Biwaichi Bike
ビワイチバイク35°01′ N 135°52′ EBike rentalfrom ¥1,100, about CAD 9.90 or USD 7 (October 2026 rates)English spoken
Biwaichi Bike suits riders who want to start at Otsu Port and finish somewhere else on the lake, though it shuts every winter from mid-December to mid-February.
What they offer
| Offering | From | Duration | Months |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cross bike, one dayFive hours costs ¥4,400. The rack version with a rear carrier costs ¥6,400 a day. High-season days add about ¥1,100. | ¥5,500 per day, about CAD 49 or USD 35 (October 2026 rates) | 1 day (return by 17:00) | Feb–Dec |
| Road bike, one dayThe basic road bike costs ¥5,500 for five hours. A carbon high-grade road bike starts at ¥12,100 a day. | ¥7,700 per day, about CAD 69 or USD 49 (October 2026 rates) | 1 day | Feb–Dec |
| Folding e-bike, one dayA three-hour plan at ¥3,300 runs on the day only and can't be booked ahead. | ¥7,700 per day, about CAD 69 or USD 49 (October 2026 rates) | 1 day | Feb–Dec |
| Mid-route returnBook the return site on the reservation page by 15:00 the day before you ride. Drop the bike by 17:00. | ¥3,300 per bike, about CAD 30 or USD 21 (October 2026 rates) | – | Feb–Dec |
| Family lakeside ride with a picnicGuided tour for families with children. | ¥15,000 per person, about CAD 135 or USD 95 (October 2026 rates) | – | – |
| Ishiyama-dera and Mii-dera temple rideVisits Ishiyama-dera, which has ties to The Tale of Genji, with a meditation session at Mii-dera. | ¥20,000 per person, about CAD 180 or USD 126 (October 2026 rates) | – | – |
| Enryaku-ji ride and hikeA guide rides with you along the lake and then hikes with you up Mt. Hiei. | ¥31,000 per person, about CAD 279 or USD 196 (October 2026 rates) | – | – |
| Bag storage | ¥1,100 per day, about CAD 9.90 or USD 7 (October 2026 rates) | – | – |
The cycle station fills part of the Otsu Port passenger terminal, a three-minute walk from Biwako-Hamaotsu Station on the Keihan line, and it keeps about 400 bikes. Day rates for 2026 start at ¥5,500 for a flat-bar cross bike and ¥7,700 for a basic road bike or a folding e-bike. Every plan includes a helmet, a lock, a light and liability insurance. Prices go up on the shop's high-season dates, which in 2026 covered Golden Week, the September holidays and three long weekends in October and November.
Most riders book here for the mid-route return. Pay ¥3,300 a bike on top of the rental and you can leave it at one of more than a dozen partner sites, from the Kinomoto tourist office in Nagahama to Ogoto Onsen's Biwako Hanakaido. Put the return site in the booking by 15:00 the day before, because the shop won't add one once you've ridden off. Every partner site wants the bike back by 17:00.
JCGA-certified guides lead the tours. A family ride along the shore with a picnic starts at ¥15,000 a person. The Enryaku-ji day pairs the ride with a hike on Mt. Hiei from ¥31,000, and a temple ride to Ishiyama-dera and Mii-dera sits between the two at ¥20,000.
Worth knowing
- Pick the cross bike with a rear rack, ¥6,400 a day, if you're carrying a change of clothes.
- The shop stores bags for ¥1,100 a day, and the terminal has paid coin lockers if you'd rather hold your own key.
- From Kyoto, ride the JR one stop to Yamashina and change to the Keihan Keishin line for Biwako-Hamaotsu.
Quick answers about Biwaichi Bikeよくある質問
Can I return a Biwaichi Bike rental somewhere other than Otsu Port?
Yes. Partner sites around the lake take returns for ¥3,300 a bike on top of the rental. Add the return site to your booking by 15:00 the day before and drop the bike by 17:00.
Is Biwaichi Bike open in winter?
No. The shop takes a winter break from 16 December to 19 February and reopens on 20 February.
How much does Biwaichi Bike charge?
Biwaichi Bike lists Bag storage from ¥1,100 per day (2026), about CAD 9.90 or USD 7 (October 2026 rates).
Does Biwaichi Bike speak English?
Yes. Biwaichi Bike works in Japanese and English and Chinese.
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In the journal and guides
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What are Japan's cycling rules and fines in 2026?
Since 1 April 2026 the police can hand any rider aged 16 or over a blue ticket with a fixed fine. Holding a phone costs ¥12,000 and a red light ¥6,000, and the rules apply on a rental bike the same as on your own.
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Where can you ride gravel in Japan?
Japan's gravel lives on forest roads built for forestry, and in national forests the Forestry Agency asks you to clear entry with the local forest office first. Published gravel rides are few, so start from a station that rents gravel bikes and ask locally.