Travel in Shiga

Lake Biwa Museum

Lake Biwa Museum · 滋賀県立琵琶湖博物館

At Lake Biwa Museum, explore exhibits about lake fish and people’s lives around the water. After the tanks displaying freshwater life, continue to everyday-life and history displays to learn how people have lived alongside the lake.

Museum access Lake Biwa Museum fees Lake Biwa Museum opening calendar

Visitor information

Address

〒525-0001 滋賀県草津市下物町1091

Location on the map

Address source

Admission

Permanent-exhibition admission is 840 yen for general visitors or 470 yen for university students, who must show student ID. High school students, under-18s and elementary and junior high school children enter free. General special-exhibition admission is 340 yen separately. Check age and residency concessions and special exhibition conditions in the official fees for your date.

Admission source

Opening hours

Open 09:30–17:00, with last admission at 16:00.

Opening-hours source

What to see at Lake Biwa Museum

Freshwater life in the tanks

Tanks display freshwater life including fish from Lake Biwa. Explore them if you are curious about life beneath the lake’s surface.

Freshwater life exhibits

Life and history around the lake

Everyday-life and history exhibitions explore the lives of people around the lake. Combine them with the fish tanks for a look at both lake wildlife and its relationship with people.

Museum permanent-exhibition overview

How to get to Lake Biwa Museum

From west-exit stand 2 at JR Kusatsu, take an Ohmi Bus service to Lake Biwa Museum. Alight at the museum stop after about 25 minutes and walk to the museum. Adult fares are 480 yen each way or 960 yen return, separate from admission. Check both outward and return times.

Ohmi Bus: official information Lake Biwa Museum fees Lake Biwa Museum opening calendar Museum access Outward services Return services

Get directions

Before you visit

Check closure dates and return buses together

The museum closes Mondays except public holidays. Temporary closures also occur, so check your date in the official calendar. Choose both Kusatsu-to-museum and return buses to help plan your visiting time.

Lake Biwa Museum opening calendar Outward services Return services

Tickets and booking for Lake Biwa Museum

Read the product's included items, visit dates and booking conditions before choosing a ticket or tour.

View ticket and booking conditions

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Questions about Lake Biwa Museum

Is Lake Biwa Museum only an aquarium?

Alongside fish tanks, it has exhibitions about everyday life and history around the lake. Explore freshwater life and the stories of people who have lived beside the lake.

Freshwater life exhibits Museum permanent-exhibition overview

Does a permanent-exhibition ticket cover special exhibitions?

Special exhibitions charge separately. General admission costs 340 yen, separate from the 840-yen permanent-exhibition fee. Check which special exhibition is showing on your date.

Lake Biwa Museum fees

Official sources

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