ShigaLeisure

Kogan Ryokuchi Shina 1 Lakeside Green Space (湖岸緑地志那1)

Flow of the course

About 75 min here

About 15 min to the next stop

Next stop: Quietly tour the National Treasure temple complex of the 1,300-year-old head temple of the Tendai Jimon sect

About this spot

A lakeside green space maintained along Lake Biwa in the Hamaotsu area, where you can experience the full expanse of Lake Biwa, Japan's largest freshwater lake, just as it is. A walking path runs along the lake, letting you get right up to the water's edge and feel the cool breeze off the surface. Simply strolling leisurely while gazing at Mt. Hiei and the mountains on the opposite shore conveys a sense of Lake Biwa's size and scale unlike any city fireworks festival. Checking out the waters off Otsu Port, where tonight's fireworks will be launched, during the daytime helps you picture your evening viewing spot. Since crowds surge from evening onward on the day of the festival, the early afternoon is the best time to enjoy the lakeshore at a relaxed pace.

Tips

About a 3-minute walk from Biwako-Hamaotsu Station on the Keihan Railway, or about a 10-minute walk from JR Otsu Station. No admission fee. There is little shade along the lakeshore, so a parasol or hat is reassuring to bring. There are convenience stores near the station, handy for picking up drinks and snacks.