A Village Afloat: Life on the Waters of Lake Biwa
The only inhabited island in a freshwater lake in Japan — that is Okinoshima.
No cars. No convenience stores. Yet life quietly breathes here, in rhythm with the lake.
This isn’t a resort or a typical tourist destination.
It’s a place to gently encounter real lives being lived.
Let the lapping of the water slowly unwind your senses as you step into island time.

To an Island of Quiet Life Floating on the Lake

Located in Omihachiman, Shiga Prefecture, Okinoshima (Oki-shima) is about a 10-minute boat ride from Horikiri Port. It’s the largest island in Lake Biwa and Japan’s only inhabited freshwater lake island. There isn’t a single car on the island — all commuting, shopping, and schooling is done by boat. That’s the everyday life here, not an exception. Rather than a tourist spot, this is simply a place where people live. And visitors are invited to gently step into that quiet way of life.

A Timeless Way of Life, in Harmony with the Lake

Many of Okinoshima’s residents come from fishing families, living in harmony with the blessings of Lake Biwa. They continue to use traditional fishing techniques unique to the island, catching freshwater shrimp and crucian carp. Three-wheeled carts used for fishing line the port, while nets flutter in the breeze — this is the unchanged, enduring scenery of the island.
Why stay on such a remote island?
One islander shared quietly,
“I’ve always been here. This is just normal for us.
Many people have left, but there’s something you can only feel here —
the sound of the lake, the color of the morning sky,
the cats meowing at your doorstep...
all of it is part of living on this island.”
Time here moves slowly, yet steadily.
It’s a place where balance with nature lives on — something the modern world has often traded away.

Abundant Time on a Small Island

Okinoshima may not have any headline tourist attractions. Yet the island itself is a scene of irreplaceable beauty. It’s a feeling that only comes from being there. Narrow alleyways wind between houses. Women tend to their gardens in calm rhythm. Islanders greet each other warmly as they pass by on their three-wheelers. Here, locals instantly know who is from the island — and who is visiting. This tight-knit community overflows with human connection.
Stopping by a small café is another quiet pleasure of the island.
Enjoy handmade soft-serve ice cream or coffee, and let the island air envelop you.

A Changing Future, and a New Breath

Though Okinoshima faces the challenges of a shrinking and aging population, signs of renewal are emerging. Newcomers — artists, young fishers, and craftspeople — have begun bringing fresh life to the island. Trash collection is done by boat, and natural materials like wood are returned gently to the earth. Here, life is filled with wisdom about how to coexist with nature.
In spring, the island blooms with cherry blossoms,
and in about an hour, you can explore most of what Okinoshima has to offer.
In summer, locals dive from their favorite swimming spots, and anglers often visit to enjoy the bounty of the lake.
There are many small moments to feel the gentle, unhurried rhythm of island life.

A Journey to Touch the Lives of Others

Rather than rushing through, stop and listen. The sound of the lake, the nets swaying in the breeze, the gentle clatter of a three-wheeler passing by — each one tells a part of Okinoshima’s story.
This is an island that quietly asks you to walk with care.
Not tourism for consumption, but a journey to touch real lives.
Come and feel what it means to truly spend time in someone else’s story.