Hands Nagoya: Recommended Shops and the Most Charming Items!

Lake Biwa Half-Day Itinerary: Escape the Crowds and Enjoy the Beautiful Nature

This service includes sponsored advertisements.
article thumbnail image

There are plenty of things to see, including courses to experience Lake Biwa and nature, museums, botanical gardens, etc. Take a bus from Kusatsu Station to Karasuma Peninsula to see Lake Biwa.

Written by

This site introduces tourist information for Kusatsu City, Shiga Prefecture. It is packed with information on attractive spots, hotels, and gourmet food, such as the nature-filled aquatic plant park Mizunomori, Lake Biwa Museum, the historic Tachiki shrine and the Sandai shrine, Kusatsujuku Honjin, and Rokuha Park, which is fun for the whole family.

more
Required time

Required time: Approximately 300 minutes/by bus

Transportation
directions_bus_filled Bus
directions_walk On foot

What is Kusatsu City in Shiga Prefecture, a great place for sightseeing around Lake Biwa?

Kusatsu City in Shiga Prefecture is attracting attention for its close proximity to Kyoto and easy access. There are plenty of accommodations and restaurants, and you can enjoy sightseeing around Lake Biwa, the largest lake in Japan. It's recommended for those who want to take a little time away from the crowds and relax.

In this article, we will introduce a recommended model itinerary for touring the Lake Biwa area in half a day.

1
JR Biwako Line ・Kusatsu Line Kusatsu Station

directions_bus_filled
From the JR Kusatsu Station "West Exit" bus stop number 2, take the Ohmi Railway Bus bound for Lake Biwa Museum (about 25 minutes) and get off at "Lake Biwa Museum".

2
Lake Biwa Museum

This is an inspiring and experiential museum that clearly introduces the 4 million year history of Lake Biwa and the relationship between the lake and people. There are plenty of encounters and discoveries that will pique your intellectual curiosity, such as an open diorama corner that introduces the origins of Lake Biwa, a Maruko ship that was once the main transport boat on Lake Biwa, and a private house from the 1950s. The Baikal seal, which was introduced as part of the renovation, is a big hit!

directions_walk
Approximately 5 minutes walk

3
Kusatsu City Aquatic Botanical Garden Mizunomori

This is a relaxing botanical garden surrounded on three sides by the lush nature of Lake Biwa. Highlights include the "Flower Garden on the Hill," with its beautiful seasonal flowers, and the fantastic "Flower Shadow Pond," with its harmonious mix of aquatic plants and flowers. The garden has the largest collection of water lilies in Japan, and you can observe aquatic plants that you won't find anywhere else.

directions_walk
Approximately 10 minutes on foot

4
GreenPlaza KARASUMA (Roadside Station Kusatsu)

From the Renkan Tower in the square, you can get a panoramic view of the Kusatsu Dream Windmill and the Hira and Hiei mountain ranges. There is a popular shop selling fresh and safe local vegetables and brown rice by weight, a local specialty called "Omi rice," as well as a restaurant serving a wide variety of dishes, including delicious rice balls made with Omi rice.

directions_walk
Approximately 1 minute walk

5
Rock Bay Garden (Roadside Station Kusatsu)

At Rock Bay Garden, you can experience strawberry picking and sweet potato digging. In the greenhouse, about 20,000 strawberries are grown, including five varieties, including Benihoppe, Yotsuboshi, Akihime, Moikko, and Hoshi no Kirameki, so you can enjoy comparing the taste of each variety. In addition, you can enjoy Kusatsu City's first night strawberry picking, and there are many other attractions! The strawberries are grown on elevated platforms, so you can pick them while standing.

directions_bus_filled
About 30 minutes by Ohmi Railway Bus from "Green Plaza Karasuma" to "Kusatsu Station West Exit"

6
JR Biwako Line ・Kusatsu Line Kusatsu Station

Did you enjoy your trip around Lake Biwa and the Karasuma Peninsula? In addition to the spots introduced in this sample itinerary, there are many other places of interest around Kusatsu Station , such as Kusatsujuku Honjin. Please be sure to visit them.

This site introduces tourist information for Kusatsu City, Shiga Prefecture. It is packed with information on attractive spots, hotels, and gourmet food, such as the nature-filled aquatic plant park Mizunomori, Lake Biwa Museum, the historic Tachiki shrine and the Sandai shrine, Kusatsujuku Honjin, and Rokuha Park, which is fun for the whole family.

more
The information presented in this article is based on the time it was written. Note that there may be changes in the merchandise, services, and prices that have occurred after this article was published. Please contact the facility or facilities in this article directly before visiting. Some of our articles contain affiliate links. We kindly ask our readers to exercise careful judgement when making a purchase or booking a service online.

The contents on this page may partially contain automatic translation.