Centred by the country’s largest freshwater lake and surrounded by 1,000-metre mountains, Shiga Prefecture is one of the premier destinations for those who love outdoor. All year around you can enjoy a vast array of activities including hiking, cycling, skiing, sailing, golf, fishing and many others.
Now that summer is here, the major pleasure is of course swimming and basking at the beach around Lake Biwa! Beautiful swimming spots are scattered around the lake and are attracting a lot of beach-lovers from the Kyoto-Osaka-Kobe urban areas.
The western shore, in particular, boasts beaches with white sand, clear water, pine trees and magnificent views of the Mt. Hira just behind. Located at a less populated area, the beaches are filled with a peaceful atmosphere which also charms the visitors (except for the weekend daytime hours — it is often crowded and full of energy!). Besides swimming and sunbathing, barbeque under pine trees, catching fish in small rivers cutting the beach and strolling around rustic lakeside villages nearby are great fun.
If you stay near the shore, highly recommended is an early morning walk along the beach. The air is quiet and cool, the lake surface is mirror-like, the sun is rising from the opposite shore, birds are singing…. here you will feel as if you are in another world.
