BIWAKO - The Shaman's Lake (travel)

Lake Biwa (琵琶湖, Biwa-ko), formerly known as Ōmi (淡海, ) Lake, is the largest freshwater lake in Japan, located in Shiga Prefecture (west-central Honshū), northeast of the former capital city of Kyoto. Because of its proximity to the ancient capital, references to Lake Biwa appear frequently in Japanese literature, particularly in poetry and in historical accounts of battles.

The area of this lake is about 670 km², which is larger than Awaji Island. Small rivers drain from the surrounding mountains into Lake Biwa, which serves as a reservoir for the cities of Kyoto and Ōtsu and is a valuable resource for nearby textile industries. It provides drinking water for about 15 million people in the region. Lake Biwa is a breeding ground for freshwater fish, including trout, and for the pearl culture industry.

The lake's surface rises as much as three metres in spring due to melting snow and spring rains, and in autumn after typhoon rains.

Its main outlet is the Seta River, which later becomes the Yodo River and flows into the Pacific Ocean at Osaka Bay near the said city.

The Lake Biwa Canal, built in the late 1890's and later expanded during the Taisho Period played a role of great importance in the rekindling of Kyoto's industrial life, after a steep decline following the transfer of the capital to Tokyo.

Lake Biwa is home to many popular beaches along the southwestern shore, in particular, for example, Shiga Beach and Omi Maiko. The Mizunomori Water Botanical Garden is also of interest