Freshwater Wonders at Lake Biwa Museum
The girls pose amongst their aquatic friends
If you find yourself in Shiga Prefecture, the Lake Biwa Museum is a fantastic stop for families curious about aquatic life and local ecosystems. From microscopic organisms to massive freshwater fish, this museum offers a beautifully interactive and educational experience that’s just the right size for little explorers.
The Experience
As you enter, you’ll be greeted by helpful amenities like free strollers and wheelchairs, and you can also grab a joint ticket for the nearby botanical gardens. It’s best to bring cash, as many purchases—including meals—are cash-preferred.
🎟️ Pro Tip: Upon entry, grab a reservation card for the Discovery Room. We opted for a 12:00 slot—which happened to be perfect, as many Japanese families eat lunch at this time and we had the room all to ourselves!
We started our journey at Section 9 of the aquarium and worked our way backward. Due to construction between Sections 2 and 1, we took this detour as an opportunity to return to the Discovery Room at our scheduled time.
Discovery Room Highlights
Perfect for hands-on learners, this space was filled with creative, sensory, and cultural stations:
🧩 Puzzle table stations
🎨 Sketching station for fish and raccoons
🔭 Binocular station for bird spotting
🧵 Yarn craft station for making microorganisms
🧸 Animal fur, poop, and footprint exhibits
🏠 Pretend-play area with traditional Japanese home, dress-up clothes, and kitchen
⏰ Time limit: 1 hour (though we could have stayed longer!
Lunch Stop
After the Discovery Room, we had lunch at the on-site restaurant. The kids’ meals were great, with options like hamburg steak, udon, or croquettes—each served with chicken nuggets, fries, potato salad, and a jelly dessert.
Aquarium & Sky Walk
We revisited Section 1, which featured an underwater tunnel. While visually cool, it was a bit underwhelming as the tank didn’t fully capture the fish in their natural habitat.
Next, we went outside for the Sky Walk, offering gorgeous panoramic views of Lake Biwa. Although our youngest fell asleep, we noted you could walk down to the sandy beach area or take a trail toward the botanical gardens. (Note: lake access is limited due to large boulders at the shore.)
Logistics
📍 Location: 1091 Oroshimocho, Kusatsu, Shiga 525-0001
🕘 Hours: 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM (Closed Mondays)
💴 Admission: Varies depending on combo tickets; bring cash for entry, food, and gift shop
Facilities
🧻 Clean restrooms on all levels
👶 Free stroller & wheelchair rental
🧃 Restaurant and cafeteria (outside food allowed in cafeteria)
🏞️ Joint ticket available for the Botanical Gardens
Tips
🎟️ Grab a Discovery Room reservation card upon entry
💰 Bring cash
🕛 Book Discovery Room around noon for fewer crowds
🍱 Eat at the on-site restaurant or bring lunch for the cafeteria
🧺 A picnic at the gardens post-visit makes for a lovely wind-down
Make a Day Out of It
🌿 Kusatsu Botanical Garden (next door)
🚤 Explore Lake Biwa Boat Cruises for a different perspective of the lake
🍧 Grab a treat at Biwako Ohashi Service Area
