Lake Biwa has become so popular with cyclists that it is said to be a "sacred place for bicycles." It's refreshing to ride a bicycle around the biggest lake in Japan. The outer circumference of Lake Biwa is 241km, but if you go around the lake by bicycle, you will run a distance of about 200km. If you like bicycles and have physical strength, this course can be done in 2 days, so please try it when you travel to Japan.
However, for many foreign tourists, it must be very difficult to complete a full lap of Lake Biwa. Therefore, we recommend that you enjoy cycling in Takashima. The south side of Lake Biwa is a little urban, so there is a lot of traffic and there are some difficult parts, but the northwest side of Lake Biwa, where Takashima is located, is a rural area with few cars and the best scenery.
Of the six train stations in Takashima, you can rent a bicycle at the following five stations.
- Makino Station (nearest station to Kaizu, photo above)
- Omi-Imazu Station
- Shin-Asahi Station
- Adogawa Station
- Omi-Takashima Station (nearest station to Shirahige Shrine, photo below)
The advantage of Takashima's bicycle rental is that you can return your bicycle at a different station than the one you rented. Our recommendation is to start by renting a bicycle at one of the stations in the north (Makino or Om-Imazu) and return the bicycle at one of the stations located in the south (Shin-Asahi, Adogawa or Omi-Takashima).
This way, you can cycle from north to south and stay on the beach side of Lake Biwa (Japanese law requires vehicles and bicycles to run on the left side of the road). Another reason is that the northern part of Takashima is slightly higher than the south side, so cycling from north to south has a slight downward slope, which makes cycling easier.
Takashima is so large that it is very convenient to have a bicycle and you can go sightseeing to places that cannot be reached on foot. If you need to rent a bicycle, please contact Biwako Takashima Tourism Association or us.
However, if you ride a bicycle in a foreign country without a guide, you may have an unexpected accident or trouble due to differences in traffic rules. If you want to enjoy cycling in Takashima, please also request our guided tour. You will surely be able to enjoy wonderful cycling.
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