Inner Lake

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.

Notes written by Japan Gems from facts in Japanese Wikipedia.