Commemorating the launch of a new route！How about enjoying Japan's largest lake, Lake Biwa, from a boat?
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Ogoto Onsen is said to have been opened about 1,200 years ago by Dengyo Daishi Saicho to reward the work of the craftsmen who built Enryakuji Temple on Mount Hiei, a World Heritage Site. Among them, Yumotokan is a long-established inn with a history of 96 years. The secret to its popularity is its four different hot springs, including an open-air bath overlooking Lake Biwa from the 11th floor and an open-air bath that gives the illusion of being a hot spring in the forest, as well as its Kyoto-style kaiseki meals made with carefully selected seasonal ingredients, including "certified Omi beef," one of Japan's three great wagyu beef brands. Although it is only 20 minutes by train from Kyoto, this inn allows you to feel the warmth of nature and Japan, such as Lake Biwa and the Hira mountain range.
- Table of Contents
- Enjoy Japan's largest lake from a boat
- There are a total of three new routes!
- We also recommend taking a 60-minute Lake Biwa Biwa cruise from Ogoto Onsen Port.
- After enjoying a boat ride on Lake Biwa, enjoy certified Omi beef at Ogoto Onsen, just a five minute walk away.
Enjoy Japan's largest lake from a boat
Even if you don't know where Lake Biwa Shiga Prefecture is, you probably know about Lake Biwa, the largest lake in Japan. The best way to enjoy Lake Biwa, which is rich in nature, is to take a boat! In this article, we will introduce the charm of Lake Biwa as a way to enjoy nature and avoid crowds, including the new shipping route that will start this spring.
There are a total of three new routes!
Three new routes will begin in April 2025.
1. Ozu- Onohama Tourist Pier Course (approximately 3 km, 15 minutes one way, 7 round trips per day)
2. Kusatsu Karasuma Peninsula Port - Onohama Tourist Pier Course (approx. 9 km, 45 minutes, 3 round trips per day)
3. Ogoto Onsen Port - Kusatsu Karasuma Peninsula Port Course (approx. 4 km, 15 mins, 2 round trips per day)
There are three courses. You can enjoy sweets and nature on the boat, including the new store "LAGO Ozu" of the long-established Japanese sweets shop "Taneya" that has opened near the Ganihama Tourist Pier.
*Operates only on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.
Click here for the video of the Shiga Cruise Yakatabune Four Seasons
We also recommend taking a 60-minute Lake Biwa Biwa cruise from Ogoto Onsen Port.
For those who want to enjoy the scenery and nature of Lake Biwa even more, we recommend the "Lake Biwa Romantic Cruise" which departs from Ogoto Onsen Port on weekends (Saturdays and Sundays) and operates three times a day at 10:00, 13:30, and 16:00 for 2,400 yen for adults and 1,200 yen for elementary school students (free for infants). A local guide will tell you all about the charms of Shiga Prefecture and Lake Biwa. The recommended highlight is the spectacular view of the boat passing under the "Lake Biwa Bridge" spanning from east to west, which is definitely worth seeing.
After enjoying a boat ride on Lake Biwa, enjoy certified Omi beef at Ogoto Onsen, just a five minute walk away.
Ogoto Onsen is a 5-minute walk from Ogoto Onsen Port. The oldest restaurant in the area, Yumotokan, offers multi-course meals where you can enjoy "certified Omi beef," one of Japan's three major wagyu beef brands. After enjoying the nature, why not treat yourself to the delicious taste of brand beef and the alkaline simple hot spring with a pH of 9.0 that leaves your skin smooth?
Make a reservation at Ogoto Onsen Yumotokan
![[Ogoto Onsen Yumotokan] About 20 minutes from Kyoto! A long-established inn where you can enjoy the spectacular view of Lake Biwa and hot springs](https://resources.matcha-jp.com/resize/200x2000/2025/03/11-227604.webp)
Ogoto Onsen is said to have been opened about 1,200 years ago by Dengyo Daishi Saicho to reward the work of the craftsmen who built Enryakuji Temple on Mount Hiei, a World Heritage Site. Among them, Yumotokan is a long-established inn with a history of 96 years. The secret to its popularity is its four different hot springs, including an open-air bath overlooking Lake Biwa from the 11th floor and an open-air bath that gives the illusion of being a hot spring in the forest, as well as its Kyoto-style kaiseki meals made with carefully selected seasonal ingredients, including "certified Omi beef," one of Japan's three great wagyu beef brands. Although it is only 20 minutes by train from Kyoto, this inn allows you to feel the warmth of nature and Japan, such as Lake Biwa and the Hira mountain range.
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