Various transport routes were constructed to the west of the lake, such as the Nishi-omi-ji Road and the Wakasa Kaido Road stretching from Otsu to Wakasa Province, and the Hokkoku Kaido Road linking Kyoto and, via Lake Biwa, Imajo-cho, where the road connected to the Hokurikudo Road.
湖西には、大津から若狭国へ向かう西近江路や若狭街道、京都から琵琶湖などを経て今庄町から北陸道につながる北国街道などの各種交通路が整備された。