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2023.7.26
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Enjoy summer at Lake Biwa! Popular lake bathing spot

[2023] Enjoy summer at Lake Biwa! 8 Popular Lake Bathing Spots

Summer means swimming in the pool! However, one way to enjoy summer in Shiga Prefecture, which is next to Kyoto, is to take a dip in Lake Biwa, Japan's largest lake.
Unlike seawater, it is not sticky and has no jellyfish. Lake Biwa has many beaches with campgrounds, where you can enjoy activities such as BBQ and SUP as well as swimming.
Now, let's enjoy the summer at Lake Biwa this year!

1.Surrounded by greenery, you can spend a quiet time [Miyagahama Swimming Pool] / Okijima-cho, Omihachiman City

[Miyagahama Swimming Pool] is a place where you can enjoy lake bathing in a natural area surrounded by greenery. Pleasure boats are prohibited, so you can enjoy a quiet and relaxing time. There is Kyukamura Omihachiman right next to the beach, and it is recommended to eat and stay overnight while looking out at Lake Biwa.

Miyagahama Swimming Pool (Kyukamura Omihachiman)

Swimming period: July 22, 2023 (Sat) - August 27, 2023 (Sun) 9:00-17:00
Other facilities/changing rooms, accommodation, restaurant (open only on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays), campsite, BBQ facilities, hot springs
Admission fee/free

Miyagahama Swimming Pool

  • Miyagahamasu Iijyo
  • Miyagahama, Okijima-cho, Omihachiman City MAP
  • Omi Railway Bus “Kyukamura Omihachiman Bus Stop” is a short walk away *Operates only on weekdays
    About 1 hour and 20 minutes by car from JR Kyoto Station
    Approximately 40 minutes by car from Meishin Expressway Ryuo IC
  • Tel.0748-32-3138 (Kyukamura Omihachiman)
  • 80 parking spaces
  • https://www.qkamura.or.jp/ohmi/

2.SUP and loco moco! Enjoy the Hawaiian feeling [ASOBIWA HIRA BASE] / Kitahira, Otsu City

[ASOBIWA HIRA BASE] where you can fully enjoy the Hawaiian atmosphere, where you will be greeted by ALOHA objects and can experience SUP, which originated in Hawaii. You can also taste Hawaiian foods such as loco moco, pancakes, and malasadas. Hula dance shows and Hawaiian guitar live performances are held regularly, giving the entire beach a Hawaiian atmosphere.

ASOBIWA HIRA BASE

Business hours: 9:00-18:00 all year round (closed on Thursdays, open every day during the summer peak season)
Other facilities/campsite, BBQ facility, cafe, hot shower, tent sauna
Admission fee: Adults (ages 12 to 64) ¥500, children (ages 4 to 11) and seniors (ages 65 and up) ¥300 for day trips *Price per personClick here for details

ASOBIWA HIRA BASE

  • Asobiwa Gila Base
  • 934-2 Kitahira, Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture MAP
  • Approximately 5 minutes by car from JR Omimaiko Station
    About 1 hour by car from JR "Kyoto Station"
  • Tel.077-535-9165 (Reception/9:00-18:00)
  • 100 parking spaces (1000 yen)
  • https://www.asobiwa-biwako.com/

3.Selected as one of the eight views of Lake Biwa [Omi Maiko Nakahama Swimming Pool] / Minami Komatsu, Otsu City

"Omi Maiko Nakahama Swimming Area" is one of the largest lake bathing areas with beautiful white sand beaches. Selected as one of the eight views of Lake Biwa, it is also famous as Omatsuzaki's White Beach. The green pines stretch for 1km, so you can stay cool. The location, which is a 5-minute walk from Omi-Maiko Station to the beach, is also attractive.

Swimming period: July 1, 2023 (Sat) - September 18, 2023 (Mon) 8:00-17:00
Other facilities/BBQ facilities, guest house (shops/showers), changing rooms, coin lockers, toilets
Admission fee/free

Omi Maiko Nakahama Swimming Pool

  • Parrots are great
  • 1095 Minamikomatsu, Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture MAP
  • 9-minute walk from JR Omi-Maiko Station
    About 50 minutes by car from JR Kyoto Station
  • Tel.077-596-0520 (Omi Maiko Nakahama Swimming Center Office) *Only from July to September
  • About 400 parking lots (1500 yen)
  • https://omi-maiko.com

4.Perfect for families [Manohama Swimming Pool] / Imakatada, Otsu City

Manohama Swimming Center is the southernmost beach where you can swim in Lake Biwa. It is popular with families as it is shallow and you can enjoy playing in the sand at the water's edge. It also features a pet swimming area. Adults and children alike are having a blast at the annual event "Goza-bashiri", where you can run across a 25-meter mat spread on the surface of the lake!

Swimming period: July 16th (Sunday) – August 31st (Thursday), 2023
*“Goza Hashiri” will be held on July 27th and 28th and August 2nd, 7th, 23rd, and 24th from 9:00 to 17:00
Other facilities/shop, hot water shower, coin locker, changing room, toilet
Admission fee/free

Manohama Swimming Pool

  • Manoha Masu Eijo
  • 3-chome Imkatata, Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture MAP
  • About 5 minutes by car from JR Katata Station
    About 45 minutes by car from JR Kyoto Station
  • Tel.+81-50-5850-7386 *We will call you back as it will be an answering machine.
  • 100 parking lots
  • https://www.facebook.com/manohama

5.Enjoy a superb view [Takarabune Onsen Family Campsite] / Azumigawa-cho, Takashima City

Takarabune Onsen Family Campsite boasts the beauty of the water. A pet swimming area is provided in the clear lake. The sunset and sunrise are also spectacular, so you can take photogenic pictures. The quality of the adjacent natural hot spring is also excellent, so it is recommended to stop by after swimming.

Swimming period: July 7, 2023 (Friday) – August 31, 2023 (Thursday) 9:00 – 17:00
Other facilities/campsite, BBQ facility, cafeteria, shop, cooking building
Admission fee: 500 yen for day trip (regardless of age) *Price per person

Takarabune Onsen Family Campsite

  • Takarabu Onsen Family Camp
  • 2248-2 Shimoogawa, Azumigawa-cho, Takashima City, Shiga Prefecture MAP
  • About 7 minutes by car from JR Omi-Takashima Station
    About 1 hour by car from JR "Kyoto Station"
  • Tel.0740-32-1293
  • Parking lot for about 80 cars (2,000 yen for regular cars) *Required for day-trippers only
  • https://www.takarabune-camp.com/

6.Looking at the torii of Shirahige Shrine [SHIRAHIGE BEACH] / Ugawa, Takashima City

"SHIRAHIGE BEACH" is located near Shirahige Shrine, which is famous for its large torii gate that towers over the lake. The beach boasts a white sandy beach, and there are plenty of water activities such as a water park where you can fully enjoy Japan's largest lake, ``Lake Biwa'', SUP, and canoeing.

Swimming period: July 15, 2023 (Sat) - September 3, 2023 (Sun) 8:00-17:00
Other facilities/campsite, BBQ facilities, cafeteria, shop, cooking building, hot water showers, changing rooms, toilets
Entrance fee/500 yen (elementary school students and above) *Price per person
*Complete reservation system, garbage must be taken home

SHIRAHIGE BEACH

  • Shirahige Beach
  • 1091 Ugawa, Takashima City, Shiga Prefecture MAP
  • About 4 minutes by car from JR Omi-Takashima Station
    About 1 hour by car from JR "Kyoto Station"
  • Tel.0740-36-1248
  • About 250 parking lots (regular car 1000 yen ~)
  • https://shirahige-hama.com/

7. Beautiful scenery is attractive [Makino Sunny Beach Takagihama Auto Campsite] / Makino Town, Takashima City

"Makino Sunny Beach" spreads out in front of you the two great scenic spots of Chikubushima and Kaizu Osaki, which are counted as one of the eight views of Lake Biwa. In addition to the clean water and beach selected as one of Japan's top 100 beaches, the pine forest that stretches for several kilometers creates a beautiful landscape. The view from the iconic 13-meter-high observatory, Lake Terrace, is also spectacular.

Swimming period/Saturday, July 1, 2023 to Thursday, August 31, 2023 9:00-17:00
Other facilities/campsite, BBQ facilities (rental available), shop, cooking building, hot water showers, coin lockers, changing rooms, toilets
Admission fee/Free *Environmental maintenance fee 100 yen (optional)

Makino Sunny Beach Takagihama Auto Campsite

  • Makino Sunny Beach Takagihama Auto Camp Jo
  • 763-1 Nishihama, Makino Town, Takashima City, Shiga Prefecture MAP
  • 8 minute walk from JR Makino Station
    About 1 hour and 20 minutes by car from JR Kyoto Station
  • Tel.0740-28-1206
  • 100 parking spaces (regular car: 1,300 yen for a day trip, 1,900 yen for an overnight stay)
  • https://takagihama.jp/pages/1/

8.Spend time while looking at the pine forest in the west of the lake [Imazu Beach Swimming Pool] / Imazu-cho, Takashima City

Heading north from Imazu Port, where regular sightseeing boats bound for Chikubushima arrive and depart, along the lakeshore, Imazuhama Beach is characterized by its beautiful beach covered with green pine trees. The shallow beach with calm waves has good water quality and is lined with pine forests in the western part of the lake, which has been selected as one of the 100 scenic views of the lake. It is the perfect resort area for a relaxing and private vacation.
*Please refrain from driving cars, camping, BBQs, etc.

Swimming period: Wednesday, July 12, 2023 to Sunday, August 20, 2023 Open 24 hours
Other facilities / shop (only drinks are sold), hot shower and changing room (charged), toilet
Admission fee/free

Imazu Beach Swimming Pool

  • It's still good now
  • Hama, Imazucho, Takashima City, Shiga Prefecture MAP
  • About 5 minutes by car from JR Omi-Imazu Station
    About 1 hour and 20 minutes by car from JR Kyoto Station
  • Tel.0740-33-7101 (Lake Biwa Takashima Tourism Association)
  • 30 parking lots
  • https://takashima-kanko.jp/spot/2018/06/post_177.html
*Please note that the information contained herein is subject to change without notice.
*Since this site uses automatic translation, the translation may differ from the original Japanese content.

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