Biwaichi, literally ‘once around Biwa’, is one of Japan’s great cycling pilgrimages: a full lap of Lake Biwa’s shoreline, roughly 200 kilometres on the classic route, designated a National Cycle Route and marked throughout with the blue arrows and distance countdowns that make it navigable without a map. The mostly flat course rolls past lakeside torii, pine beaches, reed marshes and mountain backdrops, with the quieter, more scenic northern half often ridden alone as a 150 km ‘short lap’. Riders tackle it in anything from a single long day to a relaxed two- or three-day tour with lakeside inns, and rental bikes and luggage-forwarding make it easy for visitors.
🗓️ At a Glance
| Location | Around Lake Biwa (hub: Otsu/Maibara) |
| Hours | Daytime riding; multi-day itineraries |
| Admission | Free route; rental bikes ~¥3,000–6,000/day |
| Time needed | 1–3 days |
| Best time | Spring and autumn for mild riding |
What to Do
- The full ~200 km loop or the scenic 150 km northern short lap.
- Blue-arrow National Cycle Route signage, ridable without a map.
- Lakeside torii, pine beaches, reed marshes and mountains en route.
- Rental bikes and luggage-forwarding for one- to three-day tours.
Combine Your Visit
- Combine stops at Shirahige Shrine and Metasequoia Avenue .
- Pair with Lake Biwa sights along the shore.
- Read our Shiga overview .
Getting There
- Hubs: rental and start points at Otsu, Maibara and Nagahama, all on JR lines.
- Trains: JR rings the lake, so you can bail out or shortcut by rail anytime.
Tips
Ride the loop anticlockwise so you’re on the lake side of the road for the best views and easiest stops, and if time is short do just the northern short lap, which holds the quietest roads and finest scenery. The genius of Biwaichi for visitors is the railway shadowing the whole shore: you can start, stop or shortcut by JR at almost any point, making even a half-day taste easy.
