Updated: March 21, 2023

Kaizu-Osaki is deservedly one of Japan’s 100 Famous Cherry Blossom Spots (さくら名所100選 according to the Japan Cherry Blossom Association). During the first half of April, four kilometers of cherry blossoms bloom along this lakeshore in northern Lake Biwa in Takashima. On sunny days, it’s quite spectacular with the cherry blossoms against the blue lake and blue sky with Chikubushima island in the background.

Renting a bicycle at Makino Station and cycling to Kaizu-Osaki is one way to see the flowers. Walking is also possible for people who don’t mind walking at least 40 min. from Makino Station.

Note that during the peak bloom period in mid-April, the traffic along the northern lakeshore road is horrendous. Watch out for the cars since much of the lakeshore does not have a walking path. Tunnels are also narrow. Use a flashlight or turn on your smartphone when walking or bicycling in the tunnels.

Another recommended alternative is to go on a sakura cruise from Nagahama Port (for people coming from Maibara, Nagoya, Fukui, etc.), Hikone Port, or Imazu Port (for people coming from Otsu/Kyoto).

In mid-April 2017, I went on Biwako Kisen’s “Sakura Cruise” from Imazu Port for the first time on board the megumi trimaran (triple hulled for stable ride). It was only one of many “sakura cruises” or “sakura hanami boats” that swarm the area during the cherry blossom season. (“Sakura” means cherry blossoms.)

Cruise operators Biwako Kisen (琵琶湖汽船) and Ohmi Marine (オーミマリン) both offer sakura cherry blossom cruises to Kaizu-Osaki from late March to mid-April. Biwako Kisen has boats departing Imazu Port and Nagahama Port, while Ohmi Marine has boats going from Hikone Port and Makino Dock.

Both cruise companies have three or four cherry blossom boat cruises daily from mid-morning until mid-afternoon, and they may schedule extra boats on peak weekends. The fare is around ¥3,600. I highly recommend going on a cruise that also docks at Kaizu-Osaki Port where you can get off the boat and walk around Kaizu-Osaki for 30 or 40 min. before returning to the boat. Otherwise, other boats just cruise along Kaizu-Osaki without docking. Note that if the water is rough on windy days, the boat might not be able to dock.

From Imazu Port, the cruise that includes 30-min. docking at Kaizu-Osaki takes about 90 min. round trip. From Nagahama Port and Hikone Port, it takes about 2.5 hours.

For the current (2023) cruise schedules and fares, see Biwako Kisen website here. In 2023, sakura cruises from Nagahama and Imazu offered until April 16, 2023. (No English)

The Ohmi Marine website is here. In 2023, sakura cruises from Hikone offered until April 9, 2023. (No English)

Although you can make reservations, the boats are quite large and I don’t think they ever get full. So you should be able to board without reservations. Make reservations if you are coming in a large group or if you want to order food (bento) too. I was lucky to see the sakura in full bloom on a sunny afternoon. Here are some photos.

More photos of Kaizu-Osaki here.

Also see Shiga’s Top Cherry Blossom Spots.