On our holiday from Australia. my family and I took the train up from Kyoto then the bus as per the website description. Easy to get to, just time your train so that you don't have to wait too long for the bus. Same for the return journey.
After the bus takes you through little villages and rice fields it comes to its last stop at the Museum. No queues at the entry. After paying the very modest entry fee (I don't know how they can run this place only charging 800 yen for adults, less for kids and students) we quickly find our way to the aquarium wing of the building.
I like fish and aquatic animals so I came especially to see the aquarium. The aquarium specializes in species found in Lake Biwa which I found refreshingly different and interesting as it did not house fish typically seen at other large aquariums (eg it did not have coral reef fish , or marine species like sharks).
The exhibits were well setout and on the whole seemed to take the welfare and natural behaviours of the inhabitants into account. They were well signed and informative. The museum shop was well stocked with appropriate items that I had not seen elsewhere and is well worth a quick visit.
We spent about 1.5 hours looking through the tanks and even the other members of my family who are not that into aquariums were kept engaged by the variety of the exhibits. Highlights were a close up encounter with some large sturgeons, the giant salamanders, and of course, the very cute Lake Biwa Catfish. The museum has even found a way to make it's microscopic pond life tanks engaging.
In summary, if you are in Kyoto and are looking for an interesting half day or full day out for you or your family then I highly recommend this place.
Visited this place at 3:30pm and was there till closing at 5pm.
It's a beautiful place with a great scenic view of the lake, there's obviously a lot of care put into the exhibitions and displays. There's a lot of room so you won't bump into anyone, and you actually have time to look and read everything as it isn't overcrowded.
There's also a small gift store on the first floor that sells a number of cute things.
Loses a star because a lot of the smell simulations weren't in operation, and the aquarium, which was my main reason for visiting, was closed for the day.
It's still a worthwhile visit, but just remember it's difficult to get there and get back of you're staying in Kyoto like myself, Taxis are not abundant and you have to rely on Uber and wait 10-20 minutes for it to arrive. We took the bus back to the station from the Museum but it's a slow drive.
On the left side of the entrance of the Museum is a small forest path that leads to the lake and has an amazing sunset view.
Great experience at the Lake Biwa Museum. Got to learn a lot about the history of the lake and the many creatures that live in and around it! The real treat was the beautiful sunset just behind the museum.
The museum is thoughtfully and meticulously designed, showcasing a wide range of content—from science to culture and human life—centered around Lake Biwa. The exhibits are presented in a detailed, scientific, and truly impressive way. Outside, the scenery of the lake is breathtaking, complemented by its rich and diverse ecosystem. If given the chance, I would definitely love to return.
Awesome museum, kids and wife loved it and they normally don’t like museums . Highly recommend
