The region around Lake Biwa has been designated a quasi-national park and the views of Chikubu, Oki, and other islands have long been famous, known historically as the Omi Hakkei, or the "The Eight Scenic Views of Omi" ("Omi" being the early name for Shiga Prefecture).
The lake's importance as a transportation artery can be dated back to ancient times when it began to be used as a highway between the settled areas along the Japan Sea coast on the west side of the main island of Honshu and the cities of Kyoto, Osaka, and Nara. Today the lake water is used for irrigation and drinking. The lake is also used for power generation and other industrial purposes, providing much needed water resources to the entire Keihanshin (Kyoto-Osaka-Kobe) Industrial Belt.
One cannot fully appreciate the beauty of Japan's natural settings until they are viewed in person. For example, the overwhelming views and beauty of Lake Biwa -- the orange tint of the sky reflecting off the surface of the water at sunset, the views of the mountains on the other side of the lake on a clear day, and the tiny island of Chikubu -- cannot be as appreciated through the lens of a camera as they are in real life. But my best photographs display at least a portion of the natural beauty of Lake Biwa; here are a few for your viewing pleasure:
