- 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
TICKET
Book online tickets for smooth entry on the day.
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
Events
Where to go next
10/10 - 10/11
Otsu Matsuri
Tenson Shrine and around JR Otsu Station, Otsu (Shiga)
10/16
Nagahama Kita-Biwako Fireworks: Yogo
Lake Yogo Green Plaza (in front of the Lake Yogo Visitor Center)
10/11 - 10/17
Ogoto Onsen Yoru Akari
Ogoto Onsen Tourist Park
10/17
Biwako Oktoberfest 2026
Three venues: Otsu Port (main), Biwako Otsu Prince Hotel and Ogoto Onsen Port
10/11
O'PAL Autumn Fureai Marche
O'PAL, Ogoto, Otsu (Lake Biwa)

5/2 - 3/20
Kobe Port Weekend Fireworks 2026–27 | Weekend Fireworks off Meriken Park
Meriken Park

9/19 - 12/26
EAT LOCAL KOBE Farmers Market
Higashi Yuenchi Park, Chuo-ku, Kobe
10/3 - 10/11
Kobe Motomachi Music Week (27th)
Kobe Motomachi Shopping Street (1-bangai to 6-chome) and nearby halls
