Otsu
大津市35°01′ N 135°51′ ECityPop. 343,808Shiga and Lake Biwa
Otsu suits riders who want the easiest start from Kyoto and a long run of west-shore stays, and its centre is a working prefectural capital more than a holiday town.
Photo nekotank · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0 and others, credited in the gallery
Who should base here
Stay in Otsu to start the loop one stop from Kyoto, with lakefront hotels at Hamaotsu and quieter beds up the west shore.
Eat in Otsu
Things to do in Otsu
Ukimido浮御堂Temple
A small temple hall built out over the lake at Katata.
Sakamoto坂本Old town
Stone-walled temple town at the foot of Mt. Hiei.
Otsu is Shiga's capital and stretches a long way up the west shore. The Hamaotsu waterfront has Biwako Hotel and the ferry terminal, which stamps the Biwaichi certificate. North of the city, Sakamoto is the temple town below Mt. Hiei, where Tsuruya Kihachi has served soba in an 1887 house. Ogoto Onsen has ryokan such as Hanakaido, and Katata has Ukimido and the rakugan sweets at Kintokido.
Further north the west shore opens out at Omi-Maiko and Kita-Hira, where J-Hoppers and Hotel Biwa Lake Otsuka sit near the Kosei Line. The Kosei Line trains run up this side, so a tired rider can always get back to town.
Quick answers about Otsuよくある質問
Is Otsu a good place to stay?
Stay in Otsu to start the loop one stop from Kyoto, with lakefront hotels at Hamaotsu and quieter beds up the west shore.
Within 12 km
Places to stay nearby宿
Within 12 km
Places to eat and drink nearby食
Within 12 km
Sights nearby見どころ
Within 12 km
