Kyoto Station to the lake shore at Otsu takes about ten minutes by JR, but the best spots on Lake Biwa are spread far apart around its edge. A day tour links the floating torii on the west shore with the Miho Museum in the hills, which is a real struggle by public transport.
Visit I. M. Pei’s Miho Museum, a quiet Zen garden and Lake Biwa’s floating torii on an 8.5-hour day trip from Osaka or Kyoto.
Most Popular★ 4.3“Our tour guide, Mr. Zhang Yong, was very enthusiastic, giving us plenty of time at each attraction. He also helped us take photos and introduced the sights. He warmly answered all our questions. In particular, his driving on mountain roads was very steady, and we…”
★★★★★★★★★★
315 reviews8.5 hoursFrom $63.15
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Ride from Kyoto to Biwako Valley for beginner-friendly slopes, snow play and Lake Biwa views. Compare packages and plan for weather changes.
★ 4.3“Super convenient, directly from Kyoto to Lake Biwa Ski Resort. The tour guide Maria was very responsible. After arriving at the ski resort, she also helped translate the ski school courses and ski equipment rentals, making the process very smooth and we returned to Kyoto…”
★★★★★★★★★★
294 reviews7 hoursFrom $49.30
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Review of a Lake Biwa day tour from Osaka or Kyoto, with Shirahige Shrine, a seasonal mountain stop, La Collina, costs, and practical tips.
★ 4.6“Tour guide Fu was very enthusiastic! You absolutely must try the dorayaki at the baumkuchen shop.”
★★★★★★★★★★
169 reviews9.5 hoursFrom $51.79
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Explore Lake Biwa, Shirahige Shrine and La Collina on a guided day trip from Osaka or Kyoto, with practical advice on weather, costs and stops.
★ 4.7“This was my 2nd tour with GoGoDay Travel and I had the pleasure of being guided by Roman who did his best to accommodate all the guests on board. He also made sure everyone had a great time, providing excellent recommendations on what to do,…”
★★★★★★★★★★
72 reviewsFrom $51.79
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Visit I.M. Pei’s Miho Museum, a Kyoto-area garden or shrine, and Lake Biwa’s torii gate on a guided Shiga day trip.
★ 4.6“The meeting point has changed, so please be sure to contact the tour guide first. The tour guide, who also served as the driver, was very responsible. The ride in the nine-seater van was quite long but smooth, even though it rained heavily that day.…”
★★★★★★★★★★
55 reviews9 hoursFrom $67.09
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See Lake Biwa’s floating torii, ride to Biwako Terrace, visit Ukimido, and taste baumkuchen at La Collina on a practical day tour from Osaka or Kyoto.
★ 4.9“Tomo was extremely polite and gave us a lot of great information! He helped us out so much! We love him.”
★★★★★★★★★★
44 reviews10 hoursFrom $36.85
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Ski, snowboard, or play in the snow at Hakodateyama on a Kyoto bus day trip. Compare ticket packages, timing, equipment, and meeting-point tips.
★ 4.3“nice ski resort near kyoto..you can ski, snow boarding or just playing with the snow here...foods was great.too”
★★★★★★★★★★
16 reviews5 hoursFrom $55.65
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Review of a Miho Museum, Chikurin-in, Hiyoshi Taisha and Lake Biwa day tour, with prices, timing, seasonal tips and practical advice.
★ 4.9“Nick introduced the attractions and Japanese culture during the car ride. The trip went smoothly, and although the weather in July was very hot, the Miho Museum was still well worth visiting. It offers different scenery in different seasons and is truly an ideal paradise!”
★★★★★★★★★★
11 reviewsFrom $63.85
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See Lake Biwa’s floating torii, mountain-top views and La Collina’s fresh sweets on a full-day trip from Kyoto or Osaka.
★ 4.5“The tour guide's explanation was okay, but there was noise from children crying on the bus! I couldn't get a proper rest.”
★★★★★★★★★★
4 reviewsFrom $50.45
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Delve into the enchanting world of Kyoto with the Kyoto Gion Festival and Lake Biwa Lunch Cruise Bus Tour - where tradition meets nature in a captivating journey like no other.
★ 5.0“The Gion Festival is a slower paced festival compared to other Japanese festivals I’ve attended. However, our guide was great and tried to help everything move along. I enjoyed the day. If the weather permitted I would have enjoyed spending a longer time in the…”
★★★★★★★★★★
1 reviewsFrom $191.14by H.I.S.Co., Ltd.
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