Biwa masu
ビワマスIngredientJun to Jul
Biwa masu suits anyone who likes salmon sashimi and wants to taste Lake Biwa itself, and the fish is scarce on autumn menus while the fishery closes.
Where to eat Biwa masu · 1 place
- FunakuraNagahama
This lakeside minshuku at Onoe in Kohoku cooks Biwa masu, ayu and local eel in summer.
Biwa masu lives naturally only in Lake Biwa, and in 2025 scientists described it as a species of its own named Oncorhynchus biwaensis. Locals also call it amenouo, and it runs up the northern rivers when autumn rain raises them. Adults reach 40 to 45 centimetres, and the flesh is a deep red with a lot of fat.
From September into early November the fish climb the Ane, Inukami and Ado rivers to spawn, and every one dies afterwards. Troll fishing on the lake stops from 1 October to 30 November. Early summer fish are the ones the cooks want, and Hisago-zushi in Omihachiman puts them in box sushi.
Quick answers about Biwa masuよくある質問
When is Biwa masu in season?
Biwa masu is best in June and July, when the fish carry the most fat. Troll fishing on Lake Biwa closes from 1 October to 30 November.
How do you order Biwa masu?
Ask for biwamasu as sashimi or sushi. In the Kohoku north it comes cooked whole with rice as masu-meshi, and in the south and west as amenoio gohan.
Where can you eat Biwa masu in Japan?
Places we list for Biwa masu include Hisago-zushi.