You may have heard of Japan's famous “Keirin racing,” now an Olympic sport, which is a bicycle race that is paced in the first laps by a motorised vehicle. The boat races on Lake Biwa are a kind of aquatic version of Keirin racing — but with high-powered, high-tech speedboats instead of bicycles.

Boat racing offers locals — and visitors — an exciting and completely legal way to place wagers. These races originated in Japan and are overseen and operated by the government.

We’ll depart from Kyoto Station and travel to beautiful Lake Biwa in Shiga for the event. The boats are high-powered, state-of-the-art machines, and the races are thrilling to watch — and maybe even a bit more exciting if you place a small bet!

Kenji, who has twenty years of experience with these races, will provide clear, easy-to-follow instructions on how to enjoy the sport and how to place wagers (optional).

Guests aged 20 and up who choose not to bet are still very welcome to come along and enjoy the excitement of the races with us at Lake Biwa.

We'll make a brief stop at a local supermarket where you'll get to choose your favourite bento (Japanese lunchbox) snacks and drinks — including beer, sake, or a Japanese highball — for a delicious picnic at the races.

Duration: About 4 hours
(Departure from Kyoto Station at 12:00pm. Travel time to the venue: 35 minutes. We spend nearly 3 hours at the stadium. Return travel time: 35 minutes.)

Group size: 1-4 people

This tour includes the cost of travel from Kyoto station to the stadium and back again; a light meal; the entry fee; and a reserved seat.