How would you feel about spending a night at a sandy beach with distant fireworks and wave sounds? No destination can be more awesome than a breezy shore in a summer evening. Come enjoy this experience at the Lake Biwa, the largest lake in Japan. Lake Biwa is conveniently placed, at hardly an hour distance from Kyoto station, and is mostly famous for sightseeing and for bike tours. If you want to get synchronized with the wave sounds of a fresh water lake, Lake Biwa (or Biwako in Japanese) is a great place to visit.
A cozy corner out of the city
Choosing a particular place among the famous beaches around Lake Biwa is a tricky choice but if you are interested in a serene and less crowded one, go for Moriyama city in Shiga prefecture. As per my opinion carry your own tent and spend at beach as long as you wish. It’s a beautiful city to roam around and you can shop and relax in the nearby shopping mall. Finally you can come back from city life and soon feel isolated in the corner of nature. During the weekends it’s quite a busy place for visitors. It seems the beach is kids’ favorite place.
Taking a dip is a real pleasure
If you come early enough, around midday to 3:00 PM, you can take a dip into the water. You will feel like you’re in the ocean, without the salty taste, as it is fresh water. Or if you are late already, after 5:00 PM or so, then check the water temperature before entering the water. My recommendation is to take a bath before 10:00 AM, inside the morning cold water but under the hot Sun. Don’t you think it’s a great combination? During day time there is a kiosk for security personnel. If you are not 100% confident about your swimming skills, or if kids accompany you, it is safer to be in water while the kiosk is open.
The camping strategy
Let me give you some tips to fully enjoy your camping experience at Lake Biwa. Take your tent close to the water as the lake does not have high waves, and also try to keep it as far as possible from the busy roads that may disturb your peace. You’d better get your dinner or snacks and drinks before planting your tent, because otherwise you will need to walk about a kilometer to get the supermarket. Although it would be a perfect spot for barbecuing, it is prohibited in the area for environment protection reasons. . Japanese people love to play with tiny fireworks on the beach in summer, and I recommend that you try it at least once it this beautiful landscape. Proximity to the toilets and the garbage bins is always a plus. Like any other place in Japan, be careful to take all your garbage with you when you leave, as it is strongly reprimanded
Have a stroll around the area
There is a shopping mall named “Pieri” in the vicinity, about 1km away. Around halfway towards the mall, just at the corner, there is a mesmerizing yellow flower garden that I recommend you visit. During the summer, you can enjoy the sight of beautiful sunflowers, while other varieties are presented during other seasons. It just takes 10 minutes to get there from the beach, and it is worth the walk. Trust me, it’s amazing and you don’t want to miss that.
Get ready with your backpack
If you are visiting Kyoto, and you want to take a nature break away from the city, you can easily reach Lake Biwa from Kyoto station. Get off the train at Katata station, and from there take the bus bound to “Resort hotel Laforet Biwako”. Cross the road to the beach and enjoy your day and night at the camp. Don’t miss the sunrise at the beach. It is an experience that you will never forget.
History
Get Trip101 in your inbox
Unsubscribe in one click. See our Privacy Policy for more information on how we use your data
-
-
-
-
-
-
10 Best Michelin-Star Restaurants In KyotoRyan Joshua
Create an account to