[Railway] A trip around Lake Biwa for 200 yen

Are you familiar with the "large-loop ride"?

Normally, JR tickets are purchased based on a set "boarding station, arrival station, and route." However, in large metropolitan areas, there are many sections where multiple routes to a destination are possible, making it complicated to set a specific route. Therefore, in large metropolitan suburban areas, a special rule is adopted where you only decide on the "boarding station and arrival station," the fare is calculated based on the shortest route, and you are free to choose your route (provided you do not backtrack, pass through the same station twice, or exit the station midway).

In other words, when traveling within designated areas like Tokyo or Osaka, as long as you meet certain conditions, you can take any route and pay the fare for the cheapest path connecting the station where you entered the ticket gate and the station where you exited.

Here are the designated areas in the Kansai region. It covers a very wide range, including major stations like Kyoto and Osaka, as well as Wakayama, Banshu-Ako just before Okayama, and Tsuge in Mie Prefecture.
I previously used this rule to go on a journey of over 300 kilometers for 190 yen.

It was a physically demanding trip with no option to exit midway, but this time I'm going for a slightly easier journey.
If you look at the top right of the Osaka suburban area map, you'll see a circle drawn from Yamashina to Omi-Shiotsu to Maibara and back to Yamashina. This is the line that surrounds Lake Biwa.

In other words, if you follow the aforementioned rules in this section, you can do a "Biwa-ichi" (a lap around Lake Biwa) with a ticket for just one station!
So, the 200-yen trip around Lake Biwa starts from Kyoto Station!

I bought a ticket to Otsu Station at Kyoto Station. The next station is Yamashina Station, but if I went around Lake Biwa with a Kyoto to Yamashina ticket, I would pass through Yamashina Station twice, so I bought a ticket to Otsu Station, one station further.
By the way, if you buy a ticket at an automatic ticket machine with a "Midori no Madoguchi" (ticket office) function, you can get a larger-sized ticket similar to a reserved seat ticket, which adds to the travel mood (lol).

The trip starts with the 10:57 departure for Omi-Maiko from Kyoto Station.
To get from Kyoto Station to Omi-Shiotsu via the Kosei Line, you basically have to take the Special Rapid Service, which runs once an hour. There are local trains bound for Omi-Maiko, but you would end up transferring to a Special Rapid Service at Omi-Maiko anyway.

Therefore, if you miss your intended Special Rapid Service, your itinerary will be delayed by an hour. Please be careful.

From Yamashina, the line separates from the Biwako Line and heads onto the Kosei Line. Once you pass Otsukyo Station, you start to catch glimpses of Lake Biwa.

By the way, since the Kosei Line was built from the start as a high-speed line to connect Kansai and Hokuriku in the shortest time possible, there are no railroad crossings at all. You can enjoy high-speed travel even on local trains.

Arrived at Omi-Maiko at 11:43. Since there are no trains until 12:16, I took a break in the waiting room.

The waiting room had cushions on all the seats. Perhaps they anticipated people transferring at this station? It was quite comfortable to sit in.

I headed for Omi-Shiotsu on the 12:16 Special Rapid Service bound for Tsuruga.
The train was full of foreign tourists with suitcases! It seems they are heading toward Kanazawa by transferring at Tsuruga.

This area offered the most beautiful view of Lake Biwa! At a glance, it looks like the ocean (lol).

After passing Omi-Takashima, the peaceful rural landscape continues.
Arrived at Omi-Shiotsu at 13:01. Here, the Special Rapid Service I arrived on and the next Special Rapid Service bound for Himeji are lined up on the platform.

Now, boarding the Special Rapid Service bound for Himeji from here.
You can return to Otsu Station with just this one train. In other words, a trip around Lake Biwa is possible with a minimum of just one transfer. The Special Rapid Service is truly impressive.
By the way, this train originates at Omi-Shiotsu Station. It is a powerhouse that covers the approximately 230 kilometers to Himeji in 3 hours and 11 minutes.

I had some time at Maibara Station along the way, so I took photos of the Limited Express Shirasagi, which became a Tsuruga-bound train starting this spring, and the 311 series, which is rumored to be nearing retirement.

At Maibara, which is the border station with JR Central, you can also see JR Central trains.
Returning to the train, it headed straight for Otsu.

The Tokaido Line, which runs along the east side of the lake, is nicknamed the "Biwako Line," but you can hardly see Lake Biwa from it (lol).
Make sure to enjoy the view of Lake Biwa while on the Kosei Line.

I've ridden the Maibara to Kyoto section many times, so I just enjoyed some reading while looking out the window occasionally. Reading is very productive on a large-loop trip.

Partly because I was sleeping on the way, the train arrived at Otsu in no time.

Arrived at Otsu at 14:34.
It was a 168.7 km Biwa-ichi trip that took about three and a half hours.

It is relatively easy to try even among large-loop rides, and you can also enjoy the sense of accomplishment of going around Lake Biwa, so why don't you all give it a try??