Ootsu Service Area

Otsu Service Area is located on the Meishin Expressway between Kusatsu Parking Area and Katsuragawa Parking Area. The food court and restaurants serve signature dishes such as jumbo curry inspired by Lake Biwa and meals featuring premium Omi beef. As a major transportation hub connecting eastern and western Japan, the service area offers not only Shiga specialties but also gourmet foods and souvenirs from Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe, Hokuriku, and beyond. Situated about 80 meters above Lake Biwa’s surface, the service area boasts excellent panoramic views, including Biwako Valley, Mount Omi-Fuji, and the Lake Biwa Bridge. It is also famous as the first service area ever established on the Meishin Expressway, Japan’s first expressway. A romantic "Lovers’ Sanctuary" was created here, and the large heart-shaped monument on the outbound side is a popular photo spot with Lake Biwa as a backdrop.