Ryokan in Otsu and Lake Biwa

大津・琵琶湖

The capital of Shiga, on the south-western shore of Lake Biwa, Japan's largest lake, about 10 minutes from Kyoto by JR. Its hot-spring ryokan stand along the lake at Ogoto Onsen, north of the city, with their own station on the JR Kosei Line.

Choosing an area in Otsu and Lake Biwa

Ogoto Onsen おごと温泉
The lakeside hot-spring town north of the city, by Ogoto-onsen Station on the Kosei Line.
Central Otsu 大津市街
The city on the southern tip of the lake, with Mii-dera and the port.

Otsu and Lake Biwa through the year

Spring春
March to May
Cherry trees first bloom around 26 March in neighbouring Kyoto in an average year.
Summer夏
June to August
The Lake Biwa Great Fireworks Festival is held off Otsu Port in early August.
Autumn秋
September to November
Autumn colours reach the lowlands of central Japan in late November.
Winter冬
December to February
Across the water the Hira mountains are among the first in the region to turn white; their evening snow, Hira no bosetsu, is one of the Eight Views of Omi.