opens at 9 AM.
From the Rental Shop, I chose to start the adventure in the counterclockwise direction. It is the best option because you will ride on the left side, and the lake will always be on the left, so it’s easy to appreciate the views.
The route starts from Otsu and ends in Nagahama on the first day, with 96 kilometers. The second day starts from Nagahama and goes back to the rental shop in Otsu, completing the remaining 88 kilometers.
First day
The first day is the longest one of the tour cycling around Lake Biwa, but the difference compared with the second day is minimal. I clocked 99 kilometers starting from the Rental Shop. The first kilometers were a bit confusing because I didn’t really see a bike lane, so I cycled mainly near the lake’s shore.
There’s a large sidewalk where you can go cycling until you reach a bridge that will take you to the other side of Otsu. As soon as you get to the bridge, the bike lane will start on the left side.
The views of the lake and the Yabase-Kihan Park are awesome. The first convenience store near the cycling road is in Imahamacho. From there, the path continues, passing by many shrines.
If you want, make a stop at the Chomeiji and walk up the stairs to see the temple.
Temples, Shrines and a Castle
There are many shrines on the way, and luckily, most of them are near the cycling road, so you can use them as a quick stop to rest your legs a bit. I recommend checking the Hikone Castle and the museum for a longer stop if you are interested in its history.
After the castle, you will see a huge statue on the right side of the road; it’s the Nagaham Biwako Daibutsu. I saw some families there paying respect to the statue and taking some pics. Under the statue was a space with an altar and flowers.
Once you reach the statue, you will enter Nagahama. At the lakeside, you will see hundreds of ducks minding their business.
Second day
It was raining on the second day in the morning, so my first hour of cycling was wet and slower. Mind you that there are no convenience stores around the accommodation. For breakfast, you need to cycle 5 kilometers south to a 7-Eleven. The convenience store is on the way anyway, so it’s a great place to stop for your first meal.
The views from the north were more dense, with many trees and mountains around the road and towns. There are two spots where the elevation gain increases, but nothing big enough to restrain some people from doing it. Take your time and go up slowly.
As you reach the northwest side of the Lake, many tunnels are on the way; they are mostly short. One was quite long, but there was a proper lane for bicycles and great illumination, so there were no problems crossing it.
Great views and busy roads
The west side of the lake was the prettiest, and the view of ducks flying around and the light blue water were images that deserved a painting. After Takashima, a section of more than 15 kilometers is under construction, but they already built a temporary route for cyclists.
Once you leave Takashima and enter Otsu, it will get busy. This is the only part of this tour I didn’t enjoy much. Cars were passing by all the time, and the space for bicycles was smaller than the other parts of this tour.
It is not a problem if you pay attention; Japanese drivers are very respectful. Many moments, they would drive away from me to give me enough space, so I appreciated that.
Once you’re back in Otsu and return your bicycle, go to the Tenka Gomen for an amazing Ramen. After your efforts in cycling Lake Biwa, you deserve it!
Accommodation
There are many towns around the lake, so finding accommodation will not be a problem. Nagahama is on the other side of Otsu, which is a perfect option for the two-day cycling tour of Lake Biwa.
I slept at the Blue Bear, located only a few kilometers north of Nagahama. The bed was very comfortable, and the owner was very kind. I had fun pushing my Japanese to the limit by talking to her.
Food
Honestly, no need to pack a lot of food and drinks with you. There are so many convenience stores on the route around the lake. You don’t need to carry extra weight by packing more things with you.
Japan is a country that takes convenience to an extra level, and the number of convenience stores is mind-blowing. Snacks and beverages are not a concern on this tour.
At the end of the first day, near Nagahama, I found the amazing Wakichi restaurant. The restaurant was empty, and I jokingly told the owner that I needed a special sushi after riding for 100 kilometers. He told me, “Don’t worry; I will make something for you.” Oh, how he was so right. The sushi was so good that I ordered a second set with Maki rolls.
What to see besides the Lake
There are more things to see besides the large Biwa Lake. If you are interested in history and Japanese culture, you will be happy to know that there are many shrines and temples to visit.
Many tourists stop at Hakusan and Shirahige Shrines for a picture. The Hikone Castle has a museum and is a very famous spot for cherry blossom spotting in Japan, so expect to see a lot of people there as well.
The Chōmeiji temple is known for blessing visitors with longevity, so if you want yours, climb the 808 steps to the temple and enjoy the views of the Lake.
Cycling lanes
As expected from Japan, the quality of the bike lanes is excellent. Most of the time, you will have a proper lane away from cars, riding near the lake. There are only two parts of the route where you need to be careful: The first one is around Kusatsu at the beginning of the first day.
At the end of the second day, the last 20 kilometers were very busy, and even though there was a blue paint on the road where you could ride, for many moments, the distance between me and the cars passing by was small because the road was narrow.
Route for 3 days
If you want to cycle around Lake Biwa in three days, I have a suggestion for the route: Start from Otsu counterclockwise and end the first day around the Hikone Castle. The route will be an average of 70 kilometers.
On the second day, you find accommodation in Takashima and ride around 70 kilometers. There are many parks, so you can go for a short walk to stretch your legs afterward.
The third day will be shorter, and it will take 50 kilometers to complete the adventure.
Conclusion
This article describes how to go cycling around Lake Biwa in two days or three if you want to take more time for this adventure. I hope that now you have all the information you need before embarking on this fun journey.
Remember to share this article with someone who is thinking about cycling around the largest lake in Japan; it is a fun experience.
See you all on the next adventure!!
