Biwako Valley
culture
びわ湖バレイ
Lake Biwa-overlooking resort 40 kilometers from Kyoto, operating as winter ski area and summer outdoor activity park.
Biwako Valley sits between Mt. Uchimi and Mt. Horai, reached by bus from Shiga Station on the west side of Lake Biwa followed by a short ropeway ride. In autumn the hillsides turn orange and red; in winter the area becomes a ski destination popular with residents of Otsu and Kyoto. The Biwako Terrace facilities at both peaks include outdoor infinity pools, cafes, and viewing decks overlooking Lake Biwa's distinctive lute-shaped outline. Warmer months bring zip-lining and a forest high ropes course. Each year on March 26, the Hirahakko Festival draws water from a well near Mt. Uchimi's peak and pours it into the lake as a spring purification ritual.
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