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| Lake Biwa (Biwa-ko) |
Lake Biwako is located entirely within Shiga Prefecture (west-central Honshu), northeast of the former capital city of Kyoto. This lake is located 15 minutes north of Kyoto in Shiga Prefecture and provides drinkable water to the Kansai region.
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| Lake Biwa It is the largest freshwater lake in Japan at about 250 square miles (670 ㎢) and one of the oldest lakes in the world, around 4 million years old. Know More - Ancient lakes of the world  |
Name
The name Biwako was established in the Edo period. There are various theories about the origin of the name Biwako, but it is generally believed to be so named because of the resemblance of its shape to that of a stringed instrument called the biwa. Kōsō, a learned monk of Enryaku-ji in the 14th century, gave a clue to the origin of the name Biwako in his writing: "The lake is the Pure land of the goddess Benzaiten because she lives on Chikubu Island and the shape of the lake is similar to that of the biwa, her favorite instrument."
The lake was formerly known as the Awaumi (淡海, Freshwater Sea) or the Chikatsu Awaumi (近淡海, Freshwater Sea Near [the Capital]). Later the pronunciation Awaumi changed to the modern Ōmi as in the name of Ōmi Province. The lake is also called Nio no Umi (鳰の海, "Little Grebe Lake") in literature.
Impact of Lake Biwa
The area of this lake is about 670 km2 (260 sq mi). Small rivers drain from the surrounding mountains into Lake Biwa, and its main outlet is the Seta River, which later becomes the Uji River, combining with the Katsura and Kizu to become the Yodo River and flows into the Seto Inland Sea at Osaka Bay.
It serves as a reservoir for the cities of Kyoto and Ōtsu and is a valuable resource for nearby textile industries. It provides drinking water for about 15 million people in the Kansai region. Lake Biwa is a breeding ground for freshwater fish, including trout, and for the pearl culture industry.
The Lake Biwa Canal, built in the late 1890s and later expanded during the Taishō period played a role of great importance in the rekindling of Kyoto's industrial life, after a steep decline following the transfer of the capital to Tokyo.
Today the lake has a large fish population; more than 50 species of native fish live in Lake Biwa.
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| Lake Biwa fish species |
Due to its proximity to Kyoto, it is often referred to in Japanese literature and is very well-known by Japanese people.
The area is also known for its scenic views with floating torii gates, picturesque towns, and mountaintop temples, and locals visit the lake for swimming, kayaking and other outdoor activities.
Shirahige Shrine
Shirahige Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Takashima, north-west of Lake Biwa, that was founded 1,900 years ago. This shrine is dedicated to Sarutahiko Okami, the leader of all earthly gods. The name “Shirahige” literally means “white beard” and, as it is implied, this shrine blesses visitors with a long life, until they grow a long, white beard. The torii gates that lead to the shrine entrance light up at night to serve as a beacon to all who wish to visit. However, the best time to visit this shrine is early morning, with the sun rising inside the torii gate.
Know More - What is Torii Gate? Meaning, Types and Facts