10.10 SAT – 11.21 SAT

Lake Biwa Otsu Night Cruise Fireworks

On Lake Biwa (boarding at Otsu Port)

Next date
Sat, Oct 10
Dates & time
October 10, 2026 (Sat) - November 21, 2026 (Sat) Boarding and departure times vary by plan (e.g. Michigan Light Cruise: meet 18:05, depart 18:35, return 20:50). The fireworks start time is kept secret; the show lasts about 25 minutes
Price & booking
18,400–226,800 yen depending on boat and plan Viewing is by boat ticket only. Choose a boat (Michigan, Bianca, Shiki or Ichibanmaru) and plan; sales close when full. Plan changes and cancellations follow the seller's rules.
Venue & access
On Lake Biwa (boarding at Otsu Port) Boarding at Otsu Port (5-1-1 Hamaotsu, Otsu); the nearest station is Keihan Biwako-Hamaotsu. The Biwako Otsukan dinner plan boards at Yanagasaki Port

There are 10 car parks within a 12-minute walk of On Lake Biwa (boarding at Otsu Port). The map shows each with its walking time.

Facility data comes from OpenStreetMap. It does not include opening hours, fees or availability.

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Why You Should Visit

Board a Lake Biwa Steamship cruise boat such as the Michigan or Bianca and watch fireworks from the water. Neither the launch point nor the start time is announced: the boats head for a secret spot in the middle of the lake, where a roughly 25-minute show is synchronised to well-known songs, mostly film music. In 2026 it runs twice, on October 10 (15th edition) and November 21 (16th). You choose a boat and plan, from dinner packages and rooftop seating to standing room on the side decks.

NOTE

Highlights
  • A roughly 25-minute music-synced show, mostly to film soundtracks
  • Secret fireworks: neither the launch point nor the start time is announced
Boats and plans
  • The Michigan, Bianca, Shiki and Ichibanmaru sail from Otsu Port
  • A plan combining dinner at Biwako Otsukan with the Michigan is also available
  • Depending on the plan: meals, rooftop seating, or standing room on the side decks

※Goes ahead in rain, cancelled in stormy weather; a forecast average wind speed of 10 m/s or more is the cancellation criterion

※Late arrivals cannot board after departure

出典: びわ湖大津・ナイトクルーズ花火 公式サイト

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FAQ

Can I watch from the shore?
The organizers present it as a show watched from the boats, and the launch point and start time are not announced.
Does it go ahead in the rain?
It goes ahead in rain and is cancelled in stormy weather. A forecast average wind speed of 10 m/s or more is the cancellation criterion.
Can children board?
Yes. On the Michigan Light Cruise plan, children aged 3 and under ride free. Prices vary by plan.