Wetland in Omihachiman Omi-shiotsu By public transport Kanazawa Access to Shiga 303 303 8 from Tokyo 60 min. 161 Kinomoto Airport Bus 8min Obama Hokuriku from Fukuoka 60 min. Hokuriku Kinomoto Expressway ２ 27 JR Hokuriku 揖斐 55min. Gifu Pref. Osaka Airport (Itami) Shinkansen Main Line 148min. JR Tokaido Main Line 303 Osaka Express1 161 Otsu 42 Express112min Cycling Map Fukui pref. 9 Maibara Shiga Nozomi 29min. min. min. Nozomi

303 Tokyo

365 Hikari 99 Hakata Prefecture Omi-imazu 98 Okayama 8 Nagahama Sekigahara min. Nozomi 62min. Hikari21min. 25min. min. Nagahama 367 Shinkansen of Adogawa Maihara Express 75min. Airport Bus 60min. Maibara Lake Biwa Kansai International Airport Central Japan International Airport from Tokyo75min. from Sapporo 100min. Let’s cycle around Lake Biwa! Hikone Hikone from Fukuoka 60min. from Fukuoka 75min. Nagano 162 Omi-maiko Tagataisha-mae Toyama JR By car Nagano Expressway 306 Shiga 78.1km Chugoku Expressway

Bypass Tsuyama Sanda

Notogawa Kobe Okaya 477 Hokuriku Nishi-otsu 185.8 Takaido Dawn Redwoods (Takashima) Cherry Blossoms on Kaizu-osaki Point (Takashima) 161 Expressway 233.4 477 JR 114.0 km km Omihachiman km way Express- Chuo Kyoto Pref. Katata Shiga Pref. Meishin Yokaichi 36.7km Expressway

477 Nishinomiya 172.8.km Setahigashi Maihara tanakami Kusatsu

Hieizan- Komaki Tokyo Tomei History everywhere … 21.4 40.3 Otsu History everywhere … Keihan Sakamoto Yasu 8 JR Tokaido Shinkansen 421 Express- Ishiyama 477 km km way Tinged with seasonal Moriyama Travel to sites with long histories and Sakamoto JR 307 8.3 5.2 57.8 58.7 346.7 Line Kusatsu km km km km km Airport International Central Japan Airport International Kansai splendor throughout the year … Otsukyo Kameyama splendor throughout the year … Yamashina Otsu 70.0km

discover how generals lived in Japan’s Kyoto 1 477 Ogura Shin-meishin 9 Otsu Kusatsu JCT Keiji bypass Expressway Cycle amidst a wondrous natural landscape of Kyoto-minami Mie Pref. 86.8 century of civil war. 171 Seta-higashi JCT Kibukawa 87.3km 19.3km 49.7km Keihan Keishin Line km mountains, rivers and lakes. 1 Welcome to Shiga Hikone Castle (Hikone)

Rapeseed Fields in Nagisa Park (Moriyama) ‘The Wind Serenades You and the Waves Entice You’ Proud Location of Japan’s Biggest Lake BIWAICHI Cycle Support Station Imagine blue skies and forested mountains reflecting off a Field service for those who enjoy riding around Lake Biwa. ビ ワ イチ サ イク ル ス テ ー シ ョ ン The aid stations provide bike pump rentals and lake. Then, picture yourself on a bicycle Pedaling around its BIWAICHI restrooms for cyclists. CYCLE shores. Biwaichi offers a great way to take in Lake Biwa with all STATION About 130 amenities (convenience stores, roadside stations, restaurants, cafés, hotels, etc.) in Shiga. 5 senses and come out feeling elated, fulfilled and rewarded. サ イク ル ト イ レ ラック 空 気 入 れ Contents for basic support. Nagisa Park (Otsu) 工具 There is so much for you to discover, learn and relish about 給 水 休 憩所 This banner is

レン タ 自 転車 宅配 Shiga Prefecture. Do it on a bicycle! Ride Biwaichi! サ イク ル 手荷物 宅 配 a symbol for Hiyoshi-taisha Shrine (Otsu) aid stations! チュ ー ブ 自転 車 用 品 販売 観 光 情報 Bike tools 販売 Restrooms and pumps Example / Sajo-towson (Otsu)

Cultural immersion … Bicycle Insurance Required Biwako Free Wi-Fi in Shiga Prefecture Encounter a contemplative way of Epicurean delights to try … In Shiga Prefecture you can use life and faith nurtured by nature. Tickle your palate on freshwater fish, Omi By prefectural ordinance, anyone who wants to ride Biwako Free Wi-Fi. This icon is a bicycle in Shiga Prefecture must have ‘private or Beef and endless sweets you’ll only find displayed where Biwako Free Wi-Fi is group insurance that covers all accidents related to available. Methods of connecting may Architectural work of on the shores of Lake Biwa. bicycle use’. Before setting out on your trip, check William Merrell Vories(Omihachiman) vary depending upon the location of whether you have insurance or not and the use. Please check this website for Otsu Festival (Otsu) coverage provided by your policy. Insurance is more information. included in rental rates at some locations. For URL https://biwako-wifi-info.jp/about?locale=en details, contact the rental bicycle location.

Seta-no-karahashi Bridge (Otsu)

Cycling Map of Shiga Prefecture - Let's cycle around Lake Biwa! March 2017 [For more information] Shiga Prefecture, Tourism and Exchange Bureau, Office for Promotion of BIWAICHI 4-1-1 Kyomachi, Otsu-city, Shiga Pref. 520-8577, Japan Mail [email protected] (Japanese and English support provided) Sukiyaki of Omi Beef Feasting on local freshwater fish The information on this map is valid as of March 2017. This map was printed on 70% recycled paper with But, information can change, so check up on things before setting out on your bike ride. vegetable oil ink using a system driven by wind power. Shiga Prefecture ‘Biwaichi’（ビワイチ） is the code word for circling the entire perimeter of Japan’s largest lake, Lake Biwa. It is particularly used in reference to circling the lake on a bicycle. Offshore Torii of Shirahige-jinja Shrine (Takashima)

Rental Bicycle locations in Shiga Prefecture (As of March 2017)

Facts & Tips for Cycling around Lake Biwa * Business hours, rates, usable area, return policy and other conditions of use differ by location. For details, contact the rental Bicycle location. The coordinates in the MAP column indicate locations on the maps on the backside of this pamphlet.The mark before the coordinates One lap around Lake Biwa is about 200 km. Seasoned riders can cover this distance in one day, but we indicates which map to use. (O): Otsu enlarged view, (K): Katata enlarged view, (H): Hikone enlarged view, (N): Nagahama enlarged view Locations indicated in this color carry sports bicycles for long-distance cycling. recommend you take 2 or 3 days and do some sightseeing and try the local food along the way. Riding style Check your bike out before riding Name MAP Name MAP You can also do just the northern half of the lake, which is about a 150 km ride, or the southern half of the To ensure safe riding, check the following before heading out on your ride. If you do not feel capable of You should know how to ride long distances without straining yourself, as well as the basics of riding a bicycle. checking you bike properly, consult a bicycle shop, etc. Katata Tourism Association (Kozoku-no-sato Museum) □K D11 Kokka Shop K11 lake, which is about a 50 km ride, or you can combine biking and ferry rides. Outdoor Sports Club O’PAL (Biwako O’PAL) □O D11 Michi-no-Eki Aito Marguerite Station M11 The lake should be circled in the counterclockwise direction. So, since bicycles must be ridden on the left Tires Lights Using the proper gear Replenishing your energy Ogoto Onsen Kanko Park □O D11 Plaza Sanpoh-yoshi Tourist Information Center K10 Check that your tires are properly inflated and not Make sure that your front lights are sufficiently bright. The best gear for riding long distances is that which makes it slightly Unless you eat something, you might run out of energy and find Sakamoto Tourism Association □O C12 Ohmi Railway Gokasho Station K10 side of the road like cars in Japan, the lake will be on your left. This puts you that much closer to the shore scratched, damaged or deformed in any way. Also, spin (When riding through tunnels, you are required to turn easy to Pedal. Switch gears as often as needed when climbing slopes yourself unable to ride. A hearty breakfast before setting out on your Biwako Otsukan □O C12 Crefeel Koto Hotel M10 your tires by hand and check if they are warped. your lights ON. On the rear, it is safer to mount a taillight ride is particularly important. Replenish your energy often as you Biwako Kisen Otsu Port □O C13 Aoki Bicycle Shop J9 or riding into the wind, so that you keep Pedaling at a constant Higashiomi City and makes your ride easier because there are less roads to cross. Otsu Port Parking O C13 Rental Bicycle Shop Tanaka J9 and have it flicker the whole time you are riding, rather ride. And, since there are many great food options along the way, □ Brakes speed. Biwako Hotel O C13 Aisho Town Rental Bicycle Shop Megurinko The best seasons are spring and autumn. In summer, you must watch out for heatstroke. Winter, though Try moving your bike forward and back with the front and □ M10 than rely on reflectors.) why not try some of the local treats! Otsu City Lake Biwa Otsu Prince Hotel O D13 Tourist Information Center Kotoh-sanzan-kan-Aisho Taking breaks □ beautiful in its own way, is not suited for cycling because of the snow accumulation. rear brakes squeezed, and check that the brakes are Bell Nagisa Park Rental Bicycle Shop □O D13 Aisho Town Rental Bicycle Shop Megurinko Rest for 5 - 10 minutes every hour of Pedaling. Longer breaks can be To relieve fatigue K9 Aisho Aisho Town Community House Louvre-Echigawa working properly and are not loose. Also, check that the Check that your bike has a bell and that it actually rings. Stretch a little before riding and massage your muscles during JR Otsu Station Tourist Information Center □O C13 counterproductive. Ekirinkun Ishiyama Shop O D13 Toyosato Town Rental Bicycle Shop Megurinko rubber brake shoes are not worn down and that the brake Position breaks. A good massage at the end of a day’s ride greatly lessens the □ Hotaru-no-sato Ishiyama-dera Tourist Information Center D14 in Former Toyosato Elementary School L9 wires are not damaged in any way. Once your bike clears all of the above checks, check your riding position and posture. Staying hydrated Town fatigue that carries over to the next day. River hill Oishi D15 Toyosato Tourist Information Center Tightness of assembled parts The proper seat height is when, seated with your heels on the pedals, Bicycling causes you to sweat more than you think. It is best to hydrate Fatigue accumulates in the latter half of a trip and can cause you to Ekirinkun Kusatsu Shop E13 Kora Town Rental Bicycle Shop Megurinko Plan your trip out L8 Kora Raise one tire at a time about 10 cm off the ground, then drop the your knees can fully extend. If the ball of your foot cannot touch the yourself constantly rather than waiting till you feel thirsty. hit obstacles you would normally avoid or fall when riding over Michi-no-Eki Kusatsu Green Plaza Karasuma E12 Town Amago Station Community House Plan your trip on an assumed average speed of 12 km/h and include breaks. bike and listen for sounds that might suggest loose parts. Check ground when seated, lower the seat slightly. Karasuma-hanto Rental Bicycle Shop E11 Taga Town Rental Bicycle Shop Megurinko different levels. Therefore, be especially careful. M8 Kinomoto also that the handlebars and seat are aligned straight and tight. At that same height, try grabbing the handlebars and Braking Kusatsu City CAFE INTRO E11 Taga Tourist Information Center For a 2-day 1-night trip The right brake lever is for the front wheel and the left brake lever JR Tehara ekimae Rental Bicycle Shop F12 Taga Town Rental Bicycle Shop Megurinko Chain and gears check that your posture is not unbearable. If too strenuous, M8 Taga Town City Ritto JR Ritto Station East-exit Rental Bicycle Shop F12 Taga-ekimae Tourist Information Center If departing from Otsu, you should consider Beginners who are thinking of 2 days and 1 Check your chain for dirt and grime. It should be for the rear wheel. Braking with just one or the other can cause you you should adjust the position of your handlebars. Ishibe Community House H13 Sazanami Bicycle Shop H somewhere around Kinomoto (approx. 96 km of night, doing just the northern half of the lake to fall. So, brake with both hands. □ lubricated only to the degree that it looks slightly wet. Also, make sure that you can easily operate the brake City Konan Konan City Society of Commerce and Industry H13 Ekirinkun Hikone Shop □H riding) for staying the night. If starting from (150 km around) instead of the full 200 km Also, check that your gears function properly. and gear levers. Traditional Crafts Center of Shigaraki H16 Hikone City Rental Bicycle Shop Megurinko Maibara, somewhere around Omi-maiko round would not be unreasonable, or you North Lake Shigaraki Kohgen Railway Rental Bicycle Shop Hikone-ekimae Cycle Station □H Omi-takashima H16 (approx. 85 km of riding) would be good. might also want to explore the possibilities JR Kibukawa Station Rental Bicycle Shop J14 Hikone City Tsuchikawa Akira Bicycle Shop □H and benefits of a 3-day 2-night journey. Omi-maiko Maibara Traffic rules and etiquette Sugimoto Shop J14 Maibara City Hall M6 Ogawa Shop K15 Biwako Isshu Rental Bicycle (Maibara-eki Cycle Station) M6 For a 3-day 2-night trip We recommend covering a shorter distance on Clothing and carried items Hikone Like cars, bicycles are to be ridden on the left of vehicle roads. Also, you must be considerate of pedestrians. Koka City JR Koka Station Rental Bicycle Shop Samegai Mizu-no-Eki If departing from Otsu, you should consider Bicycling is a sport. Choose clothing that is appropriate for doing sports. Minimize and bundle carried items in K15 O6 the first day and giving yourself plenty of JR Aburahi Station Rental Bicycle Shop L15 Omi-haha-no-sato Community House M6 somewhere around Hikone (65 km) for the first Omihachiman leeway so that you can arrive at your lodging as light and small of a baggage as possible. Michi-no-Eki Ai-no-Tsuchiyama M15 Michi-no-Eki Omi-haha-no-sato M6 night and somewhere around Omi-takashima early. Get as early of a start as possible and Ride on the left of vehicle lanes in Japan! Be courteous to pedestrians and Giant Store Biwako Moriyama □K E10 Maibara City Green Park Santo O5 Helmet (80km) for the second night. If starting from Biwako-ohashi Bridge Eyewear What to bring with you A bicycle is a vehicle of sorts. Under the law, bicycles must be ridden Moriyama City Tourist Rental Bicycle Shop Misaki Park □K E10 Orix Rent a Car Nagahama Station West-exit Shop □N plan out your ride so as to get to your It is wise to wear local residents! For your safety, always Ekirinkun Moriyama Shop F12 Tabichari Center (Nagahama Station West-exit Parking Shop) N Maibara, somewhere around Omi-takashima overnight destination by 17:00, especially if Otsu • Water bottle in the farthest left lane of the roadway. □ wear a helmet. Helmets sunglasses or eyeglasses • Food (Portable supplements) A road is not a race course. People live and work in the area. Be Moriyama-city Tourist Rental Bicycle Shop Moriyama Torahime Community House M4 (75km) would be good for the first night and South Lake Bicycles may be ridden on sidewalks where marked ‘Bicycles F12 travelling between October and April when are also easy for drivers to in order to protect you • Flat tire repair kit appreciative of local residents for allowing Biwaichi to ride through ekimae General Information Center Kawake Station Community House L3 somewhere around Omihachiman (86km) for eyes against the Permitted on Sidewalk’, but pedestrians have the right-of-way. the sun sets earlier in the day. spot. (Spare tube, portable pump and tools) their community. Be sure to reduce your speed when riding through Moriyama City Tourist Rental Bicycle Shop Rise Ville Tsugayama F12 Tourist Information Center L3

sunlight, flying insects, Moriyama City the second night. • Bicycle lock If you encounter pedestrians, slow down and pass Moriyama City Tourist Rental Bicycle Shop Unoke F12 Kinomoto Tourist Information Center L2 kicked-up rocks, etc. villages. • Change of clothes them with safe clearance. If you cannot pass them Moriyama City Tourist Rental Bicycle Shop Ohminchi F11 Yogo Station Community House K2

Torso It will make those who get out of your way happy if you would say Nagahama City Omi-shiotsu Station Community House Wear multiple layers of • Map safely, stop and walk your bike. Do not ring your bell! Yasu City Kyushokai Minamiguchi Cycle Center G12 J2 • Raingear ‘thank you’. Michi-no-Eki Agri Park Ryuo Nagahara Station Community House Koti I2 clothing that you can take Gloves J12 Ryuo Choose a ‘sports bike’ for your ride. • First-aid kit Town Imose-no-sato J12 JR Makino Station Tourist Information Center H3 Bicycle recommendations off or put on when you Gloves dampen the • Other Observe traffic rules! Hino Rental Bicycle Shop Shokien L13 Tourist Information Center in JR Omi-imazu Station G5 feel hot or cold. You will impacts transmitted to (Cash, credit card, smartphone, camera, etc.) Obey signals at intersections. If the traffic light in front of you is Hand signals Hino Rental Bicycle Nishizuka Shop L13 Biwako Takashima Tourism Association G6

be sweating, so we Hino

your hands. They also Town Road bike Mountain bike (Whether riding alone or in a group) Hino Rental Bicycle Shop Hino Town Tourist Association L13 Blue 3196 (Cycle) & Soap F6 recommend ‘dry’ wear be protect hands should red, you cannot proceed forward or turn left. If wanting to turn (Rated ★★★) (Rated ★★☆) Ekirinkun Omihachiman Shop I10 Tourist Information Center in JR Adogawa Station G6 worn against the skin. you fall. right, ride on the left edge of the roadway, first cross the street Since bicycles are not equipped with indicators or brake lights, hand As its name suggest, a mountain bike is Azuchi Rental Bicycle Shop Fukao City Takashima Tourist Information Center in JR Omi-takashima Station A road bike is built for road racing, so it is made to City I10 G7 before you, then, once across, turn to the right and cross the street signals tell drivers and others behind you what your intentions are. Omi- cover long distances at high speeds. However, you built for off-road riding such as on Flat tire repair kit hachiman Azuchi Rental Bicycle Shop Takashima I10 Legs you were just on. Also, say what you are doing at the same time. If you are unable to have to be somewhat used to the thin tires, drop mountain trails. All Biwaichi courses Stretchwear that does not Always come to a full stop at intersections. Bicycles use hand signals, you may just announce your intentions. Riding in a bars and forward-leaning riding posture. More travel on paved surfaces, so the deep inhibit leg motion is a must obey stop signs and roadway indications at group is safer when trailing cyclists verbally acknowledge the recently, manufacturers have come out with many treads typical of mountain bike tires will must. Do not wear stiff Major traffic signs intersections with poor visibility. leader’s hand signals. long-ride models that can be ridden in a more meet with greater resistance. denim or the like. If your butt hurts, we recommend Ride behind each other in a row. Do not ride side-by-side. comfortable posture for people who are not Bags using padded innerwear. Bags should be as light Always turn lights ON in tunnels. Also, turn your lights ON if having looking for race-competitive speeds. Minivelo You must also be careful and compact as possible; to ride in the dark. (Small diameter tire bike) that cuffs do not get 自転車を除く the general practice is to It is prohibited to drink and ride, ride in twos (except for children (Rated ★★☆) caught in the chain. carry just what can fit No Vehicles under the age of 6 with proper child seat), ride with an open Road Closed to All Traffic Road Closed to Vehicles No Bicycle No Vehicles Cross bike A minivelo uses small wheels of no into a small backpack. Except bicycles umbrella, or use a cellphone or earphones while riding. (Rated ★★★) more than 20 inches in diameter. Shoes Saddlebags or other kind The best shoes for riding of bags that can be hung This genre of sports bicycle comes with straight Foldable types work great if combining are low-cut athletic shoes on or strapped to the handlebars and slightly wider on-road tires. riding with public transportation like with hard soles. Laces bike lessen the physical Though a cross bike does not reach the speeds of trains, buses or ferries. However, the must be kept tied so that load placed on your Mini pump Spare tube 自転車を除く ‘Turning ‘Turning ‘Stopping’ ‘Watch out for OO!’ a road bike, it is operated much like a city bike, so minivelo offers less riding performance they do not get entangled body. (To warn trailing cyclists of One-way Street left’ right’ ‘Slowing down’ Slow Stop Pedestrians and Bicycles Only One-way Street first-timers will feel safe riding it. than road bikes and cross bikes. in the chain. objects or level changes Except bicycles in the roadway) Bicycles may enter when the below mark is used.