Tourist season starts at Japan's largest lake

OTSU, Japan, March 10 Kyodo - Video taken from a Kyodo News helicopter shows a sightseeing ship parading on Lake Biwa in the Shiga Prefecture capital of Otsu, western Japan, in a ceremony marking the start of the tourist season at Japan's largest lake on March 8, 2025. (Kyodo)

Tourist season starts at Japan's largest lake

Tourist season starts at Japan's largest lake

Photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter shows a sightseeing ship parading on Lake Biwa in the Shiga Prefecture capital of Otsu, western Japan, in a ceremony marking the start of the tourist season at Japan's largest lake on March 8, 2025.

Tourist season starts at Japan's largest lake

Tourist season starts at Japan's largest lake

Photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter shows sightseeing ships parading on Lake Biwa in the Shiga Prefecture capital of Otsu, western Japan, in a ceremony marking the start of the tourist season at Japan's largest lake on March 8, 2025.

[Breaking News]Jump into Lake Biwa in traditional ritual

OMIHACHIMAN, Japan, Aug. 1 Kyodo - A Buddhist monk at Isakiji Temple jumps into Lake Biwa from a height of about seven meters in the Shiga Prefecture city of Omihachiman, Japan, on Aug. 1, 2024, during a traditional ritual and part of training. (Kyodo)

Cobalt blue Biwa trout

MAIBARA, Japan, May 4 Kyodo - Video taken on May 4, 2024, shows cobalt blue Biwa trout at a fish-raising farm in Maibara in Shiga Prefecture, western Japan. Only this trout, one of about 250,000 trout fry hatched in the fall of 2022, is cobalt blue-colored. (Kyodo)

Cobalt blue Biwa trout

Cobalt blue Biwa trout

Photo taken on May 4, 2024, shows cobalt blue Biwa trout at a fish-raising farm in Maibara in Shiga Prefecture, western Japan. Only this trout, one of about 250,000 trout fry hatched in the fall of 2022, is cobalt blue-colored.

Cobalt blue Biwa trout

Cobalt blue Biwa trout

Photo taken on May 4, 2024, shows cobalt blue Biwa trout at a fish-raising farm in Maibara in Shiga Prefecture, western Japan. Only this trout, one of about 250,000 trout fry hatched in the fall of 2022, is cobalt blue-colored.

Big-scaled redfin

TAKASHIMA, Japan, April 3 Kyodo - Big-scaled redfin swim to spawning grounds up a river leading to Lake Biwa in Takashima in Shiga Prefecture, western Japan, on April 3, 2024. (Kyodo)

[Breaking news] Big-scaled redfin

TAKASHIMA, Japan, April 1 Kyodo - Big-scaled redfin swim to spawning grounds up a river leading to Lake Biwa in Takashima in Shiga Prefecture, western Japan, on April 1, 2024. (Kyodo)

Big-scaled redfin

Big-scaled redfin

Big-scaled redfin swim to spawning grounds up a river leading to Lake Biwa in Takashima in Shiga Prefecture, western Japan, on April 1, 2024.

Big-scaled redfin

Big-scaled redfin

Big-scaled redfin swim to spawning grounds up a river leading to Lake Biwa in Takashima in Shiga Prefecture, western Japan, on April 1, 2024.

Biwa trout

TOKYO, Japan Kyodo - Biwa trout prepares to spawn in a river leading to Lake Biwa in Shiga Prefecture, western Japan, on Nov. 16, 2023. (Kyodo)

Biwa trout

Biwa trout

Biwa trout prepares to spawn in a river leading to Lake Biwa in Shiga Prefecture, western Japan, on Nov. 15, 2023.

Biwa trout

Biwa trout

Biwa trout spawns in a river leading to Lake Biwa in Shiga Prefecture, western Japan, on Nov. 15, 2023.

Biwa trout

Biwa trout

Biwa trout swims up a river leading to Lake Biwa in Shiga Prefecture, western Japan, on Nov. 15, 2023.

Biwa trout

Biwa trout

Biwa trout swims up a river leading to Lake Biwa in Shiga Prefecture, western Japan, on Nov. 15, 2023.

Shosoin treasure house exhibition in Nara

Shosoin treasure house exhibition in Nara

Photo shows a Biwa lute made of maple and decorated with mother-of-pearl inlay in the collection of Shosoin state repository, at a press event at Nara National Museum in the western Japan city of Nara on Oct. 27, 2023, before its annual public showing.

Lake Biwa fireworks in western Japan

Lake Biwa fireworks in western Japan

Fireworks are launched over Lake Biwa on Aug. 8, 2023, as the annual grand fireworks festival returns to Otsu in Shiga Prefecture, western Japan, for the first time since pre-pandemic 2019.

Lake Biwa fireworks in western Japan

Lake Biwa fireworks in western Japan

Fireworks are launched over Lake Biwa on Aug. 8, 2023, as the annual grand fireworks festival returns to Otsu in Shiga Prefecture, western Japan, for the first time since pre-pandemic 2019.

Jump into Lake Biwa in traditional ritual

Jump into Lake Biwa in traditional ritual

A Buddhist monk at Isakiji Temple jumps into Lake Biwa from a height of about seven meters in the Shiga Prefecture city of Omihachiman, Japan, on Aug. 1, 2023, during a traditional ritual and part of training.

Jump into Lake Biwa in traditional ritual

Jump into Lake Biwa in traditional ritual

A Buddhist monk at Isakiji Temple jumps into Lake Biwa from a height of about seven meters in the Shiga Prefecture city of Omihachiman, Japan, on Aug. 1, 2023, during a traditional ritual and part of training.

Jump into Lake Biwa in traditional ritual

Jump into Lake Biwa in traditional ritual

A Buddhist monk at Isakiji Temple jumps into Lake Biwa from a height of about seven meters in the Shiga Prefecture city of Omihachiman, Japan, on Aug. 1, 2023, during a traditional ritual and part of training.

Jump into Lake Biwa in traditional ritual

Jump into Lake Biwa in traditional ritual

A Buddhist monk at Isakiji Temple jumps into Lake Biwa from a height of about seven meters in the Shiga Prefecture city of Omihachiman, Japan, on Aug. 1, 2023, during a traditional ritual and part of training.

Jump into Lake Biwa in traditional ritual

Jump into Lake Biwa in traditional ritual

A Buddhist monk at Isakiji Temple jumps into Lake Biwa from a height of about seven meters in the Shiga Prefecture city of Omihachiman, Japan, on Aug. 1, 2023, during a traditional ritual and part of training.

Jump into Lake Biwa in traditional ritual

Jump into Lake Biwa in traditional ritual

A Buddhist monk at Isakiji Temple jumps into Lake Biwa from a height of about seven meters in the Shiga Prefecture city of Omihachiman, Japan, on Aug. 1, 2023, during a traditional ritual and part of training.

Jump into Lake Biwa in traditional ritual

Jump into Lake Biwa in traditional ritual

A Buddhist monk at Isakiji Temple jumps into Lake Biwa from a height of about seven meters in the Shiga Prefecture city of Omihachiman, Japan, on Aug. 1, 2023, during a traditional ritual and part of training.

Tourist season starts at Japan's largest lake

Tourist season starts at Japan's largest lake

Photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter shows a gold-colored key cast out onto Lake Biwa from a sightseeing ship during a ceremony marking the start of the tourist season at Japan's largest lake in the Shiga Prefecture capital of Otsu, western Japan, on March 4, 2023.

Tourist season starts at Japan's largest lake

Tourist season starts at Japan's largest lake

Photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter shows sightseeing ships and cruisers parading on Lake Biwa in the Shiga Prefecture capital of Otsu, western Japan, in a ceremony marking the start of the tourist season at Japan's largest lake on March 4, 2023.

Tourist season starts at Japan's largest lake

Tourist season starts at Japan's largest lake

Photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter shows sightseeing ships and cruisers parading on Lake Biwa in the Shiga Prefecture capital of Otsu, western Japan, in a ceremony marking the start of the tourist season at Japan's largest lake on March 4, 2023.

Tourist season starts at Japan's largest lake

Tourist season starts at Japan's largest lake

Photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter shows sightseeing ships and cruisers parading on Lake Biwa in the Shiga Prefecture capital of Otsu, western Japan, in a ceremony marking the start of the tourist season at Japan's largest lake on March 4, 2023.

Eagle spending winter in Japan

Eagle spending winter in Japan

A Steller's sea eagle that flew from Russia for the winter is pictured near Lake Biwa in Nagahama in Shiga Prefecture, western Japan, on Feb. 2, 2023.

Eagle spending winter in Japan

Eagle spending winter in Japan

A Steller's sea eagle that flew from Russia for the winter is pictured near Lake Biwa in Nagahama in Shiga Prefecture, western Japan, on Feb. 2, 2023.

Eagle spending winter in Japan

Eagle spending winter in Japan

A Steller's sea eagle that flew from Russia for the winter is pictured near Lake Biwa in Nagahama in Shiga Prefecture, western Japan, on Feb. 2, 2023.

Salmon-like ray-finned fish

Salmon-like ray-finned fish

Undated file photo shows salmon-like ray-finned fish called Fucho taimen at Lake Biwa Museum in the Shiga Prefecture city of Kusatsu, western Japan.

Salmon-like ray-finned fish

Salmon-like ray-finned fish

Undated file photo shows salmon-like ray-finned fish called Fucho taimen at Lake Biwa Museum in the Shiga Prefecture city of Kusatsu, western Japan.

Icicles on shore of Lake Biwa

Icicles on shore of Lake Biwa

Photo taken on Jan. 26, 2023, in the Shiga Prefecture city of Kusatsu, western Japan, shows icicles formed in trees on the shore of Lake Biwa.

Icicles on shore of Lake Biwa

Icicles on shore of Lake Biwa

Photo taken on Jan. 26, 2023, in the Shiga Prefecture city of Kusatsu, western Japan, shows icicles formed in trees on the shore of Lake Biwa.

Icicles on shore of Lake Biwa

Icicles on shore of Lake Biwa

Photo taken on Jan. 26, 2023, in the Shiga Prefecture city of Kusatsu, western Japan, shows icicles formed in trees on the shore of Lake Biwa.

New coronavirus

New coronavirus

OTSU, Japan, March 8 Kyodo - Staff of the Lake Biwa Mainichi Marathon wear face masks at Ojiyama Stadium in Otsu, Shiga Prefecture, on March 8, 2020, amid concern over the spread of the new coronavirus.

New coronavirus

New coronavirus

OTSU, Japan, March 8 Kyodo - Visitors of Ojiyama Stadium in Otsu, Shiga Prefecture, disinfect their hands on March 8, 2020, during the Lake Biwa Mainichi Marathon held amid concern over the spread of the new coronavirus.

New coronavirus

New coronavirus

OTSU, Japan, March 8 Kyodo - An official disinfects a visitor's hands at Ojiyama Stadium in Otsu, Shiga Prefecture, during the Lake Biwa Mainichi Marathon on March 8, 2020, amid concern over the spread of the new coronavirus.

Chebii claims Lake Biwa Marathon

Chebii claims Lake Biwa Marathon

OTSU, Japan, March 5 Kyodo - Ezekiel Kiptoo Chebii of Kenya crosses the finish line in the Lake Biwa Mainichi Marathon in the central Japan city of Otsu on March 5, 2017, winning with a time of 2:09:06.

Transparent specimen of alien fish caught in Lake Biwa

Transparent specimen of alien fish caught in Lake Biwa

KYOTO, Japan - A Kyoto University researcher holds a chemically processed transparent specimen of a bluegill caught in Lake Biwa, Shiga Prefecture, western Japan, on Dec. 17, 2014. His team started selling in September specimens of alien fish caught in the lake as accessories by coloring and hardening the fishbone with resin in a campaign to protect the lake's ecosystem.

Lake Biwa Marathon

Lake Biwa Marathon

OTSU, Japan - Ethiopia's Bazu Worku holds the victor's trophy after winning the Lake Biwa Marathon in Shiga Prefecture, western Japan, on March 2, 2014. Second from left is Japan's Satoru Sasaki, who was in second place, and at right is Vincent Kipruto, who was third.

Lake Biwa Marathon

Lake Biwa Marathon

OTSU, Japan - Ethiopia's Bazu Worku crosses the finish line as he wins the Lake Biwa Marathon in Shiga Prefecture, western Japan, on March 2, 2014.

Osprey heads to drill

Osprey heads to drill

OSAKA, Japan - Photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter over Takashima, Shiga Prefecture, on Oct. 16, 2013, shows an MV-22 Osprey aircraft of the U.S. Marine Corps heading to a U.S.-Japan joint exercise at the Aibano Training Area in the western Japan prefecture. Seen in back is Lake Biwa.

Osprey heads to drill

Osprey heads to drill

OSAKA, Japan - Photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter over Takashima, Shiga Prefecture, on Oct. 16, 2013, shows an MV-22 Osprey aircraft of the U.S. Marine Corps heading to a U.S.-Japan joint exercise at the Aibano Training Area in the western Japan prefecture. Seen in back is Lake Biwa.

U.S. landscape painter enthralled by Lake Biwa

U.S. landscape painter enthralled by Lake Biwa

OTSU, Japan - Brian Williams, a Peruvian-born American painter, depicts Lake Biwa in Shiga Prefecture on April 9, 2013. Williams has lived near Lake Biwa for 29 years, producing over 2,000 pictures of the lake and its surrounding nature.

Kipruto wins Lake Biwa marathon

Kipruto wins Lake Biwa marathon

OTSU, Japan - Kenya's Vincent Kipruto crosses the finish line at Ojiyama Stadium in Otsu, Shiga Prefecture, on March 3, 2013, winning the Lake Biwa Mainichi Marathon in 2 hours, 8 minutes and 34 seconds.

Kipruto wins Lake Biwa marathon

Kipruto wins Lake Biwa marathon

OTSU, Japan - Kenya's Vincent Kipruto holds trophies in the award ceremony at Ojiyama stadium in Otsu, Shiga Prefecture, on March 3, 2013, after winning the Lake Biwa Mainichi Marathon in 2 hours, 8 minutes and 34 seconds.