ABSTRACT
In poetry the name of the lake is Omi, but it is commonly called Biwa, Lake of the Lute, because the shape is thought to resemble a Chinese musical instrument of that name. It is a very considerable body of water, thirty-six miles long and about twelve miles wide throughout its upper part, though the southern end, which forms the neck of the lute, is much narrower. The outlet of the lake is a small river flowing out of the southern end, too small and swift to be used for navigation, except in its lower part. To the east, the country around lake Biwa is level and rich, the hills standing back towards Sekigahara, but'always in sight across the rice-fields. Arashiyama is scarcely less charming in autumn, when bars of mist lie across the hillside in the morning and afternoon, and all Kyoto comes out to see the maples.
