It’s no surprise that Japan’s biggest freshwater lake offers some great opportunities for water-sports. You’ll be thankful for this when the Japanese summer hits and everyone is praying for an escape from the heat and humidity. 
Popular activities include windsurfing, fishing, kayaking, and paddle boarding. BSC Watersports in Otsu offers all of these activities at decent prices. If you’re looking for a more relaxing experience, try hopping on the Michigan Cruise paddle steamer for a sightseeing cruise featuring food, drink, and shows. The boat departs roughly every 90 minutes from Otsu port.
Also worth checking out are the islands in the lake. Okishima is home to a small fishing community of around 300 people, and an even bigger population of cats! Chikubu Island is home to Hogonji temple, which offers some outstanding picture opportunities on a sunny day.
Most towns around the lake have ports, with boats leaving for the various islands and towns regularly. However, you should consider heading to Otsu first, as it has the best-connected and busiest port. 
Don’t leave the lake area without trying funazushi, the oldest type of sushi in Japan which is nothing like its modern incarnations. Instead of fresh fish and rice, this is a famously pungent dish made from fermented crucian carp from Lake Biwa and its tributaries.

日本最大的淡水湖为水上运动提供了许多绝佳的机会，这一点也不足为奇。当日本的夏天来临，每个人都在祈求逃离炎热和潮湿的环境时，您就会对此心存感激了。 
最受欢迎的活动包括帆板、钓鱼、皮划艇和桨板冲浪。大津的 BSC Watersports 以合理的价格提供所有这些活动。如果您想体验更轻松的活动，可以尝试乘坐密歇根游轮（Michigan Cruise），在观光游轮上品尝美食、饮料和观看表演。这艘船大约每 90 分钟从大津港出发一次。
湖中的岛屿也值得一看。冲岛是一个约有 300 人的小渔村，猫的数量更多！筑部岛（Chikubu Island）上有一座法源寺，在阳光明媚的日子里，这里可以为您提供绝佳的拍照机会。
湖边的大多数城镇都有港口，定期有船只开往各个岛屿和城镇。不过，您应该首先考虑前往大津，因为那里有交通最便利、最繁忙的港口。 
离开湖区之前，一定要品尝一下日本最古老的寿司--"寿司（funazushi）"。这种寿司不是新鲜的鱼和米饭，而是用琵琶湖及其支流中的鲫鱼发酵制成的一道著名的辛辣菜肴。

滋贺县的主要湖泊既有惊心动魄的刺激，也有游船的愉悦，还有很多美食和历史爱好者可以满足！                           

琵琶湖美食体验与餐厅 | byFood

琵琶湖 

这个日本最大的淡水湖面积广阔，种类繁多，有水上运动、风景优美的游船和奇妙的传统文化。 

The lake which dominates Shiga Prefecture has high-octane thrills and pleasure cruise chills, with plenty to satisfy foodies and history buffs too!                           

Lake Biwa Food Experiences & Restaurants | byFood

Lake Biwa 

Located just a short trip from the popular tourist city of Kyoto, Shiga Prefecture is a unique part of Japan which offers something incredible in every season – be it skiing at Biwako Valley Resort in winter, cherry blossom viewing in spring, witnessing bizarre fire festivals in summer, or viewing gorgeous foliage in autumn.

The enormous freshwater lake which dominates this prefecture – Lake Biwa, Japan’s largest – makes the region an ideal place for nature lovers, and the wealth of historic sites which surround it offer plenty for fans of culture and tradition.

Among the best is the floating torii gate of Shirahige Shrine on the west bank, the national treasure Hikone Castle on the east, and 1260-year-old Ishayama Dera Temple on the south. A circuit around the vibrant towns and cities on the perimeter of this formidable body of water is a crash course in all things Japanese. 

And while you’ll be well familiar with Japanese seafood, you might be surprised to discover a wealth of new dishes based on the freshwater catches which abound in this region. You’ll even get the chance to try Japanese sushi in its most original (and pungent) form: funazushi.

Shiga has more to offer than just the lake, however. Head into the mountains and you’ll find charming traditional inns, world-class art museums, and two temples once occupied by warring sects of Buddhist monks — Miidera and Enryakuji.

Excellent transport links mean that the majority of Shiga is easily accessible from the popular tourist destinations of Kyoto and Osaka. Here’s our pick of the best sights to help you get the most out of your time in this incredible corner of Japan.

滋贺县距离著名旅游城市京都只有很短的路程，是日本独一无二的地区，每个季节都有令人难以置信的活动--无论是冬季在琵琶湖溪谷度假村滑雪、春季赏樱花、夏季观赏奇异的火祭，还是秋季观赏绚丽的红叶。

琵琶湖是日本最大的淡水湖，是该县的主要景点，也是自然爱好者的理想去处。

其中最值得一看的是西岸白姬神社的浮动鸟居、东边的国宝彦根城和南边拥有 1260 年历史的石山寺。环游这片巨大水域周边充满活力的城镇，是了解日本一切的速成课程。 

虽然您对日本的海鲜已经非常熟悉，但您可能会惊讶地发现，在这一地区，以淡水渔获为基础的新菜肴比比皆是。您甚至还有机会品尝到最原始（也最刺激）的日本寿司：风寿司。

不过，滋贺的魅力远不止于湖泊。往山里走，您会发现迷人的传统旅馆、世界一流的艺术博物馆和两座曾被佛教僧侣交战教派占据的寺庙--三井寺和延历寺。

由于交通便利，从京都和大阪等著名旅游胜地前往滋贺县大部分地区都很方便。以下是我们为您精选的最佳景点，帮助您在日本这个令人难以置信的角落度过最美好的时光。

原始的节庆活动、历史悠久的寿司以及日本最大淡水湖的所有好处--滋贺县是消夏的绝佳去处。            

发现滋贺 by美食 | 餐厅, 体验, 旅游攻略

滋贺

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该县以日本最大的湖泊为中心，湖畔文化丰富，淡水鱼的品质也堪称全国一流。

Primal festivals, historic sushi, and all the benefits of Japan’s biggest freshwater lake — Shiga Prefecture is a perfect place to spend the summer.            

Discover Shiga byFood | Restaurants, Experiences, Travel Tips

Shiga

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Dominated by Japan’s largest lake, this prefecture offers a wealth of culture around its shores, as well as some of the best freshwater fish in the country.

The biggest freshwater lake in Japan is as vast as it is varied, with water sports, scenic cruises, and fantastic traditional culture. 

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NOT SURE WHERE TO GO?

The archipelago of Japan consists of four main islands, eight regions of Japan, and a total of 47 prefectures between them, each with their own diverse traditions, culture, food, and history. Hokkaido is the main northern island, followed by Honshu (home to Tohoku, Kanto, Chubu, Kansai, and Chugoku), Shikoku, Kyushu, and the Okinawa islands to the southwest.

Discover the unique offerings of each region by checking out the Japan areas above, like the coastal prefecture of Shizuoka (home to hot springs, Mt. Fuji, and a booming agricultural industry) and Nara Prefecture (which boasts eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites). While Japan might be perceived as a tiny country (the archipelago is smaller than the state of California), the nation is diverse in climate and culture. Each area of Japan has its own staple produce and regional Japanese cuisine.

Not only can you explore the popular destinations of Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto, but there are also a variety of other areas in Japan ranging from adventurous spots for daredevils to super-rural areas where visitors can connect with the land and people. From climbing Mt. Fuji in Shizuoka to indulging in matcha tea in Uji to enjoying island life in Okinawa (considered to be Japan’s Hawaii), these Japan areas each offer diverse experiences and ample opportunity for exploration. To make your Japan travel planning a little easier, browse these area pages where you can discover Japan tourist attractions, Japanese food experiences, and more!

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Delve into Japanese food culture, discovering the distinctive and diverse range of Japanese dishes which are sometimes sophisticated, sometimes hearty and comforting, but always delicious. These Japanese foods offer a window into the world of “washoku” (Japanese cuisine), which made UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage List in 2013.	


There’s worldwide appreciation for Japanese food, with Tokyo boasting the world’s highest number of Michelin-starred restaurants for the 12th year in a row in 2019. Not only is Japan home to some of the best chefs and restaurants in the world, but the Japanese cuisine (“washoku”) is also celebrated as one of UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritages. The main staples of Japanese food include rice (in various forms from steamed white rice to mochi), soy products (tofu, soy sauce, miso soup, natto), fish (sashimi, bonito flakes, grilled salmon), seaweed (kombu, nori, wakame), noodles (soba, udon, ramen), and tsukemono (Japanese pickles). Different regions of Japan also have their own specialty foods. Osaka, considered “The Nation’s Kitchen” is the birthplace of takoyaki, Kyoto is famous for tofu and yuba, and Okinawa is known for goya champuru (bittermelon stir fry). Many regions in Japan have their own special twists on dishes like Japanese ramen, nabe (hot pot), and ozoni (mochi soup eaten on New Year’s Day). Explore the Japanese foods above and learn about the diversity of Japanese cuisine, then perhaps you can join a food experience and learn to make Japanese food during a cooking class, become an expert on Japanese sake or tea during a tasting experience, or discover your new favorite type of ramen during a ramen tour. The landscape of Japanese food is evolving, so eating in Japan is always an adventure, with restaurants and chefs riffing on traditional and modern foods, Eastern and Western cooking styles and flavors, and creating inventive eats like chocolate ramen, matcha beer, or ridiculously pillowy Japanese pancakes. Discover your new favorite Japanese food here on byFood and delve deeper into Japanese food culture.

Lake Biwa Travel Guide