Pop Japan

Located near Kyoto, Lake Biwa is said to be the biggest freshwater in the whole Land of the Rising Sun. Actually now a part of Shiga Prefecture, the lake was said to have been named because its shape, when seen from above, resembled that of the traditional Japanese stringed instrument called biwa. This name was said to have originated in the Edo period. Before that time, the lake was known in the name Awaumi or Freshawater Sea. Another old name of the lake is Chikatsu Awaumi or the the Freshwater Sea Near the Capital.

Photo by copyright owner A-giâu. Licensed under Creative Commons. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en)

Tags: kyoto, lake biwa, land of the rising sun, shiga prefecture, edo period, awaumi, chikatsu awaumi, freshwater sea, freshwater sea near the capital