Lake Biwa International Fishing Guides
Planning a fishing trip to Japan and wondering whether to bring your own gear? This guide covers what to pack, how to get rods and lures through the airport, how to travel with tackle on Japanese trains, and what you can simply leave at home.
If you are fishing with us on Lake Biwa, rental tackle is included free of charge on every plan. Our rods, reels and lures are set up for Lake Biwa and the season you are fishing, so you can travel light.
That said, many anglers like to bring a favorite reel or a box of their own lures. You are welcome to. Here is how to do it without trouble.
If you bring your own gear, these are the setups we recommend for Lake Biwa bass:
For both baitcasting and spinning, rods under 7 ft are the easiest to use on the boat. Longer rods are not necessary here, and shorter rods are also easier to travel with.
One baitcasting outfit and one spinning outfit will cover most situations on the lake.
Rules for rods differ by airline and by airport security. The safest approach is to pack rods in a hard rod tube and check it as baggage. Most airlines treat fishing gear as sports equipment, but size and weight limits vary, so check your airline before you fly.
I have flown to the US with full-length rods myself. It was easier than I expected, and I did not have to pay any large extra fees to bring them.
Travel rods that break down short enough to fit in your carry-on are sometimes allowed in the cabin. Security staff can still refuse them, so do not rely on carrying a rod on board.
Put lures with hooks, pliers, scissors and any tools in your checked baggage. Items like these are often stopped at security, and you may have to throw them away at the gate.
Japan also has strict rules on carrying knives in public. You will not need a knife on a Lake Biwa trip, so the simplest choice is to leave it at home.
On the Tokaido, Sanyo and Kyushu Shinkansen, luggage with a total size (length + width + height) over 160 cm and up to 250 cm counts as oversized baggage. To bring an oversized suitcase on board, you need to book a seat with an oversized baggage area when you buy your ticket. Sports equipment such as rod tubes is handled separately, but rules can change, so check JR's current guidelines before your trip.
Local trains are easier. The JR Kosei Line from Kyoto Station to Katata Station takes 22 minutes, and no luggage reservation is needed.
Japan is the home of many of the world's best lure and reel brands, and prices here are often lower than overseas. Many visiting anglers come with an almost empty tackle box and fill it up in Japan. Big tackle shops around Lake Biwa carry a huge range of Japanese lures, including many models that are hard to find abroad. Ask your guide which lures are working on the lake right now.
The same airline rules apply on the way home. Pack new lures and tools in your checked bag.
With free rental tackle and a guide who has everything ready on the boat, you can come to Lake Biwa with nothing but your camera.
Check our plans and send us your preferred date through the booking form.
