Travel

'Running on Water' at Lake Biwa: Exciting Summer Fun for All Ages

At this annual summer event, participants dash across floating mats on the beautiful Lake Biwa to compete for the fastest time.

Published

8 months ago

August 30, 2023

The Sankei Shimbun

A contender falls into the water. (©Sankei by Yukia Watanabe)

The annual "Goza Hashiri" race at Lake Biwa screams summer vibes. Competitors must dash across a 30-meter stretch of the water's surface on floating goza mats. These mats are made from soft reeds, like thin tatami mats.

This year, the race kicked off on August 23 at the Manohama Beach area of Lake Biwa in Otsu, Shiga Prefecture.

*A competitor runs across the mats. (©Sankei by Yukia Watanabe)*

Running on Water

Despite the scorching heat, around 90 individuals competed for the fastest time. But the wind proved a formidable adversary, knocking many competitors into the water. Balancing on the undulating waves proved quite a challenge.

Among the contenders was Yusei Igei, a 12-year-old elementary school student from Otsu. Reflecting on the experience, he shared, "It was difficult to keep moving my legs forward, but the cold water felt good."

(Read a version of the article in Japanese.)

Author: The Sankei Shimbun