Beach & Waterfront · Lake Biwa (Otsu)
Omi-Maiko Beach (Lake Biwa) 近江舞子水泳場
A white-sand, pine-lined lake beach on Lake Biwas west shore, 40 minutes from Kyoto, with clear fresh water, beach huts in summer and the Hira mountains behind.
About
Omi-Maiko on the west shore of Lake Biwa is one of the "Eight Views of Lake Biwa", a long strand of white sand backed by an old pine forest. In summer (July to September) it becomes the most popular lake swimming beach near Kyoto, with lifeguards and beach huts, and the freshwater means no salt and no jellyfish. The Hira mountains rise behind the shore, and the sunrise over the lake is lovely. The JR Kosei Line drops you five minutes from the sand.
Highlights
- White sand and pine forest on the shore of Lake Biwa
- Freshwater swimming with no salt or jellyfish
- Hira mountains as a backdrop
- Summer beach huts and lifeguards (July to September)
- Sunrise over Japans largest lake
Tips
- JR Kosei Line from Kyoto Station to Omi-Maiko takes about 40 minutes.
- Parking fills up by midday on summer weekends; take the train.
- Swimming season usually runs from July 1 to around the end of September.
- Combine with Shirahige Shrines lake torii a few stops north.
Open in Google Maps · Info checked 2026-10-09
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