Lake Yogo

Published: Aug 11, 2026

Updated: Aug 11, 2026

Lake YogoShizugatakesmelt fishingfeather robe legendNagahama

Representative image — not a photograph of this location.

Lake Yogo is a small round lake, about 6.4 kilometres around, sitting in a bowl of hills north of Lake Biwa and separated from it by the Shizugatake ridge. It is called the mirror lake because on still mornings it reflects the surrounding hills without a break, and the oldest surviving version of the celestial robe legend in Japan is set here — a heavenly woman bathes, a man hides her feather robe, and she stays.

The ridge above it is where Hideyoshi defeated Shibata Katsuie in 1583 in the battle that decided who succeeded Nobunaga, and a chairlift runs up to the site in six minutes. From the top both lakes are visible at once, with Chikubushima out in Lake Biwa and Ibuki behind. In winter the lake freezes at the edges and smelt fishing runs from the two piers.

Essential Information

Opening Hours

Lakeside path open at all hours | Smelt fishing from about November to the end of March | Shizugatake chairlift operates seasonally — confirm current times

Closed: Open year-round; the chairlift and the fishing piers are seasonal

Entrance Fee

Free (lakeside path) | Smelt fishing ¥1,600 for high school students and over, ¥800 for elementary and junior high school | Chairlift fares charged separately — confirm current pricing

Best Season

November–March for smelt fishing and frozen lake edges | Still mornings year-round for the reflection | Late April for cherry blossom around the shore

Visit Duration

2–3 hours including the chairlift

Getting There

Access Information

Yogo-cho Kawanami, Nagahama City, around Yogo Station on the JR Hokuriku Line. The lakeside path is free and open at all hours. Smelt fishing runs from about November to the end of March from two piers, the Kawanami pier taking up to 400 people and the Edo pier 60; ¥1,600 for high school students and over, ¥800 for elementary and junior high school, with tackle sold on site. The Shizugatake chairlift climbs the ridge in about 6 minutes — confirm current operating season and fares.

Insider Guide

Premium

**Still mornings are the whole point.** The reflection is why it is called the mirror lake, and any wind removes it. Early is better than late. **Take the chairlift for both lakes at once.** Six minutes up the Shizugatake ridge and you can see Yogo on one side and Lake Biwa with Chikubushima on the other. The walk up takes about 40 minutes if the lift is not running. **Smelt fishing from November to March.** Two piers, tackle sold on the spot, and no experience needed. It is one of the few winter activities in northern Shiga that does not involve snow. **This is snow country.** Yogo gets heavy snow and the road and rail can be affected. The frozen lake edge is the reward. **The feather robe legend is recorded here first.** The oldest surviving Japanese version of the story is set at this lake, and the cedar the robe was hung on is marked on the shore. **The battle decided the succession.** Hideyoshi beat Shibata Katsuie on the ridge in 1583 and that is why he rather than anyone else inherited Nobunaga's position. The site markers are along the lift route.

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