Kotō (湖東町 Kotō-chō) was a town located in Echi District, Shiga, Japan. "Kotō" means "east of Lake Biwa".
On February 11, 2005 Kotō was merged with the towns of Eigenji and Gokashō, both from Kanzaki District, the town of Aitō, also from Echi District, and the old city of Yōkaichi, to form the new city of Higashiōmi.
In 2003, the town had an estimated population of 9,061 and a density of 341.54 persons per km⊃2. The total area was 26.53 km².