Lake Biwa

Lake Biwa is the largest and most famous lake
in Japan. It is located in Kansai Area, close to Kyoto. The surface area of Biwako is 760 square kilometers.

Apparently it also happens to be one of the most oldest lakes in the world. Lake Biwa, aka. Biwako is a host of hundreds of unique creatures and fish that cannot be found anywhere else in the world.

No wonder the Biwako has been such a famous lake for poets and novelists who have described it's eternal beauty. Photographer Uesugi Mitsuo describes the many faces of this lake in his photography book (Suiko books ISBN4-8381-0308-5).

Although the ecology of the lake has been so far saved from major disasters, this fragile and historically important lake must be preserved.

Lake Biwa museum in Shiga is recommended place to visit and they have numerous exhibitions related to the lake every year.

Lake Biwa got its name of the instrument biwa, as the shape of the lake reminds Japanese biwa lute.

The water from Lake Biwa flows in to temple of Nanzen-ji in Kyoto.

Visit also: Lake Biwa Museum http://www.lbm.go.jp/english/

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