Biwako Valley — the terrace over the lake

photo by go.biwako · CC BY-SA 3.0

photo by BMW USE · CC BY-SA 4.0

The Sky Bridge, suspended for 220 metres with no pylons, is the longest bridge in Japan.

The ropeway climbs in about 5 minutes from just over 200 to more than 1,100 metres, up to the panoramic terrace on Mount Uchimi, from which you can see the whole of Lake Biwa without a single tree in the way. The highest point, Café 360 at 1,174 metres, also looks towards Kyoto and Osaka on clear days. In the warm season there is also the Sky Bridge, a 220-metre suspension bridge with no intermediate pylons (the longest in Japan in this category), as well as a zipline through the trees.

Resort area in which a winter ski resort and the summer panoramic terrace ‘Biwako Terrace’, opened in 2016, share the same ropeway. Run by Alpina Resorts, it is one of the best-known scenic spots in Shiga Prefecture.

ℹ️ JR Shiga Station, then bus, about 10 minutes, then ropeway, about 5 minutes. Seasonal opening: the Sky Bridge runs only during part of the year (in 2026, 22 August–23 November), so check the official calendar before setting out.

Sources: biwako-valley.com · biwako-visitors.jp

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