VENUES 展示会場紹介

The BIWAKO BIENNALE 2025 will be held across three areas:
the OMIHACHIMAN Old Town Area, the CHŌMEIJI Area, and the OKISHIMA Island Area.
Details about individual exhibition venues in these areas are currently being prepared.
They will be updated here soon, so please stay tuned!
Area map and access information

OMIHACHIMAN Old Town Area

Omihachiman is a town on the southeast shore of Lake Biwa. The main stage of the area is the Old Town of Omihachiman, where Omi merchants first developed and prospered. Hachiman-bori (the Hachiman moat), built in 1585 for the Hachiman’yama Castle by Toyotomi Hidetsugu, is a true symbol of Omihachiman. Water transportation was an important factor of the castle town’s prosperity, which still appears in the elegance of its streets, and the town's scenery is a joy to behold in each of the four seasons.

Shinmachi street. Omihachiman has been the main stage of the BIWAKO BIENNALE for years.
Hachiman-bori, a major artery that played an important role in the town's prosperity as a waterway [OMIHACHIMAN Old Town]

CHŌMEIJI Temple Area

Chōmeiji Temple is an independent Tendai temple, known as the 31st temple of the Saigoku Thirty-three Kannon Pilgrimage route. It is said to have been founded in the 27th year of Emperor Suiko’s reign (619 AD), with Prince Shotoku as its founder. The temple enshrines a triad of statues—Senju Kannon, Jūichimen Kannon, and Shō Kannon—believed to bring blessings of health, longevity, and protection from illness. Additionally, by climbing the 808 stone steps from the shore of Lake Biwa, visitors reach the temple’s main hall and three-story pagoda, both important cultural properties, located at an elevation of about 250 meters. The temple offers a stunning view of the changing seasons, where the lake and history come together in harmony, making it a beloved destination for both pilgrims and tourists.

Chōmeiji Temple, the first venue for this year's event.
Enjoy breathtaking panoramic views of Lake Biwa.

OKISHIMA Island Area

Okishima Island is located about 1.5 km off the shore of Lake Biwa. This small island, which takes about two hours to visit on foot, is one of the few inhabited lake islands in the world. Okishima Island has a rich and long history. When the Okitsushima Shrine was built, it was still an uninhabited island of Gods, worshiped for navigators protection on Lake Biwa. To this day, the fishing industry is still thriving and the rich nature of Lake Biwa remains. Visitors will be able to enjoy the relaxed pace of life on this island.


  • ●There are only two public restrooms on Okishima Island: at Okishima Port and at the Okishima Elementary School Gymnasium.

Okishima Island, the only inhabited island in Japan located on a lake, floating in Lake Biwa.
The island’s way of life, centered around fishing, and its rich history are still very much alive today.