Lake Biwa
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Overview
Annual Rev
¥6.5m
12 mo avg
↑3%
from prior 12 mo
Occupancy rate
🔒 4•%
12 mo avg
••.•%
from prior 12 mo
Avg daily rate
🔒 ¥3••••
12 mo avg
••.•%
from prior 12 mo
Lead time
32 days
12 mo avg
↓4 days
from prior 12 mo
Revpar
¥8,544
12 mo avg
↓29%
from prior 12 mo
Methodology note: Figures reflect Lake Biwa market data as of May 2026. Data covers Airbnb, VRBO, and Booking.com listings. Values are seasonally influenced; rounding applied for readability.
Revenue per listing by bedroom
Bedroom count:
0
1
2
3
4+
Short-term rental supply growth
Performance metrics by bedroom
Bedrooms
Annual Rev
Supply
Revenue boost by amenity
| Amenity | Listings With | Revenue Boost | Revenue With | Revenue Without |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sauna | 12 (15%) | +¥13,679,342 (+224%) | ¥19,788,106 | ¥6,108,764 |
| 🔒 Amenity | 🔒 5• (••%) | 🔒 +$5••• (+••%) | 🔒 $7•••• | 🔒 $7•••• |
| 🔒 Amenity | 🔒 5• (••%) | 🔒 +$5••• (+••%) | 🔒 $7•••• | 🔒 $7•••• |
| 🔒 Amenity | 🔒 5• (••%) | 🔒 +$5••• (+••%) | 🔒 $7•••• | 🔒 $7•••• |
| 🔒 Amenity | 🔒 5• (••%) | 🔒 +$5••• (+••%) | 🔒 $7•••• | 🔒 $7•••• |
| 🔒 Amenity | 🔒 5• (••%) | 🔒 +$5••• (+••%) | 🔒 $7•••• | 🔒 $7•••• |
Nightly rate by day of week
Occupancy rate by day of week
Listings by channel
Listings by rental type
Listings by amenities
Listings by size
4+ bedrooms (0%)
Listings by availability
Length of stay by bedroom
Studio (2.7 nights)
1 bedroom (2.6 nights)
4+ bedrooms (2.4 nights)
2 bedrooms (2.1 nights)
3 bedrooms (1.9 nights)
Cleaning fee by bedroom
3 bedrooms (¥55)
2 bedrooms (¥41)
4+ bedrooms (¥41)
1 bedroom (¥28)
Studio (¥0)
Professional host share
Professionally managed (55%)
Independent hosts (45%)
As of May 2026, Kyoto, Otsu, Hikone have 184 active Airbnb and VRBO listings. This represents a 2% increase from the previous year.
The average Airbnb or VRBO in Lake Biwa generates ¥2M per year. High-performing properties earn ¥11M/year, while low-performing properties earn ¥1M/year. This massive revenue gap suggests that market returns are highly polarized, indicating that top-tier earnings are driven by factors beyond standard market averages.
Airbnb and VRBO can be profitable in Lake Biwa. Average annual revenue is ¥2M with 31% occupancy. High-performing properties earn up to ¥11M/year. With occupancy at 31%, the disparity between average and high-performing revenue reveals that profitability is concentrated among a small segment of units capable of capturing premium demand.
The average occupancy rate for Airbnbs and VRBOs in Lake Biwa is 31%. This occupancy level, combined with an average nightly rate of ¥31K, results in a RevPAR (revenue per available room) of ¥5K per day.
4+ bedroom properties demonstrate the strongest performance in Lake Biwa, with annual revenue of ¥4M. These properties balance operating costs and rental demand most effectively in the Lake Biwa market. Property performance varies significantly by location, amenities, and management quality.
Short-term rental regulations vary by jurisdiction in the Lake Biwa area. Kyoto: Strict. Minpaku license required, 180-day annual cap (some areas 60 days), residential zone restrictions. Very active enforcement with inspections and fines. Most illegal operators shut down. Otsu: Strict. Minpaku notification required, 180-day cap, residential area restrictions similar to Kyoto. Active enforcement following national law. Limited illegal operations. Hikone: Moderate. Minpaku notification required, 180-day cap applies. Less aggressive enforcement than Kyoto/Otsu. Some unlicensed operations exist but declining. Always verify current regulations with local authorities and obtain necessary permits before operating a short-term rental.
The Lake Biwa Airbnb and VRBO market is currently showing balanced conditions. Supply has grown 2% year-over-year, while RevPAR has decreased 5%. This indicates balanced supply-demand dynamics. The slight decline in RevPAR despite modest supply growth points to a softening in aggregate market absorption.
Launch around September, 2-3 months before peak spring season (December peaks). This pre-peak timing lets you build reviews when competition is -20% lower than peak months. Avoid launching during peak season when established listings dominate, or slow months (January-June) when gaining traction is harder.
The most common amenities in Lake Biwa listings include: Air Conditioning (100%), Kitchen (80%), Heating (77%), Tv (69%), Washing Machine (69%). Amenities that boost revenue the most include Sauna, Heating, Hot Tub, with Sauna properties earning approximately 187% more (¥18M/year vs ¥6M/year).
Monthly estimated revenue per listing in Lake Biwa over the last 12 months: May: ¥135K, June: ¥98K, July: ¥110K, August: ¥169K, September: ¥129K, October: ¥145K, November: ¥179K, December: ¥209K, January: ¥124K, February: ¥125K, March: ¥184K, April: ¥159K. These figures are based on RevPAR (revenue per available room) multiplied by the number of days in each month.
The overall average nightly rate in Lake Biwa is ¥31K, up 29% year-over-year. By property size: 1-bedroom properties average ¥21K/night, 2-bedroom properties average ¥33K/night, 3-bedroom properties average ¥37K/night, 4+ bedroom properties average ¥40K/night. Rates peak in December and are lowest in June.
Guests in Lake Biwa book an average of 30 days in advance, down 11% from last year. By property size: 1-bedroom: 26 days, 2-bedroom: 29 days, 3-bedroom: 29 days, 4+ bedroom: 37 days. Larger properties tend to have longer booking windows as guests plan group trips further ahead.
Over the past year, the Lake Biwa Airbnb and VRBO market has seen the following changes: supply grew 2%, revenue per listing decreased 5%, occupancy fell 25%, average nightly rates increased 29%, and lead time decreased 11%. These shifts suggest a transition toward a higher-rate, lower-volume environment as hosts adjust to tightening utilization.
In Lake Biwa, Saturday sees the highest booking demand while Monday has the lowest. Nightly rates peak on Wednesday and are lowest on Saturday. Weekends show 33% higher occupancy than weekdays.