With an area of 670 square km, Lake Biwa 琵琶湖 is the largest lake in Japan. The entire lake is within the Shiga Prefecture 滋賀県. On its southwest corner is the largest city on its shore, Ōtsu 大津市, which borders Kyoto. The outlet of Lake Biwa is the Seta River 瀬田川, which changes it name to Uji River 宇治川 in Kyoto Prefecture, where it merges with the Katsura River 桂川 and Kamo River 鴨川. After merging, it is called the Yodo River 淀川, which flows south then west into Osaka Bay.
Originally called Ōmi 淡海, its modern name came from its shape from above looking like a biwa, an Oriental lute like string instrument, with its neck pointing southwest.
We stayed at the Ryotei Koyo 旅亭紅葉, which is a lakeshore hot spring hotel with a theme based on the Tale of Genji 源氏物語, an 11th century romantic novel.