{"id":7521,"date":"2022-01-08T12:45:50","date_gmt":"2022-01-08T03:45:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/shiga-ken.com\/blog\/?p=7521"},"modified":"2023-11-08T12:34:18","modified_gmt":"2023-11-08T03:34:18","slug":"snow-cruise-on-lake-biwa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/shiga-ken.com\/blog\/2022\/01\/snow-cruise-on-lake-biwa\/","title":{"rendered":"Snow Cruise on Lake Biwa"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\"mt
Mt. Ibuki<\/a><\/strong> (\u4f0a\u5439\u5c71) from Lake Biwa in winter. Shiga’s highest mountain (1,377 m) and one of Japan’s 100 Famous Mountains.
Post updated: Jan. 12, 2022<\/em><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Besides skiing, what else can we do in Shiga in winter? Let me suggest a snow cruise on Lake Biwa<\/strong><\/a>. After a snowfall, the snowy mountains around Lake Biwa are very scenic on sunny days, especially up north. I enjoyed it in late January 2021.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just ride one of the regular boats going to Chikubushima<\/a><\/strong> island from Hikone<\/a>, Nagahama<\/a>, <\/strong>or Imazu Port<\/a>.<\/strong> The 30-minute winter cruise (one-way) is enough time to see the alpine snowscapes from the lake. The boat is warm and roomy with comfortable seats and large picture windows. Very relaxing. The boat even plays Biwako Shuko no Uta<\/a><\/em> (Lake Biwa Rowing Song) as part of its narration about the lake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can either go on a round trip cruise from Hikone\/Nagahama\/Imazu to Chikubushima or traverse the lake from Nagahama (east shore) to Imazu (west shore) via Chikubushima (or vice versa). I recommend the latter if you have the time. Then you can see most all of the northern mountains in snow. That’s what I did.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Boat cruise company Biwako Kisen<\/a><\/em><\/strong> (\u7435\u7436\u6e56\u6c7d\u8239) operates boats from Nagahama and Imazu Ports to Chikubushima, while Omi Marine<\/a><\/em><\/strong> (\u30aa\u30fc\u30df\u30de\u30ea\u30f3) operates from Hikone Port. Reservations are not required. Just buy the ticket at the port and sit anywhere in the boat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For people in Otsu<\/a><\/strong> or for people who want to cruise longer than 30 or 40 minutes, Biwako Kisen also offers a snow cruise in February from Otsu Port<\/strong> to Nagahama, taking 2 hours and 20 min. The highlight is the southwestern mountains such as Mt. Hiei<\/a> and the Hira Mountains. Reservations required (details below).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Be aware that during the winter months, there are fewer boat runs and they may operate only on the weekends and national holidays. The boat cruise schedule is also different (more frequent) during the year-end and New Year’s period (around Dec. 25 to Jan. 3) when people want to worship at Chikubushima. Be sure to check the boat schedule (links below) before you go. It can be complicated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Combining a snow cruise with a visit to a place you’ve never been to would be ideal. Chikubushima<\/strong> is a must-see. If you’ve already been to Chikubushima, but only before March 2020, then you should definitely visit again. The island’s Hogonji Temple<\/strong> and Karamon Gate<\/strong><\/strong> have been beautifully renovated and restored to their original splendor. They are National Treasures. (See photos below.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wearing a mask is required, and the boat is usually not so crowded.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Mountains in Nagahama as seen from Lake Biwa.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Nagahama Port<\/a><\/strong> <—> Chikubushima<\/strong> Round Trip Winter Cruise<\/strong>
From Nagahama Port during winter 2022 (Jan. 4 to March 4, 2022), boats depart daily at 10:10 am and 12:50 pm, arriving Chikubushima 30 min. later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can then spend 85 min. on Chikubushima. The return boat leaves at 12:05 pm and 2:40 pm and arrives Nagahama 30 min. later. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Roundtrip fare is \u00a53,130 for adults, \u00a52,500 for high school and older students, and \u00a51,570 for elementary school children.
More info (English): https:\/\/www.biwakokisen.co.jp\/en\/chikubushima_en_3.html<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hikone Port<\/a><\/strong> <—> Chikubushima<\/strong> Round Trip Winter Cruise<\/strong>
From Hikone Port on weekends and national holidays in winter until Feb. 28, 2022 (also Jan. 1st\u20135th), boats go to Chikubushima at 9:00 am, 10:00 am, 12 noon, and 2:00 pm. It takes 40 to 45 min. to Chikubushima. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The return boat leaves Chikubushima at 11 am, 12 noon, 1:55 pm, and 3:50 pm and arrives Hikone Port 40 min. later. Roundtrip boat fare is \u00a53,000 for adults, \u00a52,400 for jr. high school and older students, and \u00a51,500 for elementary school children.
There are also shuttle buses from JR Hikone Station to Hikone Port when the boats operate.
More info (in Japanese): https:\/\/www.ohmitetudo.co.jp\/marine\/time-table_hikone-chikubushima-hikone_normal\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Imazu Port<\/a><\/strong> <—> Chikubushima<\/strong> Round Trip Winter Cruise<\/strong>
From Imazu Port on weekends and national holidays during winter 2022 (Jan. 4 to March 4, 2022), boats leave at 10:40 am and 1:10 pm, arriving Chikubushima 25 min. later. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can then spend 85 min. or 75 min. on Chikubushima. The return boat leaves at 12:30 pm and 2:50 pm and arrives Imazu 30 min. later. Roundtrip fare is \u00a52,640 for adults, \u00a52,120 for high school and older students, and \u00a51,320 for elementary school children.
More info (English): https:\/\/www.biwakokisen.co.jp\/en\/chikubushima_en_2.html<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nagahama Port<\/a><\/strong> <—> Chikubushima<\/strong> <—> Imazu Port<\/strong> Round Trip Winter Cruise<\/strong> (Biwako Traverse Route)
If you want to cross the lake between Nagahama and Imazu in winter, you have to do it on a weekend or national holiday when boats run from\/to Imazu Port. For example, you can leave Nagahama Port at 10:10 am, arrive Chikubushima at 10:40 am, leave Chikubushima at 12:30 pm, and arrive Imazu Port at 1:00 pm. Boat fare is \u00a52,880 for adults.
More info (English): https:\/\/www.biwakokisen.co.jp\/en\/chikubushima_en_4.html<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n

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Snow cruise from Otsu Port passes by the Hira Mountains and Biwako Ohashi Bridge (right). Little snow even in early February when this photo was taken.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Otsu Port<\/a> <—> Nagahama Port<\/a><\/strong> Snow Cruise <\/strong>(Yukimi-sen Cruise<\/strong><\/em> \u96ea\u898b\u8239\u30af\u30eb\u30fc\u30ba)
For people in Otsu, Biwako Kisen also offers a Snow-Viewing (Yukimi<\/em>) Cruise between Otsu<\/a><\/strong> and Nagahama Ports on weekends, Mondays, and national holidays during Jan. 29 to February 28, 2022. The highlight would be the southern\/western mountains such as Mt. Hiei and the Hira Mountains<\/strong> if there’s snow. The cruise is 2 hours and 20 min. long, and it will also pass by Ukimido Floating Temple<\/a>, Biwako Ohashi Bridge, Okinoshima island, and Shirahige Shrine<\/a> (torii in the water). It does not stop at Chikubushima.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The boat leaves Otsu Port at 10 am and arrives Nagahama at 12:20 pm. From Nagahama Port, it leaves at 2 pm and arrives Otsu Port at 4:50 pm. The boat may also stop at Otsu Prince Hotel (Niono-hama Port) and Ogoto Onsen Port if there are passengers requesting a stop. No eating and drinking alcoholic beverages on the boat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reservations required and if they don’t have at least 15 passengers, the cruise will be canceled. One-way cruise fare is \u00a53,500 for adults and \u00a51,750 for elementary school children. Round trip from Otsu will be \u00a55,000 and \u00a52,500 respectively. (FYI, return train fare from Nagahama to Otsu is \u00a51,170 and the train ride takes a little over an hour.)
More info (in Japanese): https:\/\/www.biwakokisen.co.jp\/season_event\/115\/https:\/\/www.biwakokisen.co.jp\/season_event\/115\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"Nagahama\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"inside\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n
Nagahama Port<\/a> (\u9577\u6d5c\u6e2f) outside and inside. Inside, there is a waiting room and ticket office. The boat is right outside this building.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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\"At\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Well-heated\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n
At Nagahama Port, boat named “Benten” goes to Chikubushima. Well-heated and roomy boat interior with large windows. Sit anywhere you want. Front row is great.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n
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\"Biwako
Biwako Kisen boat ticket for Nagahama to Imazu with a stop on Chikubushima. Only \u00a52,880.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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\"Lake
Lake Biwa snow cruise from Nagahama to Chikubushima. Mt. Ibuki seen on the right.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
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\"Approaching\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Mt.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n
Left: Approaching Chikubushima. Snow had mostly melted. Right: Mt. Ibuki as seen from
Chikubushima.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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\"\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Biwako\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n
Left: Get off the boat and behold a steep hillside. Karamon Gate can be seen on the upper right.

Right: Biwako Shuko no Uta<\/em> (Lake Biwa Rowing Song) monument for Verse 4 mentioning Chikubushima.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n
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\"Chikubushima
After arriving, be sure to check and remember your boat’s departure time. Near the dock is this departure time signboard (for winter).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
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\"Karamon\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Karamon\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n
Before and after photos of Karamon Gate (National Treasure) on Chikubushima. Magnificently restored (including the roof) after six years of meticulous work completed in March 2020. From the Momoyama Period (late 16th century). This gate was originally at the entrance of Gokuraku Bridge at Osaka Castle.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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\"\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n
Before and after photos inside Hogonji Temple’s Kannon-do worship hall (\u5b9d\u53b3\u5bfa \u89b3\u97f3\u5802). The wooden pillars that used to be covered with pilgrim name stickers are now all gone. Pillars totally re-lacquered. More photos of Hogonji here.<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n
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Map of Hogonji Temple<\/strong>. All within walking distance. Not wheelchair accessible.
1. Chikubushima: Boat dock, 2. Lake Biwa Rowing Song monument, 3. Souvenir shops, 4. Admission ticket gate (also restrooms), 5. *Tsukubusuma Shrine, 6. Haiden Hall, 7. Funa-roka boat corridor, 8. *Karamon Gate, 9. Benzaiten-do Hall, 10. Three-Story Pagoda, 11. Rest house. *National Treasure.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
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\"\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n
Left: At Chikubushima Port, boat on the left is “Benten” that goes to Nagahama Port. On the right is Omi Marine’s red boat named “Naomasa” (after famous local samurai Ii Naomasa) goes to Hikone Port.

Right: Snowscapes on the way to Imazu.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n
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\"On
On the mountain top is Biwako Hakodateyama ski grounds near Imazu. \u3073\u308f\u3053\u7bb1\u9928\u5c71<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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\"Approaching
Approaching Imazu (Takashima) in winter.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
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\"\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n
Biwako Kisen boat “Interlaken” at Imazu Port<\/a> serving Chikubushima.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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\"\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n
Left: Leaving the dock to enter the Imazu Port building. Notice the
Biwako Shuko no Uta<\/em> (Lake Biwa Rowing Song) song monument on the right.
Right: Biwako Shuko no Uta<\/em> song monument at Imazu Port. Mt. Ibuki is in the background.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n
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\"Imazu
Imazu Port<\/a>, completely rebuilt, opened on March 22, 2020. Nice, single-story wooden building designed to repel snow. No restaurant like in the old two-story building. https:\/\/www.biwakokisen.co.jp\/blog\/7203\/<\/a> \u4eca\u6d25\u6e2f<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
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\"Inside\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Inside\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n
Inside the new Imazu Port building. On the left is the waiting room and on the right is the ticket office. The wood is from Shiga.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Getting There<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\u30fbNagahama Port<\/a><\/strong> is a 15-min. walk from JR Nagahama Station<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u30fbImazu Port<\/a><\/strong> is a short walk from JR Omi-Imazu Station<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u30fbHikone Port<\/a><\/strong> might be too far to walk from JR Hikone Station<\/a>. So there is a shuttle bus from the station when boats operate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u30fbOtsu Port<\/a><\/strong> is near Biwako Hama-Otsu Station<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also see:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

More photos: <\/strong>200+ photos of Chikubushima, Hogonji Temple, and snow cruise<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Folk tale:<\/strong> The Birth of Chikubushima<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sakura Cherry Blossom Cruise<\/strong> (April) from Imazu Port to Kaizu-Osaki: https:\/\/shiga-ken.com\/blog\/2017\/04\/sakura-cruises-to-kaizu-osaki\/<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Besides skiing, what else can we do in Shiga in winter? Let me suggest a snow cruise on Lake Biwa. After a snowfall, the snowy mountains around Lake Biwa are very scenic on sunny days, especially up north. I enjoyed… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":7485,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10,18,21,25],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7521","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-biwako","category-nagahama","category-otsu","category-takashima"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/shiga-ken.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7521","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/shiga-ken.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/shiga-ken.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shiga-ken.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shiga-ken.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7521"}],"version-history":[{"count":29,"href":"https:\/\/shiga-ken.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7521\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8862,"href":"https:\/\/shiga-ken.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7521\/revisions\/8862"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shiga-ken.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7485"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/shiga-ken.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7521"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shiga-ken.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7521"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shiga-ken.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7521"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}