5 Lakes in Shiga worth your time

The largest remaining inner lake of Lake Biwa, offering a protected wetland environment famous for traditional reed production and historical ruins.

What it is

• The largest remaining inner lake connected to Lake Biwa in Shiga Prefecture.
• A designated wildlife protection zone and registered Ramsar Convention wetland.
• A primary source for traditional reed production and local crafts.
• A site where four rivers, including the Azuchi River, flow into the basin.

What to see

• Stone walls dating back to the Azuchi Castle era discovered in 2024.
• A 2.5 hectare island named Gonza used for growing sake rice.
• Extensive reed beds that are harvested and managed by the local community.
• Sightseeing boats operated by the local water district for visitors.

When to go

• December to March to witness the traditional harvesting of the reeds.
• March and April to see the seasonal burning of the reed beds.

Getting there

• A fifteen minute walk from Azuchi Station to reach the lake area.

Read more about Inner Lake

A calm fault lake north of Lake Biwa known for its mirror-like reflections, winter fishing, and ancient celestial maiden legends.

What it is

• A fault lake formed approximately one million years ago in Nagahama City.
• Nicknamed Mirror Lake because the calm surface reflects the surrounding scenery.
• Site of the historic Battle of Shizugatake which took place in 1583.
• Associated with the oldest celestial maiden legend in Japanese folklore.

What to see

• The lake surface situated one hundred and thirty-three meters above sea level.
• Mount Shizugatake which stands between this body of water and Lake Biwa.
• A water tunnel that connects the lake directly to Lake Biwa.
• The six point four kilometer shoreline surrounding the quiet water.

When to go

• Visit during the winter season to observe or participate in Wakasagi fishing.

Getting there

• The lake is a five-minute walk from Yogo Station.

Read more about Lake Yogo

A historic 13th-century irrigation reservoir in Shiga known for its diverse wildlife, fireflies, and scenic mountain views.

What it is

• A reservoir in Maibara City constructed around the year 1200 for irrigation.
• Also known as Hiyasha Pond, it uses underground water from the Ane River.
• Designated as a wildlife protection zone and a top 100 pond in Japan.
• The site serves as the southern limit for natural mallard duck breeding.

What to see

• A tomb for Hiyasha-jo located directly beside the pond.
• Various fish species including carp, loach, crucian carp, and catfish.
• Green Park Santo featuring a campground and athletic facilities nearby.
• Wild mallard ducks breeding in their natural habitat.

When to go

• Visit in early June to see fireflies near the water.
• Winter months are ideal for observing migratory mallard ducks.

Read more about Lake Mishima

Japan's largest and oldest freshwater lake offers ancient history, unique inhabited islands, and protected wetland ecosystems for nature lovers.

What it is

• Japan's largest lake by area and volume, located in the Omi Basin of Shiga Prefecture.
• An ancient lake formed approximately 4.4 million years ago with a maximum depth of 104.1 meters.
• A registered wetland under the Ramsar Convention and classified as a first-class river.
• A massive water source fed by about 450 rivers flowing from the surrounding mountains.

What to see

• Okishima, which is the only inhabited island found in a Japanese freshwater lake.
• The three main islands of the lake: Okishima, Chikubushima, and Takegashima.
• The Seta River, which serves as the only natural outlet for the lake's water.
• A vast surface area covering over 669 square kilometers of the Shiga landscape.

Read more about Lake Biwa

An earth dam and reservoir in Koka City providing irrigation to rice fields since its completion in 1958.

What it is

• An earth dam built on the Ohara River for agricultural irrigation.
• Construction began in 1943 as a project to prevent local droughts.
• The facility supplies water to over six hundred hectares of downstream rice fields.
• The site formerly hosted a campsite that opened in 1972 but later closed.

What to see

• A large dam structure standing over twenty-seven meters high.
• The reservoir water system that serves the Yodogawa river network.
• Renovated irrigation facilities and infrastructure updated starting in 2007.

Read more about Ohara Reservoir