Lake Biwa Museum

The Lake Biwa Museum stands on the shores of Japan's largest freshwater lake in Kusatsu, Shiga Prefecture, serving as a comprehensive natural history and environmental museum since its opening in 1996. The museum underwent a major renovation and reopened in 2016 with expanded exhibits and modernized facilities. It functions as both a research institution and public museum, dedicated to exploring the 4-million-year history of Lake Biwa and its surrounding ecosystem.

Lake Biwa itself holds immense ecological and cultural importance as Japan's oldest and largest lake, providing drinking water to approximately 15 million people in the Kansai region. The museum showcases the lake's unique biodiversity, including endemic species found nowhere else on Earth, and examines the relationship between the lake and human civilization over millennia. Visitors gain insight into freshwater ecology, environmental conservation, and the cultural heritage of communities that have depended on the lake for centuries.

The museum features several major exhibition areas. The aquarium section displays over 40 species of fish native to Lake Biwa, including the ancient Biwa trout and rare endemic species. A popular attraction is the underwater tunnel aquarium where visitors can observe fish swimming overhead. The museum also houses a living freshwater ecosystem exhibit, displaying plants and creatures from the lake's wetlands.Other exhibits cover geological history, archaeological findings from lakeside settlements, and traditional fishing methods. A highlight is the full-scale replica of a traditional wooden boat called a marukobune, once used for lake transportation and fishing.

The museum is located in Kusatsu City, approximately 15 kilometers southeast of Kyoto. From JR Kusatsu Station, visitors can take the Omi Railway bus bound for the museum, which takes roughly 25 minutes. The museum is also accessible by car, with a parking lot accommodating approximately 400 vehicles. Standard admission is ¥800 for adults, with discounted rates available for students and seniors. The facility includes a restaurant overlooking the lake and a museum shop selling regional products and educational materials.