Lake Biwa Museum, Public aquarium and museum in Kusatsu, Japan
Lake Biwa Museum is a nature and educational museum in Kusatsu with exhibition zones focused on freshwater ecosystems and regional history. It features living creatures in large tanks and offers interactive displays about the environment and human connections to the lake.
The museum opened in 1996 and combines modern exhibitions with historical objects including a traditional wooden boat and a preserved house from the 1960s. This mix shows how people have lived and worked in this lake region over time.
The museum displays traditional fishing methods and handcrafted tools that local communities have used along the lake for generations. These practices shape how people in the region understand their relationship with the water and its resources.
The museum sits about 25 minutes by bus from JR Kusatsu Station and is straightforward to reach. Plan to arrive in the morning since the exhibits require time to explore and the living creatures are more active earlier in the day.
The museum runs a specialized protection program for 40 endangered species that live only in this lake. This rescue work happens mostly behind the scenes but shows the important role the museum plays in saving local wildlife.
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