Kosei Line

Kosei Line (湖西線; Kosei-sen)

Location	Kyoto and Shiga Prefecture(s)
Terminal Stations	Kyoto Station/Yamashina Station (Kyoto) and Omi-Shiotsu Station (Shiga)
Major Stations	Kyoto Station, Yamashina Station, Omi-Shiotsu Station
Train Types	Futsu, Kaisoku, Shin-kaisoku
Train Schedule	Schedule
Total Distance	74.1 km
Opened	1974
Operator	JR West
Others	Other Railways in Shiga, Railways in Japan
Links	JR Kosei Line

Japan Railways (JR) train line servicing the western and northern shores of Lake Biwa in Shiga Prefecture. From Kyoto Station, it goes as far as Omi-Shiotsu Station in northern Shiga, taking about 1 hr. 16 min. The faster Shin-kaisoku trains go farther to Tsuruga Station (Hokuriku Main Line) in Fukui. The Futsu (普通) local trains stop at every train station and may terminate at Nagahara Station. From the Tokaido Main Line, transfer at Yamashina Station (not Otsu Station). "Kosei" means "west of lake."

Be aware that the Kosei Line is sometimes adversely affected by strong winds coming down from the Hira mountains in the background. Strong winds can suspend train operations for hours.

After seven years of construction starting in March 1967, the JR Kosei Line began operating on July 20, 1974 between Yamashina and Omi-Shiotsu Stations (74.1 km). It replaced the old Kojaku Railway Line (江若鉄道) that ran from Hama-Otsu to Omi-Imazu until Oct. 1969 when it was abolished. The Kojaku Line first operated between Miidera Station and Eizan Station (now Hie-zan Sakamoto Station) in 1921. A few of the old train station buildings along the Kojaku Railway Line still remain in obscurity.

Express (Kyuko) and Limited Express (Tokkyu) trains started operating on the Kosei Line from March 10, 1975. On Dec. 4, 1988, Ono Station opened.

Train Stations

Going from Kyoto/Yamashina to northern Shiga, here are all the train stations and their local attractions:

Kyoto Station (京都駅) - Kyoto residents can easily reach Lake Biwa beaches in summer.
Yamashina Station (山科駅) - In Kyoto. Transfer point between the Kosei Line, Tokaido Main Line, and Kyoto subway.
Otsukyo Station (大津京駅) - Formerly called Nishi-Otsu Station. The station's name was changed on March 15, 2008. Omi Jingu Shrine, Ojiyama Kofun Tumulus
Karasaki Station (唐崎駅) - Karasaki Jinja Shrine (Karasaki Pine)
Hie-zan Sakamoto Station (比叡山坂本駅) - Hiyoshi Taisha Shrine, Saikyoji Temple, Hie-zan Sakamoto Cable Car to Enryakuji Temple on Mt. Hiei. Rental bicycles at nearby Sakamoto Station (Sakamoto Tourist Association office) on the Keihan Ishiyama-Sakamoto Line.
Ogoto Onsen Station (おごと温泉駅) - Formerly called Ogoto Station. The station's name was changed on March 15, 2008. Ogoto Spa is nearby.
Katata Station (堅田駅) - Ukimido Floating Temple, Biwako Ohashi Bridge (west end)
Ono Station (小野駅) - Newest station to open (Dec. 4, 1988) on the Kosei Line.
Wani Station (和邇駅) - Wani-hama Beach
Horai Station (蓬莱駅) - Horai-hama Beach
Shiga Station (志賀駅) - Katsuragawa Keikoku Gorge, Biwako Valley
Hira Station (比良駅) - Hira mountains
Omi-Maiko Station (近江舞子駅) - Shiga's most popular beach is Omi-Maiko where many Kyotoites also come in the summer. Omatsuzaki
Kita-Komatsu Station (北小松駅) - Yobai no Taki Falls, Hira Genkimura.
Omi-Takashima Station (近江高島駅) - Shirahige Jinja Shrine (torii in lake), Haginohama Beach, Omizo Castle, Otomegaike Pond, Ireland Koryukan Village. Bicycle rental at the station (drop-off OK at Adogawa, Shin-Asahi, Omi-Imazu, or Makino Station).
Adogawa Station (安曇川駅) - Biwako Kodomo no Kuni, Yomeien Garden. Bicycle rental at the station (drop-off OK at Shin-Asahi Station, Omi-Imazu, Makino, or Omi-Takashima Station).
Shin-Asahi Station (新旭駅) - Harie where homes draw clean water from an ever-flowing spring directly from the ground into wells called kabata. A local NPO conducts tours of the area. Also, Shin Asahi Windmill Village. Bicycle rental at the station (drop-off OK at Omi-Imazu, Omi-Takashima, Makino Station, or Adogawa Station).
Omi-Imazu Station (近江今津駅) - Imazu-ko Pier (boat to Chikubushima island), Lake Biwa Rowing Song Museum (Biwako Shuko no Uta Shiryokan), Biwako Shuko no Uta song monument, Imazu Vories Shiryokan museum, Mt. Hakodate-yama. Bicycle rental at the station (drop-off OK at Makino Station, Shin-Asahi Station, Adogawa Station, or Omi-Takashima).
Omi-Nakasho Station (近江中庄駅) -
Makino Station (マキノ駅) - Makino Sunny Beach, Kaizu Osaki coast. Bicycle rental at the station (drop-off OK at Omi-Imazu, Omi-Takashima, Shin-Asahi, Adogawa, Nagahara Station, Omi-Shiotsu, Yogo, Kinomoto, Takatsuki, Kawake, Torahime, Nagahama, Sakata, or Maibara Station).
Nagahara Station (永原駅) - Marukobune no Yakata museum, Ranta no Yakata, Haraobi Kannon Temple. Bicycle rental at the station (drop-off OK at Omi-Imazu, Omi-Takashima, Shin-Asahi, Adogawa, Makino, Omi-Shiotsu, Yogo, Kinomoto, Takatsuki, Kawake, Torahime, Nagahama, Sakata, or Maibara Station).
Omi-Shiotsu Station (近江塩津駅) - Transfer station for JR Kosei Line and Hokuriku Line. Catch another train south to Nagahama/Maibara or north to Tsuruga/Fukui. Bicycle rental at the station (drop-off OK at Omi-Imazu, Omi-Takashima, Shin-Asahi, Adogawa, Makino, Nagahara, Yogo, Kinomoto, Takatsuki, Kawake, Torahime, Nagahama, Sakata, or Maibara Station)

＊Rental bicycles must be returned by 5 pm or so. Be sure to check what time you need to return the bicycle.