What other travelers are saying about Biwako Valley Ski Resort
Biwako Terrace offers a truly stunning view of Lake Biwa and is an excellent destination for families, especially those travelling with children. During my visit on 26 December 2025, the experience was made even more memorable by the heavy snowfall. The snow created a magical winter atmosphere and gave my kids the chance to play and enjoy snow, something they found incredibly exciting. The fun started right from the ropeway carriage ride up the mountain, where the surroundings gradually turned white, and continued all the way to the terrace and restaurant area.
The ropeway ride itself is a highlight, as it offers scenic views along the ascent and builds anticipation for what awaits at the top. Once at Biwako Terrace, the panoramic view of Lake Biwa covered in winter scenery is absolutely breathtaking. One thing to note is that if you want a window-side seat at the terrace restaurant, there is an additional charge of 500 yen per person. Personally, I felt this was rather expensive for seating alone.
The menu at the restaurant is relatively simple and not very extensive, but the food quality was surprisingly good. During my visit, I ordered all four main dishes available and found them quite tasty and satisfying. Overall, despite the slightly pricey seating fee, Biwako Terrace is highly recommended as a day trip destination for its views, winter experience, and family-friendly atmosphere.
Yes, Biwako Valley offers a variety of slopes that cater to all skill levels, making it an ideal destination for beginners.
Absolutely! In addition to skiing and snowboarding, the resort offers zipline adventures, sledding, and the Skywalker attraction during the green season.
You are welcome to bring your own ski or snowboard equipment. However, rental options are available at affordable prices for those who do not have their gear.
Yes, the resort is open year-round and offers activities such as ziplining and hiking during the green season.
The resort does not have on-site lodging, but various accommodation options are available in neighboring towns like Otsu and Kyoto. Additionally, some hotels offer shuttle services to and from the resort for added convenience.
Overall it is Ok, but very dependant on the weather.
The view is very nice, both from the terrace and from the cable car.
The prices are very expensive though:
- Parking ticket ¥2.000
- Cable car retour ticket ¥4.000 (per adult)
The restaurant/cafe is also only opened untill 16:00 and the free wifi there wasn't working or it was really slow. Seats/tables are also assigned, so if you are unlucky; you will get a seat without any view outside. There is also a limited amount tables for 2 persons+, larger groups may need to sit separately.
From the base, I can park my car and then take the ride up to mountain top. At mountain top, you can rent gears as well. The cafe there has super long queue to get in. The ski place also has very limited seating as well. Therefore, it was extremely difficult to find a resting place to grab a coffee, much unlike many of the ski resorts in other countries that I have been to.
