You may have heard of Japan's famous "Keirin racing," now an Olympic sport, which is a bicycle race that is paced in the first laps by a motorized vehicle. The boat races on Lake Biwa are a kind of aquatic version of Keirin racing — but with high-powered, high-tech speedboats instead of bicycles.

Boat racing offers locals — and visitors — an exciting and completely legal way to place wagers. These races originated in Japan and are overseen and operated by the government.

The boats are high-powered, state-of-the-art machines, and the races are thrilling to watch — and maybe even a bit more exciting if you place a small bet!

Kenji, with 20 years of experience in these races, will give clear, easy-to-follow instructions on enjoying the sport and placing wagers.

We'll make a brief stop at a local supermarket where you'll get to choose your favorite bento, snacks and drinks — including beer, sake, or a Japanese highball — for a delicious picnic at the races.

Group size: 2 - 4 people