Shiga Prefecture surrounds Lake Biwa, Japan's largest freshwater lake, just a short train ride east of Kyoto. Landlocked and often overlooked by international visitors, it pairs the UNESCO-listed temple complex of Enryaku-ji on Mt. Hiei with the National Treasure castle at Hikone, Edo-era merchant towns, Shigaraki pottery villages, and some of Japan's finest wagyu in Omi beef.
Shiga Prefecture is built around Lake Biwa, and its transport network hugs the shoreline. The JR Biwako Line (the local name for the Tokaido Main Line between Kyoto and Maibara) links Kyoto Station to Otsu in about 10 minutes and continues north through Kusatsu, Omi-Hachiman, and Hikone to Maibara, where the Tokaido Shinkansen stops. The JR Kosei Line branches off at Yamashina/Otsu and runs up the west shore through Omi-Maiko, Omi-Takashima, and Makino to Omi-Shiotsu. The private Ohmi Railway serves the Hikone–Omihachiman–Taga corridor away from the lakeshore. Lake Biwa sightseeing cruise boats (Michigan, Biwako Kisen) depart from Otsu Port and from Nagahama/Imazu for Chikubushima. Shiga has no airport of its own — Kansai International Airport (KIX) is the main international gateway, reached by train and limousine bus in roughly 1.5–2 hours; Osaka Itami is a secondary option for domestic flights. Local buses (Ohmi Railway Bus, Keihan Bus) connect stations to castles, temples, and lakeside attractions, and a rental car is the most practical way to reach Ibuki-yama, Shigaraki/Koka, and other rural pockets.
Transport tips
Travel smarter, not harder.
Load an ICOCA or Suica IC card on arrival at Kyoto or Osaka — it covers the JR Biwako Line, Kosei Line, most Ohmi Railway sections, and local buses across Shiga
New Rapid (Shinkaisoku) trains on the Biwako Line are free with an ordinary ticket and much faster than Local trains — always check the platform display for 新快速
The Tokaido Shinkansen only stops at Maibara within Shiga — for Otsu, Kusatsu, Omi-Hachiman, and Hikone, use the JR Biwako Line
Rural bus schedules to Ibuki-yama, Miho Museum, and Enryaku-ji thin out significantly outside spring/summer/autumn — check return times before departing
A rental car opens up the Shigaraki pottery villages and the Takashima lakeshore beaches, none of which are well served by rail