A Visitor’s Guide to Lake Biwa — Japan’s Legendary Bass Destination
Ty HasegawaJapan’s largest freshwater lake, Lake Biwa, is one of the world’s most respected fisheries—home to giant largemouth bass, diverse ecosystems, and year-round fishing adventures. Some of you may know that this is the lake produced the worlds largest bass (my blog post about the big bass is here.)
Whether you’re chasing your first trophy bass or exploring local culture, Lake Biwa offers an unforgettable experience for visiting anglers.
In this blog, you can see the access to Lake Biwa, a few fishing guide services and sorrounding sightseeing spots.
1. Access to Lake Biwa
Lake Biwa is located in Shiga Prefecture, just northeast of Kyoto. It’s extremely convenient for travelers using public transportation. In the below access details, the destination in the lake is set at the Biwako Bridge. This is the bridge under which the world record bass was caught. For the access information of the specific spot, you need to check the way since the lake is extended to south-north in 63km, with width of 22km. The railway station nearest to the bridge is called Katata station.
As for the basic knowledge, please note these words before you see the information below. JR (JR East, JR Tokai, JR West etc.) is the abbreviation of Japan Railway, the Japan's biggest railway companies. JR runs Shinkansen (bullet train).
From Kyoto
Kyoto is one of the most famous tourist spots in Japan. Since you are very much likely to visit there during your Japanese travel, here gives you the basic idea of how to reach the lake.
By Train
JR Kyoto Station → JR Katata Station (JR Kosei Line (湖西線)
Time: 15–20 minutes
From Katata Station
Taxi to Biwako Bridge area: 5–10 minutes
Bus available (Noriai Bus → “Biwako Ohashi” stop)
By Car
About 25–35 minutes via Meishin Expressway or National Route 161
Here is the google map link of this access.
From Osaka
As the second biggest city in Japan, Osaka is the very nice hub for the touristic visit to Japan.
By Train
JR Osaka (Osaka Umeda) Station → Kyoto Station (JR Kyoto Line)
Time: 30 minutes
Kyoto → Katata (JR Kosei Line)
Time: Additional 15–20 minutes
From Katata Station
Taxi to Biwako Bridge area: 5–10 minutes
Bus available (Noriai Bus → “Biwako Ohashi” stop)
By Car
About 1 hour via Meishin Expressway
Exit at Otsu IC or Kyotanabe–Otsu Line toward Route 161
Here is the google map link of this access.
From Kansai International Airport (KIX)
You may want to go straight from the airport to the spot. In this case, you first need to go to Kyoto station.
By Train
JR Haruka Express → Kyoto station
Time: 90 to 100 minutes
Kyoto station → Katata station (JR Kosei Line)
By Bus and Train
Limousine Bus to Kyoto station
Time: varies depending on the lines, from 90 to 120 minutes
Kyoto station → Katata station (JR Kosei Line)
Here is the google map link of this access.
From Tokyo
By Train
Tokyo station → Kyoto station (2 hr 20 min) JR Shinkansen (bullet train, Tokaido Line)
then local JR trains into Shiga
By Flight
Domestic flight to Osaka (Itami)
Osaka Itami airport → High way Bus to Kyoto station
From Kyoto station, please follow the same path as above routes.
Looking for the booking of rental cars? Check it out!
2. Fishing Guides at Lake Biwa
Many professional guides operate on Lake Biwa, offering full-day or half-day trips, lure selection, and local techniques.
Here are a few English-friendly or well-known guide services:
Popular Lake Biwa Fishing Guides
Note: Availability varies by season—booking in advance is recommended.
| Guide Service | Website | Key Details |
|---|---|---|
| Truth Biwako | truth-biwako.com/english | One of the more experienced guides on Lake Biwa; English-friendly staff; gear rental & hotel pick-up included. |
| Japan Bass Fishing Agent | japanbassfishingagent.com | International guests targeted; transport from Kyoto; full & half-day trips; tackle rental included. |
| Biwako Uentsu Guide Service | biwakoguide.com/en/ | English/Chinese support; gear rental; focused on bass fishing for overseas visitors. |
| Biwako Lake C2C International Bass Fishing Guide | biwalakec2c.com | Designed for non-Japanese anglers; pick-up at Otsu Station; full day & half day pricing listed. |
| Connect Guide Services (Lake Biwa) | fishinglifecreator.com/english | Northern Lake Biwa focus; English-language page; beginner to trophy trips. |
| Lake Biwa International Fishing Guide & Charter | fishing-japan.jp | Charter style; bass focus; “stress-free bass fishing experience” for international visitors. |
Tips for choosing & booking
- Check language support: some guides have full English pages and accept credit cards, others are Japanese-only. Please remember that actual guides may not be fluent in English, though they have English web page.
I assume there is no problem once you go out on the boat. Fishermans speaks their own languages on the water! - Confirm what the price includes (boat, fuel, tackle rental, pick-up/drop-off, insurance).
- Ask about departure point: Biwako Bridge area, Katata, Otsu, or north vs south basin. As mentioned above, the distance between the north end and the south is over 60 km (37 miles). So you need to make sure where is your meeting point and departure point.
- Review cancellation / bad-weather policy—lake can get rough.
- Ask about group size and whether the fee is per boat or per person.
- If you have specific gear preferences (e.g., eco-friendly tackle, lure brands) mention in advance.
3. Nearby Fishing Tackle Shops
Lake Biwa is surrounded by well-stocked fishing stores—perfect for grabbing local lures, spare line, or Biwa-special rigs.
Major Shops Around Lake Biwa
- Seven Palms (Katata)
Local oriented shop very close to the bridge.
Website of the shop. Location on Google map. - Bait & Tackle Next (Otsu)
Hardcore shop, where you may find something new.
Website of the shop. Location on Google map. - Dowluck (Otsu)
Top water speciality lure shop
Website of the shop. Location on Google map. - Fish!Tackle Shop (Kusatsu)
Stylish shop next to the outdoor shop.
Website of the shop. Location on Google map. - Tsuridougu Ikkyu (Moriyama)
Second hand tackle shop
Website of the shop. Location on Google map. - Other Major Chain Stores nearby
Tackle Berry, Anglers, Bunbun
4. Neighbor Sightseeing Cities & Cultural Spots
Even if you’re visiting for fishing, the surrounding cities are rich in history and food culture. These areas are easy day trips.
Nagahama
- Located on the northern shore of Lake Biwa
- Black Castle, retro streets, and local food like yaki-saba sushi
Lake Biwa Museum
- It has the small aquarium section, where you can see the native fish in the lake.
- Location link
Otsu
- The gateway city to Biwa
- Views from Mt. Hiei, lakeside cafés, and cruises on the Michigan paddle boat
Kyoto
- Famous for temples, shrines, Nishiki Market, the Gion area, and traditional Kyoto food
Osaka
- 1 hour away
- Known for nightlife, Osaka Castle, Universal Studios Japan, and street food (takoyaki, okonomiyaki)
Nara
- 1–1.5 hours
- Great for temples, the famous Nara deer park, and traditional sweets
5. Tips for Anglers Visiting Lake Biwa
- Seasons:
Spring (March–May) and early summer are great for big bass; fall offers stable fishing. - Local Regulations:
Black bass are invasive spiecies in Japan—release is practically ok in Biwa. - Licenses:
No fishing license required for bass on Lake Biwa.
(Fishing permits apply for trout/ayu rivers nearby.) - Weather:
Lake Biwa can be windy—check lake condition warnings before boarding.
