Otsu Onsen Shiga

Otsu, the capital of Shiga Prefecture on the southwestern shore of Lake Biwa — Japan's largest freshwater lake and a designated Ramsar wetland — is home to the ancient Enryakuji Temple complex on Mount Hiei, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the medieval headquarters of Tendai Buddhism from which many of Japan's major Buddhist schools trace their origin. Otsu Onsen Shiga, particularly centred around the renowned Ogoto Onsen hot spring resort, draws on sodium and bicarbonate thermal waters from the geothermal resources beneath the Lake Biwa basin, offering elegant lakeside spa experiences with panoramic views across Japan's most celebrated inland lake. The proximity to Kyoto via the Biwako Line train, Miidera Temple, and the ancient Tokaido highway heritage make Otsu an exceptionally layered thermal destination combining mountain spirituality with lakeside serenity.