Cycling Otsu Waterfront

Beautiful bicycle path beside Lake Biwa and Seta River

Cathy Cawood Jan 29, 2015 - 1 min read

My bike standing on the recently upgraded path

There is a rowing club at Ishiyama, so rowers are often seen near there

Fishing boats come and go from this small marina

I'm so glad they used natural stone here instead of ugly concrete!

High school students enjoying music practice beside the lake

Bird on a bridge (I think this is a heron)

Strange pyramid shaped building on the far side of the lake

Coffee on the lawn? This lakeside cafe looks inviting!

Tourist boat the 'Michigan' sailing into Hama-Otsu.

A dragonfly perches on this concrete reconstruction of Otsu Castle.

Beautiful reflections in the still water.

A path runs for about 7 kilometers beside Lake Biwa, from Hama-Otsu to Ishiyama and the mouth of the Seta River. It is a lovely place to walk, run or cycle in any season. You can enjoy splendid views over the lake. If you take a picnic, you will have a hard time choosing the best spot to stop, because there are so many. At one end of the path, Ishiyama Temple is well worth visiting, and at the Hamaotsu end, you could opt for a Lake cruise on the tourist boat Michigan, or head for one of the cafes or restaurants with views over the lake in Biwako Hotel.

More info

Find out more about Lake Biwa.

Cycling Routes in Japan

Cathy Cawood @cathy.cawood

I came to Japan in 2003 to teach English. I lived in Shiga prefecture for 1 year, and it still holds a special place in my heart. I lived in Kyoto for 9 years, then moved to Machida, Tokyo in 2014 after meeting my Japanese partner. I love to take photos, and my Japan in Pictures Facebook page ha...