Private Lake Biwa Tour with Licensed Guide and Vehicle
Situated in the center of Shiga Prefecture, Lake Biwa, easily accessible from Kyoto, offers beautiful lakeside scenery and plenty to do.
Takashima and Kosei Areas are home to the Shirahige Shrine. It is said to bring a variety of good fortune. Also, there is a famous cherry blossom spot, Umezu Osaki.
Omi Shrine, Biwako Terrace, and Ukimido are situated in Otsu and Konan Areas. Biwako Terrace is a popular spot for a breathtaking view. Ukimido is believed to have been built to pray for safety on the waters of Lake Biwa.
If you are interested in the Sengoku period, you cannot miss the Azuchi Castle Ruine, the residence of the famous warlord Oda Nobunaga.
Hikone Castle, one of Japan's most beautiful castles, is set in the Koto Area. In the Koga area, there is the Miho Museum and "Shigaraki Toen Tanuki Mura" where you can see Shigaraki ceramics of Japanese tanuki!
Lake Biwa is certainly an amazing destination for a one-day trip from Kyoto!
Options
Minivan (up to 4 PAX)
Minivan (up to 4 PAX)
Pickup included
What's included in Private Lake Biwa Tour with Licensed Guide and Vehicle
(Subject to Option Inclusions)Itinerary
Omi Shrine
Oumi Jingu is enshrined in the site of Capital Otsu ”Otsukyo”. Emperor Tenji was the great accomplisher of Taika Reformation and the great establisher in the ancient Japan. After His demise, also, people worshipped particularly as the Shinto God. In the Meiji Era, the believers began the movement to build the Emperor's Shrine all over Japan. At last, in Nov.7, 1940 (15th year of the Showa Era), the Shrine was completed here, site of Capital Otsu, near the site of old His Palace "Oumi-Otsu-no-Miya". Soon afterwords, the shrine was raised to "Chokusai-sha". Annual Great Festival is celebrated in April 20, on the occasion of a visit by a specially dispatched imperial messenger.
Hiyoshi Taisha
This head shrine presiding over a nationwide network of over 3,800 sub-shrines by the name of Hiyoshi, Hie, and Sanno has a long and distinguished history that reaches back more than 2,100 years. Masaru the monkey, who wards off evil, is a symbol of the shrine you’ll find gracing the shrine’s ornamentation, the good luck charms on sale and elsewhere. The shrine is also one of the Kansai region’s most celebrated places for autumn leaves, thanks to the 3,000 trees planted across the expansive grounds to produce brilliant colors in the fall.
Biwako Terrace
Biwako Terrace is a nature resort overlooking Lake Biwa, the largest lake in Japan, with an elevation of 1,100 meters above sea level. There are two terraces, atop Mt. Uchimi and Mt. Horai, where you can relax and enjoy the splendid scenery of the mountains with and our food. The Terrace Café allows you to spend a comfortable moment of luxury at elegant tables and sofas while looking out over the greatest lake in Japan. Meanwhile, Café 360 provides a 360 degree view of the surrounding scenery from a height of 1,174m. In the cafés you can enjoy sandwiches and gelato made with local Shiga produce, as well as a special drink menu. *The Biwako Terrace is not open during the winter. Please check the homepage for details of when the Biwako Terrace is open.
Inclusions
- Private vehicle
- Customizable Tour of your choice of 3-4 sites from 'What to expect' list'
- Licensed Local English Speaking Guide
- Entrance fees, Lunch, and Other personal expenses
- You cannot combine multiple tour groups.
- Guide Entry fees are only covered for sights listed under 'What to Expect.'
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- Wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- The allotted time is for transportation.
- There are only a limited number of car seats and booster seats. Rear-facing car seats are not available. You must contact us directly if you need them.
Meet
Pickup and Dropoff
Choose to be picked up from a list of locations
Please arrive at the pick up point 10 minutes before departure time.
Additional Information
We can only pick you up within Kyoto City. We cannot pick you up at Kobe port, Osaka Cruise Terminal and KIX etc. If your hotel or desired pick up point is not on the list, please contact us.
Redeem
Ticket Redemption
Entrance Fee NOT Included. 【Entrance fee】 Adults: 400 yen, Junior High and Elementary School Students 200 yen
