A roundup of free campsites in Shiga Prefecture. Also introducing lakeside green spaces where you can BBQ!
When it comes to Shiga Prefecture, it’s one of the regions in Kansai with an especially large number of popular campgrounds.
In particular, campgrounds near Lake Biwa are popular across the board, showing that many people dream of lakeside camping.
What’s more, in summer you can enjoy swimming in the lake, making these spots especially popular with campers bringing kids.
In this article, we’ll introduce a selection of campgrounds in Shiga Prefecture where you can camp for free.
In fact, there aren’t that many free campgrounds, so the main focus will be on the lakeside green spaces along Lake Biwa.
There are other lakeside green spaces not listed here, but note that barbecues are not allowed at those locations.
Now, let’s dive into the free campgrounds in Shiga Prefecture!
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campground
Sone-numa Lakeside Green Space
Sonenuma Park in Hikone City is a lakeside green space where open fires are prohibited, but barbecues are allowed. Despite the name “lakeside green space,” it’s not along Lake Biwa, so if you’re looking to enjoy lakeside camping, please visit another lakeside green area. Among the lakeside green spaces, Sonenuma Park is a place where you can enjoy more genuine camping, with an atmosphere much like a forested campsite. The natural surroundings make it great for families, of course, but its calm ambiance makes it especially appealing for solo campers.
| Name | Sone-numa Lakeside Green Space |
| Address | Mitsuya-cho, Hikone City, Shiga Prefecture |
| Business hours | 24 hours |
| phone number | 077-584-5330 |
| Website | https://www.seibu-la.co.jp/park/kogan/facility/ |
Lakeside Green Area Akanoi-1, Akanoi-3
Of the Akanoi-1 to Akanoi-3 areas located very close to the Karasuma Peninsula, the two places where you can have a barbecue are Akanoi-1 and Akanoi-3. Akanoi-1 has one large parking lot right next to it, while Akanoi-3 has a small parking lot right beside it and another large parking lot a short walk away. Both are appealing for their spacious open fields; there’s no playground equipment, but the charm is that you can leisurely pitch a tent as if it were a free campsite. Akanoi-1 has few trees, offering good views, while Akanoi-3 has dense trees along the lakeshore, giving a stronger sense of nature.
| Name | Lakeside Green Area Akanoi-1, Akanoi-3 |
| Address | Yamaga-cho, Moriyama City, Shiga Prefecture |
| Business hours | 24 hours |
| phone number | 077-584-5330 |
| Website | https://www.seibu-la.co.jp/park/kogan/facility/ |
Kogans Ryokuchi Yoshikawa
Kogan Ryokuchi Yoshikawa is located very close to Miami-hama Auto Campground, a well-known auto campsite in Shiga Prefecture. It has parking for about 40 cars and features a long, narrow lawn area along the lakeshore. The southern half is a sandy beach, while the northern half is a pine forest. Although there are pines, the open area is clearly visible from the road, so some people may feel reluctant to stay overnight. For those people, a good option is to reserve a nearby campground for your overnight stay and spend the time before check-in or after check-out here.
| Name | Kogans Ryokuchi Yoshikawa |
| Address | Yoshikawa, Yasu City, Shiga Prefecture |
| Business hours | 24 hours |
| phone number | 077-584-5330 |
| Website | https://www.seibu-la.co.jp/park/kogan/facility/ |
Lakeside Green Space, Kihama-1
Kihanoma Lakeside Green Space is about a 10-minute drive from Pieri Moriyama. There are Kihama-1 and Kihama-2 areas, but barbecues are only allowed at Kihama-1. There are two large parking lots—one each on the south and north sides of the park—and two restrooms, making it convenient. The grounds are spacious, so you can relax comfortably. One of Kihama-1’s major attractions is that you can view the Biwako Ohashi Bridge and enjoy a sweeping view of the southern side of Lake Biwa. The park also has small playground equipment, making it recommended for visitors with young children.
| Name | Lakeside Green Space, Kihama-1 |
| Address | Kihama-cho, Moriyama City, Shiga Prefecture |
| Business hours | 24 hours |
| phone number | 077-584-5330 |
| Website | https://www.seibu-la.co.jp/park/kogan/facility/ |
Lake Shore Green Space Tsudae-1, Tsudae-3
Lakefront Green Space Tsudae is located close to the highly popular Shina area within the lakeside parks. The Tsudae area consists of Tsudae-1 through Tsudae-3, but note that barbecues are only allowed at Tsudae-1 and Tsudae-3. Both have spacious parking lots and large lawn fields, so if the Shina area is crowded and you can’t get in, it’s worth checking out the Tsudae area. The view toward Lake Biwa from the open area is excellent, with Mount Hiei visible directly in front of you.
| Name | Lake Shore Green Space Tsudae-1, Tsudae-3 |
| Address | Shimonakachō, Kusatsu City, Shiga Prefecture |
| Business hours | 24 hours |
| phone number | 077-584-5330 |
| Website | https://www.seibu-la.co.jp/park/kogan/facility/ |