🏞 Shiga · 1–2 days
Lake Biwa Loop: Driving Around Japan’s Largest Lake
Circle Lake Biwa, Japan’s largest lake, by car in a day or two: the west-shore Biwako Ohashi bridge, Takashima’s windmill coast, the northern waterfowl marshes and the Azai castle country — 10 michi-no-eki just 30 minutes from Kyoto.
Lake Biwa is so big it has its own horizon — Japan’s largest freshwater lake, filling most of Shiga Prefecture just over the hills from Kyoto. Cyclists know the shore loop as “Biwaichi”; by car you can drive the same 150-odd kilometres in a day, stringing together beaches, castle towns and one of the country’s great waterfowl wetlands.
This loop runs clockwise from the Biwako Ohashi bridge, up the quieter west shore through Takashima’s windmill village and Adogawa, around the northern tip at Shiozu, then down the east shore past the Kohoku waterfowl marshes and the Azai-sisters castle country back to Kusatsu. Every michi-no-eki is a farm market for Omi rice, Omi beef and lake fish — the Shiga larder that has fed Kyoto for centuries.
The stops, in driving order
- 1 Michi-no-Eki Biwa Mizuumi Oohashi Kome Puraza 道の駅 びわ湖大橋米プラザ · Shiga
Michi-no-Eki Biwa Mizuumi Oohashi Kome Puraza (道の駅 びわ湖大橋米プラザ) is a government-designated roadside station in 大津市, Shiga, Japan, registered in 1996 as one of the country's official michi-no-eki rest stops for road travellers. On-site you'll find a restaurant, a cafe, a local-products shop, a tourist-information desk and an observation deck. There is free parking for about 85 cars and 19 large vehicles. Typical opening hours are 9:00–19:00（季節により異なる）. Like every michi-no-eki it offers free parking and 24-hour restrooms, making it a reliable stop on a Kansai road trip or campervan tour. It also makes a handy base for reaching nearby stations such as Imoko No Sato, Kusatsu and Aguri No Sato Rittou.
Nearby: 🏛Moriyama municipal burial Cultural Property Center (6.1 km) · 📸Buddha statue (6.6 km)
- 2 Michi-no-Eki Imoko No Sato 道の駅 妹子の郷 · Shiga
Michi-no-Eki Imoko No Sato (道の駅 妹子の郷) is a government-designated roadside station in 大津市, Shiga, Japan, one of the country's official michi-no-eki rest stops for road travellers. On-site you'll find a restaurant, a local-products shop, a tourist-information desk, a baby room and an accessible restroom. There is free parking for about 86 cars and 28 large vehicles. Typical opening hours are 9:00–18:00〔季節により時間変更有※ホームページをご確認ください。〕. Like every michi-no-eki it offers free parking and 24-hour restrooms, making it a reliable stop on a Kansai road trip or campervan tour. It also makes a handy base for reaching nearby stations such as Biwa Mizuumi Oohashi Kome Puraza, Kusatsu and Aguri No Sato Rittou.
Nearby: ⛰Mt. Horai (5.7 km) · 📸Buddha statue (6.4 km)
- 3 Michi-no-Eki Touju No Sato Adogawa 道の駅 藤樹の里あどがわ · Shiga
Michi-no-Eki Touju No Sato Adogawa (道の駅 藤樹の里あどがわ) is a government-designated roadside station in 高島市, Shiga, Japan, registered in 2005 as one of the country's official michi-no-eki rest stops for road travellers. On-site you'll find a restaurant, a cafe, a local-products shop, EV charging and a tourist-information desk. There is free parking for about 100 cars and 15 large vehicles. Typical opening hours are 9:00–18:00〔施設により異なる〕＜休 1/1、毎月第2水曜日（4・８・１１月は無休）＞. Like every michi-no-eki it offers free parking and 24-hour restrooms, making it a reliable stop on a Kansai road trip or campervan tour. It also makes a handy base for reaching nearby stations such as Shin'Asahi Fuusha Mura, Kutsuki Shinpon Jin and Wakasa Kumakawa Yado.
Nearby: 🏛近江聖人中江藤樹記念館 (0.2 km) · 🏛高島歴史民俗資料館 (1.9 km)
- 4 Michi-no-Eki Shin'Asahi Fuusha Mura 道の駅 しんあさひ風車村 · Shiga
Michi-no-Eki Shin'Asahi Fuusha Mura (道の駅 しんあさひ風車村) is a government-designated roadside station in 高島市, Shiga, Japan, registered in 1993 as one of the country's official michi-no-eki rest stops for road travellers. On-site you'll find a restaurant, a local-products shop, a campground, a tourist-information desk and a park. There is free parking for about 196 cars and 11 large vehicles. Typical opening hours are トイレ、駐車場は24時間利用可能. Like every michi-no-eki it offers free parking and 24-hour restrooms, making it a reliable stop on a Kansai road trip or campervan tour. It also makes a handy base for reaching nearby stations such as Touju No Sato Adogawa, Kutsuki Shinpon Jin and Makino Tsui Saka Touge.
Nearby: 📸重要文化的景観「針江・霜降の水辺景観」 針江生水の郷 (2.2 km) · 🏛近江聖人中江藤樹記念館 (4.3 km)
- 5 Michi-no-Eki Makino Tsui Saka Touge 道の駅 マキノ追坂峠 · Shiga
Michi-no-Eki Makino Tsui Saka Touge (道の駅 マキノ追坂峠) is a government-designated roadside station in 高島市, Shiga, Japan, registered in 2004 as one of the country's official michi-no-eki rest stops for road travellers. On-site you'll find a restaurant, a local-products shop, a tourist-information desk and an accessible restroom. There is free parking for about 43 cars and 40 large vehicles. Typical opening hours are 9:00–18:00. Like every michi-no-eki it offers free parking and 24-hour restrooms, making it a reliable stop on a Kansai road trip or campervan tour. It also makes a handy base for reaching nearby stations such as Shiozu Kaidou Ajikamano Sato, Kohoku Mizudori Suteeshon and Shin'Asahi Fuusha Mura.
Nearby: 📸Metasequoia Namiki (4.6 km) · 🏛琵琶湖周航の歌資料館 (10.3 km)
- 6 Michi-no-Eki Shiozu Kaidou Ajikamano Sato 道の駅 塩津海道あぢかまの里 · Shiga
Michi-no-Eki Shiozu Kaidou Ajikamano Sato (道の駅 塩津海道あぢかまの里) is a government-designated roadside station in 長浜市, Shiga, Japan, registered in 2009 as one of the country's official michi-no-eki rest stops for road travellers. On-site you'll find a restaurant, a cafe, a local-products shop, a tourist-information desk and a baby room. There is free parking for about 74 cars and 12 large vehicles. Typical opening hours are 9:00–17:00. Like every michi-no-eki it offers free parking and 24-hour restrooms, making it a reliable stop on a Kansai road trip or campervan tour. It also makes a handy base for reaching nearby stations such as Makino Tsui Saka Touge, Kohoku Mizudori Suteeshon and Asai Sanshimai No Sato.
Nearby: 🏛鶏足寺収蔵庫「己高閣」「世代閣」 (8.1 km) · 🌄雨森芳州庵 (8.2 km)
- 7 Michi-no-Eki Kohoku Mizudori Suteeshon 道の駅 湖北みずどりステーション · Shiga
Michi-no-Eki Kohoku Mizudori Suteeshon (道の駅 湖北みずどりステーション) is a government-designated roadside station in 長浜市, Shiga, Japan, registered in 2002 as one of the country's official michi-no-eki rest stops for road travellers. On-site you'll find a restaurant, a cafe, a local-products shop, a tourist-information desk and an observation deck. There is free parking for about 103 cars and 11 large vehicles. Typical opening hours are 売店：9:00–18:00 (4月–10月) 9:00–17:00 (11月–3月) レストラン：10:30–17:30 (4月–10月) 10:30–16:30 (11月–3月) ※平日は一部メニューは15:30まで ＜休館日＞第3火曜日、年末年始. Like every michi-no-eki it offers free parking and 24-hour restrooms, making it a reliable stop on a Kansai road trip or campervan tour. It also makes a handy base for reaching nearby stations such as Shiozu Kaidou Ajikamano Sato, Asai Sanshimai No Sato and Makino Tsui Saka Touge.
Nearby: 🏛高月町立観音の里歴史民俗資料館 (5.6 km) · 🌄雨森芳州庵 (6.8 km)
- 8 Michi-no-Eki Oumi Haha No Sato 道の駅 近江母の郷 · Shiga
Michi-no-Eki Oumi Haha No Sato (道の駅 近江母の郷) is a government-designated roadside station in 米原市, Shiga, Japan, one of the country's official michi-no-eki rest stops for road travellers. On-site you'll find a restaurant, a local-products shop, lodging, a tourist-information desk and a park. There is free parking for about 78 cars and 3 large vehicles. Typical opening hours are 9:00–17:00. Like every michi-no-eki it offers free parking and 24-hour restrooms, making it a reliable stop on a Kansai road trip or campervan tour. It also makes a handy base for reaching nearby stations such as Asai Sanshimai No Sato, Ibuki No Sato and Kohoku Mizudori Suteeshon.
Nearby: 🌄西世継温泉 (0.9 km) · 🌄南世継温泉 (1.2 km)
- 9 Michi-no-Eki Aguripaaku Ryuuou 道の駅 アグリパーク竜王 · Shiga
Michi-no-Eki Aguripaaku Ryuuou (道の駅 アグリパーク竜王) is a government-designated roadside station in 蒲生郡竜王町, Shiga, Japan, registered in 2015 as one of the country's official michi-no-eki rest stops for road travellers. On-site you'll find a restaurant, a cafe, a local-products shop, a tourist-information desk and hands-on experiences. There is free parking for about 200 cars and 6 large vehicles. Typical opening hours are 9:00–17:00（季節により変動あり）＜休 月曜日（月曜日が祝日の場合は火曜日）＞. Like every michi-no-eki it offers free parking and 24-hour restrooms, making it a reliable stop on a Kansai road trip or campervan tour. It also makes a handy base for reaching nearby stations such as Ryuuou Kagamino Sato, Higashioumi Shi Aitou Maagarettosuteeshon and Konzeno Sato Rittou.
Nearby: 🏛甲賀市水口歴史民俗資料館 (8.6 km) · 📸Minakuchi-Okayama Castle Site (8.7 km)
- 10 Michi-no-Eki Kusatsu 道の駅 草津 · Shiga
Michi-no-Eki Kusatsu (道の駅 草津) is a government-designated roadside station in 草津市, Shiga, Japan, registered in 2002 as one of the country's official michi-no-eki rest stops for road travellers. On-site you'll find a restaurant, a cafe, a local-products shop, free Wi-Fi and a tourist-information desk. There is free parking for about 48 cars and 6 large vehicles. Typical opening hours are 9:00–18:00、9:00–19:00（7・8月）＜休 毎週月曜日（月曜日が祝日の場合は翌日）・12/31–1/2＞. Like every michi-no-eki it offers free parking and 24-hour restrooms, making it a reliable stop on a Kansai road trip or campervan tour. It also makes a handy base for reaching nearby stations such as Biwa Mizuumi Oohashi Kome Puraza, Aguri No Sato Rittou and Imoko No Sato.
Nearby: 🏛中仙道守山宿郷土人形館 (5.2 km) · 🏛Moriyama municipal burial Cultural Property Center (6.4 km)
Make this route yours — load all 10 stops into the planner, reorder or remove stops, then open the finished trip in Google Maps.
Customize this route →Route tips
- The Kohoku Mizudori (waterfowl) station on the north-east shore is a birdwatching site — swans and ducks winter here in the thousands.
- Omi beef is Shiga’s answer to Kobe and Matsusaka — look for it at the eastern-shore stations around Maibara and Nagahama.
- The west shore (Takashima) is the quiet, scenic half; the east shore is faster and flatter — do the west in daylight for the views.
- The whole loop is under two hours’ driving from Kyoto — an easy car day-trip if you’re based in the old capital.
Before you drive
- Can you drive in Japan? License rules by country
- Renting a car in Japan: the complete guide
- Can you sleep overnight at a michi-no-eki?
FAQ — Lake Biwa loop
How many days do you need for the Lake Biwa loop route?
1–2 days is a comfortable pace: roughly 160 km of driving with 10 michi-no-eki stops along the way. You can compress it, but the stops are the point.
Where does the route start and end?
It starts at Otsu (near Kyoto) and ends at Otsu (loop). Load all 10 stops into the free MichiStops route planner to reorder, add or remove stops, then open the finished trip in Google Maps.
When is the best season to drive this route?
Year-round; waterfowl in winter, green shores April–October.
Do I need to rent a car?
Yes — michi-no-eki are roadside stations, realistically reachable only by rental car or campervan. Most visitors can drive in Japan with a 1949-convention International Driving Permit; check the license rules for your country before booking. License rules by country →
Can I sleep overnight at the michi-no-eki on this route?
Resting overnight in your vehicle is tolerated at most michi-no-eki (camping outside the vehicle is not), and 1 stop on this route has a proper campground next door. Read the overnight-stay guide for the etiquette. Overnight-stay guide →