The Tokaido Shinkansen line stops at [wiki=339a26494405db6b2f47e95d668ca8ad]Maibara[/wiki] on its way from [wiki=492379b2b8f7ac3f7cc8e0ca6254f4b1]Kyoto[/wiki] to [wiki=10b22625bf8918f4fd3ae2f185bd44c8]Nagoya[/wiki]. [wiki=c15b06bb704d590133bc7be636336268]Otsu[/wiki] and the southern [wiki=ad802c7466ad52f9be0738ab855d133e]Lake Biwa[/wiki] area are easily accessed on local trains from [wiki=492379b2b8f7ac3f7cc8e0ca6254f4b1]Kyoto[/wiki].
*The Special Rapid Service (新快速 Shinkaisoku) trains of JR Tokaido line and Hokuriku line (Its nicknames are "JR Kyoto Line" and "Biwako Line". Connects Osaka, Kyoto, Kusatsu, Maibara, Omi-Shiotsu and Tsuruga) and Kosei Line (Connects Osaka, Kyoto, Katata, Omi-Maiko, Omi-Shiotsu and Tsuruga) is useful for travel between [wiki=0d70a380fe641d8206c6d43c185b9c23]Osaka[/wiki], [wiki=492379b2b8f7ac3f7cc8e0ca6254f4b1]Kyoto[/wiki] and Shiga. Special Rapid Service trains runs once every half-hour or so.
**In Tokaido Line and Hokuriku Line, Special Rapid Service trains stops at Kyoto, Yamashina, Otsu, Ishiyama, Minami-Kusatsu, Kusatsu, Moriyama, Yasu, Omihachiman, Notogawa, Hikone, Maibara, Sakata, Tamura, Nagahama, Torahime, Kawake, Takatsuki, Kinomoto, Yogo, Omi-Shiotsu, Shin-Hikida and Tsuruga.
**In Kosei Line, Special Rapid Service trains stop at Kyoto, Yamashina, Otsukyo, Hieizan-Sakamoto, Katata, Omi-Maiko, Kitakomatsu, Omi-Takashima, Adogawa, Shin-Asahi, Omi-Imazu, Omi-Nakasho, Makino, Nagahara, Omi-Shiotsu, Shin-Hikida and Tsuruga.
*The Keihan Keishin Line connects [wiki=035c6c481a7e5c430db316a2b6df4895]Yamashina[/wiki] (east of Kyoto) and central Otsu. It joins the Kyoto subway Tozai Line beyond Yamashina.