wildwater Accessibility Information

Barrier-Free Outdoor Support wildwater is a tour operator in Shiga Prefecture that offers a variety of accessible tours on Lake Biwa.

Background information

Wildwater is a pioneer in accessibility-led outdoor activities on Lake Biwa, Japan’s largest lake. It offers SUP, kayak, canoe, fishing, and other tours.

Founded by Takehito Kano, a former firefighter with over 20 years of experience, wildwater is built on a solid foundation of training and expertise, ensuring that visitors can participate with added peace of mind, knowing they are in very safe and capable hands throughout their tour.

Drawing from his past rescue experiences, Kano has developed specialized equipment that assists visitors to board the boat that takes them deeper into the lake. This same assistive equipment is also used to help visitors participate in activities on the lake, including stand-up paddle boarding (SUPs), kayaking, canoeing, and fishing.

Kano also studied abroad as a high school student and is comfortable conversing in English, providing an added layer of comfort and familiarity for inbound visitors.

Wildwater received the Best Accessibility Travel Award in the 2025 Japan Travel Awards.

Getting There

All wildwater tours start at piers along Lake Biwa in Otsu City. To reach Otsu, you can take the Tokaido Shinkansen (Bullet Train) from Tokyo Station to Kyoto Station, which takes approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes. From Kyoto, you can then transfer to the Tokaido-Sanyo Line and travel to Otsu Station and other nearby stations surrounding the lake. For those without a car, the best way to reach wildwater’s meeting points is via a short taxi ride. For those preferring to drive, rental cars are available in Kyoto and Otsu, and the trip to Lake Biwa takes about an hour via expressway.

Accessibility

Wildwater was founded on the vision of making outdoor recreation on Lake Biwa inclusive for all, with this ongoing commitment to accessibility evident in the creation and use of specially made equipment. Drawing from his past rescue experiences, Kano created a harness that lifts visitors with physical disabilities from their wheelchairs and onto the boat that takes them deeper into the lake. The boat, which was imported from the United States, features a user-friendly low design, allowing for easy boarding or disembarking at the water’s edge. The same assistive harness is later used to help visitors participate in marine sports activities, including lifting them onto stand-up paddleboards (SUPs), kayaks, canoes, and allowing them to fish on the lake.

Beyond its assistive equipment and experienced guide and founder, wildwater provides a barrier-free experience to guests before they even begin their tour. Before boarding the boat, visitors can freely use the nearby accessible bathroom where they can change and prepare for their chosen activity. Assistance dogs are also allowed on board.