“Biwaichi” cycling tour around Lake Biwa now available! With the full support of an electric-assist bicycle and a local guide, even beginners and those who are not confident in their physical strength can feel at ease.
Rinamichi LLC Press release: July 12, 2025 We have started offering the “Biwaichi” cycling tour around Lake Biwa! With electric assist bicycles and full support from local guides, beginners and those who are not confident in their physical strength can feel at ease. A private guided tour where we can take care of everything from a support car to transport your luggage to arranging your accommodation. Feel the nature of Lake Biwa, Japan’s largest lake, and enjoy wellness in both body and mind. Biwako Tourism Base, a travel agency that sells local tours in Shiga Prefecture (operated by Rinnamichi LLC, representative partner: Tsuyoshi Ichimaru), has started selling a private tour product [E-OMI CYCLING Recommended Biwaichi Plan Series] that supports small groups of beginners and women on Biwaichi (a trip around Lake Biwa by bicycle). This plan fully supports your trip by packaging a small-diameter electric assist bicycle with good foot grounding, a support car for carrying luggage, and a cycling guide who is familiar with Biwaichi. Plans made by local travel agencies allow you to customize your trip to suit your needs based on a wealth of local information, and make arrangements for accommodation and meals. You can leave everything about your trip to us. Homepage: https://biwako-tourismbase.com/
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/164982/1/164982-1-bf6929e8c1474a957f406aae56685b7f-1706×960.jpg Three features of the tour Feature 1: An “electrically assisted bicycle” that you can ride without worrying about your physical strength. A stylish bike will lift your spirits The bike we will use on the tour, VOTANI (Q3, H3), is a 20-inch electric-assisted bike from a Dutch brand. It can travel up to 72km on a single charge
(manufacturer’s published specs). It is equipped with a large cushioned saddle, easy-to-grip grips, and front suspension that is gentle on the wrists. In addition to these, our bicycles are also equipped with a cushioned saddle cover. It is also equipped with a drink holder that can be used to store small items.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/164982/1/164982-1-d02c49111d2e462593fcf1819f605051-1200×900.jpg Stylish VOTANI
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/164982/1/164982-1-fb4e51389adf4427b4b0e5fe512081bf-3900×2925.jpg You can ride it casually because you don’t lean forward. Feel safe in your usual riding position When you think of cycling, you probably think of sports bikes. However, sports bikes have high saddles and tend to require you to lean forward, so it takes some getting used to riding them. The bicycles used on our tours are suitable for people 144cm and taller, so even petite people can ride them, and their posture is the same as on a regular bicycle. In addition, it is easy to reach the ground, and the small wheels have a low center of gravity. They are also easy to handle, making them easy for petite people to handle. Ride powerfully and easily up hills! Some people avoid cycling tours because they are worried about not having the stamina to keep up with the others or being able to climb hills. Electric assist eliminates these worries. You won’t get tired even if you run long distances, and you can climb the uphill slopes on your route with a cool face. The assist is also effective against the strong headwinds that are unique to Lake Biwa.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/164982/1/164982-1-246ce9d404057fa2a41da0e6eda77880-1706×960.jpg Small but powerful, easy to ride Feature 2: “Support car” where you can leave your luggage Biwaichi takes several days to tackle. If you plan to stay overnight, you will need to bring clothes and other luggage, but you cannot carry your luggage while riding your bike. For this reason, a “support car” will accompany the tour to transport your luggage.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/164982/1/164982-1-42732bb7753c42eb7f09666975265c15-1200×900.jpg Support car In addition to carrying your baggage, the support car also provides simple food service and coolers. You can also replenish your drinks and store souvenirs you have purchased along the way. A spare battery is also on board, so even if the electric assist battery runs out midway, you can ride with peace of mind by replacing the battery. Feature 3: “Local guides” to escort you on your journey
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/164982/1/164982-1-83404510c35e11f036ef808113bc53dd-3264×2448.jpg We’ll show you the charms of Shiga that you won’t find in guidebooks! Tour with a guide who loves the local area The tour guides are local guides living in Shiga Prefecture. The trip is created and guided by people who love Lake Biwa and can’t wait to share its charms. Of course, safety is the most important role of a guide. They have a good understanding of the traffic conditions in the area and escort with safety as their first priority. They also aim to complete the Biwaichi at a speed that suits the participants’ physical strength without pushing themselves too hard. The charm of the region that you can only discover on a guided tour Local landscapes whose charm you would not know if you were just driving normally. A local guide will show you the secrets of such landscapes. By learning about them, you will deepen your understanding of the area and develop an attachment to it. Since you have come all the way to Lake Biwa, it would be a waste to just drive and be done with it. With the assistance of a guide, you will be able to deepen your understanding of the region’s subtle changes in nature, topography, history, culture, and other aspects of the area.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/164982/1/164982-1-894887b4a37b325a2cd6a9d33fc61f40-1200×675.jpg There are various secrets in the ordinary scenery Five “Biwaichi” plans and prices to choose from depending on your physical strength and schedule In the [E-OMI CYCLING Recommended Biwaichi Plan Series], we have prepared five recommended plans to suit your physical strength and desired schedule. There are many ways to cycle around Lake Biwa. For example, there is Minami-ko (about 50km in circumference) on the south side of Lake Biwa Bridge (the longest bridge on Lake Biwa, dividing the lake into north and south), Kita-ko (about 150km in circumference) on the north side, and Furu-Biwaichi (about 200km in circumference) which combines both the north and south. For those cycling around Lake Biwa for the first time, it is difficult to understand the size of Japan’s largest lake unless you have
experienced it. Based on past achievements, this plan has been designed to be enjoyed by many cycling beginners to intermediate and advanced riders. 〇Five plans to choose from based on distance and schedule
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/164982/1/164982-1-154f33c008140e0eff6930e97d6d6235-788×338.png
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/164982/1/164982-1-52f40ad0d3739198dbb6d4f9406341a1-625×278.png ・Price is the basic fee accommodation fee other options *We will suggest recommended accommodations 【Plan Included】※Common to all plans ・Electric assisted bicycle (VOTANI) rental ・Cycling guide (Japanese) 1 person ・Light van type support car (including driver) ・Accommodation arrangements, insurance, etc. Details of each plan Click here https://biwako-tourismbase.com/tour/tag/Vx4MNq5O 〇Application flow The basic steps for participating in a tour are explained below. 1. Each plan includes the service content and tour fees excluding
accommodation and meal fees. If you find a plan that interests you, please click on “Book Here” at the bottom to enter the reception form and fill in the necessary information. We can also customize the departure location and other details to suit your needs. 2. Biwako Tourism Base will send you a travel plan by email. 3. Once you are satisfied with the plan and price, you can proceed to pay the application fee or travel fee. 4. After confirming your payment, Biwako Tourism Base will send you the travel contract “Travel Guidebook”. In addition to the travel guide, you will receive a leaflet on cycling preparations and precautions, as well as a Biwaichi cycling map, by mail. Make sure you are prepared before you depart. 5. Start heading to Biwaichi from the meeting point on the day! Enjoy the magnificent scenery of Lake Biwa. 6. After you finish, you will receive a Biwako Tourism Base original “Biwaichi Finish Certificate” with your name on it.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/164982/1/164982-1-b0b56733514103ff25792af458e8a64a-3900×2936.jpg Biwaichi Official Cycling Map
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/164982/1/164982-1-f694b0a5f90b6198e71c93e41d16de69-848×1200.jpg Original certificate of completion with your name Unknown charms of Shiga
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/164982/1/164982-1-79395bd85b6bdbc2536e01f33a9cf6a7-1000×666.jpg Oku-Biwako Observation Spot at the End of the Old Shizugatake Tunnel Shiga is a relatively minor area in terms of tourism. This is because there are not many obvious and powerful tourist spots. There is Lake Biwa, the largest lake in Japan. However, because it is so large, it looks like an ocean at first glance, and it can be said that its charm is difficult to convey. That’s why we recommend a trip to experience its size by bicycle. Biwaichi is a national cycle route (Note 1). Along the route, you can encounter scenery that can only be seen on a bicycle trip. For example, when you pass through the old Shizugatake Tunnel, which is located almost at the northernmost tip of Lake Biwa, you can see the large lake from north to south. The starting point is far away. It’s a view that makes you realize the size of Lake Biwa. Also, from the Biwaichi dedicated road along Lake Biwa, you can see scenery that is hard to notice when driving on the road. For example, from early to late April, you can see a cluster of “Nourushi” trees on the lakeshore around Takashima City. Around the time when the Somei-Yoshino cherry blossoms start to fall, a pale yellow-green color spreads across the wetlands on the lakeshore. Since it is in a position that cannot be seen from the perspective of a car, it is a seasonal feature that can only be seen by bicycle.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/164982/1/164982-1-bfa91e81e61563b9f392acf772b11350-700×466.jpg A cluster of wells spreading on the shores of Lake West
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/164982/1/164982-1-da4461fb681df1936b65980668c0e822-1200×900.jpg Swans from Hubei: Keep quiet when they meet them. Biwa Lake is where many migratory birds fly in every autumn and winter season. In particular, natural swans that arrive from Russia around the middle of October can be found in the Hubei area from autumn to winter. It is also possible to find it near the Kohoku Bird Center or on the shores of Lake West where there are few people, and that bicycles allow you to watch quietly from the Biwaichi route without scaring you. Note 1: Routes certified by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism to promote cycling routes that represent Japan and can be proud of worldwide, both domestically and internationally. A new way of travel that can be experienced on a bicycle Try a bicycle stroll around a place about 5km away from where you live. You will surely find a landscape you didn’t know about, and you may want to try it out. Bicycles are tools that allow you to enjoy the scenery and changes in terrain that spreads out in areas that are more than walking or less than a car. You can discover the real, living landscapes of Lake Biwa, Japan’s largest lake that can only be experienced on a bicycle, including the scale of Lake Biwa, the expressions that change with the seasons, the smell of the wind, and the nature of flowers and waterfowl. Try to capture the scenery that has not been featured in the media or social media with your sensibility.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/164982/1/164982-1-33a04d6631cb4266b135fc28ec1b3f01-3900×2936.jpg The sunrise of Lake Biwa climbs in the silence
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/164982/1/164982-1-0b927b6fda5e62f5c70b3082616bb7d5-3072×2346.jpg Lakeshore green space that will soothe your fatigue
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/164982/1/164982-1-4426c8c50a581a21484e6c8f1fd28d3d-3900×2925.jpg Oura is a quiet lake that you can’t help but look at! Also, riding a bicycle with your own feet feels like expanding the boundaries of your own possibilities. When you go around Lake Biwa, you will be confident and moved that you have completed an incredible distance. Do you know? In fact, Shiga Prefecture is the longest-lived prefecture, ranked number one in the average life expectancy ranking by prefecture. If you cycling in the relaxing scenery of Lake Biwa, your mind and body will surely be delighted. A cycling tour that anyone can enjoy from Lake Biwa! Long-distance cycling, such as around Lake Biwa, is a world where there is a high hurdle for beginners who have no experience in serious cycling, or those who do not own their own bike, with the skills to ride a serious sports bike, how to choose the path, and how far they can ride in one day. However, bicycles are actually more familiar vehicles. And because of its flat terrain, Lake Biwa is relatively beginner friendly and is not an area that is difficult to go around. We at Biwakotourism Base are travel agencies that were established with the aim of lowering the hurdles to the Lake Biwa challenge and wanting many people to experience the appeal of traveling by bicycle. Let’s go out with us on a journey to make your mind and body wellness-filled with Lake Biwa! About Representative Ichimaru Tsuyoshi
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/164982/1/164982-1-a4cc264d30761f69d0f3ffb3fa6eeab4-856×1013.jpg Representative Ichimaru Tsuyoshi (Qualification) Domestic travel business management manager Domestic Itinerary Manager Japan Cycling Guide Association Registration Guide I was born and raised in Shiga Prefecture. I used to work for a printing company, but one day I suddenly started to wonder, “Who is my job useful to?” The daily life is a process of disposing of large amounts of paper due to small mistakes, frequent problems caused by communication within the organization, and repeated meaningless activities, even though they receive a salary. While I didn’t feel a sense of connection with society or a purpose in life, I began to think that I could work more closely to people’s hearts through what I love, such as bicycles. Participating as a cycling town development volunteer in Moriyama City was the first step. Through our activities, our attachment to the community has become even deeper, but at the same time, I have come to feel that “to reach more people, we need a continuity system.” I thought that in order to develop it as a locally rooted tourism rather than being a temporary event, it would take another stage. At that time, there was a turning point in my own family as well. For a while, my child became truant. As I accept and confront this reality, I began to think that what I could do is to show my life from the ground up, trying something from scratch. So I decided to jump into the world of tourism with no experience and start a business. Feel the wind on your bike, taste the delicious food of the area, meet people, and just look at the scenery. During such casual travel time, you have the power to regulate your mind and body. I hope to make my life and the future of my community once again “vivid” through tourism in this Shiga region. (Other services, future developments) ・LINE official
(https://lin.ee/203Gkip) Tour for members is being held *Released on the official website and LINE – Self-guided tours (no guides, no guides, only digital maps and cargo transport support cars, and accommodations) will be sold at any time for customers both in Japan and abroad.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/164982/1/164982-1-10633537a831910ab2c126130e6065b3-1001×500.jpg [Travel planning and organizer] Biwakotourism Base (Operating Company: LLC Ryanmichi) Shiga Prefecture Governor Registered Travel Industry No. 3-279 Representative employee Ichimaru Tsuyoshi 520-2153 1-24-11 Ichiriyama, Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture TEL: 077-532-7863
FAX050-6868-4628 Email: wanado0710@gmail.com (SNS) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/biwako_tourism_base/ Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/biwakotourismbase/ Details about this release *This email will be sent automatically, so please refrain from replying.
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