Lake Biwa Museum

	Introduction
	The Galleries
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	Visitor Guide
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	Lake Biwa Facts
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Visitor Guide

The Lake Biwa Museum is located in Kusatsu, near Kyoto, and can be easily reached via public transport or car.

Museum hours
9:30 am to 5:00 pm (entry until 4:30 pm). The Discovery Room is open from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm (last entry 4:00).

Museum Holidays
The Museum is usually closed on Mondays, unless that day is a national holiday, and certain other times of the year (e.g. New Year holiday). Please consult the table below to plan your visit.

Days the Museum is Closed, April 2012 to March 2013

April (2012) 9, 16, 23 August 6 December 3, 10, 17, 25-31

May 7, 14, 21, 28 September 3-7, 10, 24 January (2013) 1-2, 8, 15, 21-25, 28

June 4, 11, 18, 25 October 1, 15, 22, 29 February 4, 18, 25

July 2, 9 November 5, 12, 19, 26 March 4, 11, 18

Admission Fees (from 1st April 2009)
Adults - 750 yen (600 yen each for groups of 20 or more)
University/High School Students - 400 yen (320 yen each for groups of 20 or more)
Elementary/ Junior High School Students - Free
Retired residents of Shiga Prefecture - Free
Persons with disabilities - Free

Foreign Language Guides
Headphone commentary and leaflets are available in English, Chinese, Korean and Portuguese.

There is also an English language, 16 page, color booklet available that covers the main parts of the permanent exhibition galleries. This is free to ticket holders and can be requested from the ticket counter. It can also be downloaded as a PDF file (1.8 MB).

Other Facilities
The museum is fully accessible to wheelchair users and wheelchairs are available for use in the museum. For infants, a nursing room and baby strollers can be used by visitors.
Access to the Museum
Train and Bus
Take the Biwako Line from Kyoto (20 mins) or Miabara and get off at Kusatsu Station. From the west side of the station, buses regularly depart for the museum from bus stop number 2. Look for a bus with the destination sign: (Karasuma Hanto)
Cost is 420 yen one way. Get on the bus at the rear door and take a ticket from the yellow metal box by the door. When getting off the bus simply drop the ticket with 420 yen into the plastic box by the driver. A change machine for coins and 1000 yen notes is available by the driver.

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BUS TIMETABLE
Mondays to Fridays Saturdays, Sundays & Public Holidays
Kusatsu Station West Exit
to Lake Biwa Museum Lake Biwa Museum
to Kusatsu Station Kusatsu Station West Exit
to Lake Biwa Museum Lake Biwa Museum
to Kusatsu Station

Kusatsu Station Departure Lake Biwa Museum Arrival Lake Biwa Museum Departure Kusatsu Station Arrival Kusatsu Station Departure Lake Biwa Museum Arrival Lake Biwa Museum Departure Kusatsu Station Arrival

8:00 8:24 8:27 8:51 8:00 8:24 8:27 8:52

8:55 9:19 9:24 9:48 9:10 9:34 9:39 10:03

9:30 9:54 9:59 10:23 9:55 10:21 10:25 10:49

10:30 10:54 10:59 11:23 10:40 11:04 11:09 11:33

11:30 11:54 11:59 12:23 11:25 11:49 11:54 12:18

12:30 12:54 12:59 13:23 11:55 12:19 12:24 12:48

13:30 13:54 13:59 14:23 12:40 13:04 13:09 13:33

14:30 14:54 14:59 15:23 13:25 13:49 13:54 14:18

15:30 15:54 15:59 16:23 13:55 14:19 14:24 14:48

16:30 16:54 17:30 17:54 14:40 15:04 15:09 15:33

17:30 17:54 18:00 18:22 14:40 15:04 15:09 15:33

18:55 19:19 19:22 19:48 15:25 15:49 15:54 16:18

16:30 16:54 16:57 17:21

17:00 17:24 17:29 17:53

17:55 18:19 18:24 18:48

18:25 18:49 18:54 19:18

19:25 19:49 19:54 20:18

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Car
Exit the Meishin Expressway at the Ritto Interchange and drive along the Ritto Shinanaka Route and the Lakeshore (Sazanami) Road (approximately 30 minutes). Parking is available.