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5D Lake Biwa Self-Guided Walking Tour

5D Lake Biwa Self-Guided Walking Tour

Starts at US$ 1,660

Shipping calculated at checkout.

City: Osaka/Kyoto

Tour Route: Sakamoto, Lake Yogo, Hikone, Omihachiman, & Ōtsu

Travel and hike around Lake Biwa, a region rich in both historical landmarks and scenic nature. Temples, castle ruins, rich wetlands and beautiful mountains await in Shiga, Kyōto's neighbouring prefecture.

Technical Level:
Trails may be uneven at times. While they may be waymarked, a degree of map-reading and route-finding skills is recommended for a smooth experience.

Activity Level:
Our Moderate-level tours typically feature dedicated days of trail walking, with some days lasting over four hours and including ascents and/or descents.

Tour Departures & Rates

  • Jun 1 2026 - Aug 31 2026: US$ 1,660
  • Sep 1 2026 - Nov 30 2026: US$ 1,840
  • Dec 1 2026 - Feb 28 2027: US$ 1,660
  • Mar 1 2027 - May 31 2027: US$ 1,840
  • Jun 1 2027 - Aug 31 2027: US$ 1,660
  • Single Supplement Fee: +US$ 900

Inclusions

  • 4 nights at accommodations
  • 4 breakfasts and 4 dinners
  • Transportation from Kyōto at the start of your trip, and to Kyōto or Ōsaka at the end
  • Transportation for intermediate journeys on the trip
  • Transfer by pre-booked taxi at certain points during your journey
  • Detailed day-by-day itinerary and walking guidebook
  • Detailed maps
  • Local support by telephone
  • Traveller's Guide handbook
  • Entry to Enryaku-ji Temple
  • Entry to Hikone Castle and Genkyū-en Garden
  • Boat ride on Lake Nishinoko

Complimentary Services

No complimentary services for this tour package.

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Tour Itinerary

Day 1: Visit Enryaku-ji Temple on Mount Hiei, thenwalk to Sakamoto

B: -- L: -- D: Included
Travel by train from Kyōto or Ōsaka to your starting point in Yase, then ride a cable car up to sacred Mount Hiei, the base for Enryaku-ji Temple of the Tendai sect of Buddhism. Visit the temple, and catch your first glimpses of Lake Biwa, before another cable car takes you down the other side to the town of Sakamoto. Explore the area, including two former monks’ residences, then continue by train to Ogoto Onsen and your accommodation for the night.

Walking distance: 5.5 km / 3.4 mi
Elevation gain: 205 m / 675 ft of ascent and 265 m / 870 ft of descent
Time required: About 3 hours
Accommodation: Onsen ryokan (hot spring inn) or onsen hotel (hot spring hotel)

Day 2: See the sights from Mount Shizugatake, thenexplore Kinomoto

B: Included L: -- D: Included
Travel by train to Yogo, from where you will start today’s walk. Hike up Mount Shizugatake, the backdrop to the Battle of Shizugatake in the late 16th century, and enjoy the reward of superb views of Lake Yogo and Lake Biwa at its summit. After your descent, you will pass by small temples and shrines before arriving at the post-town of Kinomoto, where you will have some time to explore before settling in to your accommodation for the evening.

If you are looking to spend more time in Kinomoto, we offer a shorter alternative on this day where you can take a chairlift down from Mount Shizugatake and skip one section in Kinomoto – this will reduce the walking distance by roughly 1.1 km / 0.7 mi and 1.3 km / 0.8 mi, respectively. You may decide if you wish to take this shortcut on the day; however, please note that the chairlift only operates between late April and late November.

Walking distance: 11 km / 6.8 mi
Elevation gain: 355 m / 1,165 ft of ascent and 365 m / 1,200 ft of descent
Time required: About 5 hours
Accommodation: Ryokan (traditional Japanese inn) or minshuku (family-run guesthouse)

Day 3: Hike to the ruins of Sawayama Castle, then walkto Hikone Castle

B: Included L: -- D: Included
Board a train from Kinomoto to the trailhead of your hike to the Sawayama Castle Ruins, which lie upon the summit of Mount Sawa. Take in the sights before descending the mountain towards your next destination – Hikone Castle, one of Japan’s few remaining castles whose original main keep is still intact. Temples such as Chōju-in Temple serve as landmarks along the way. Visit the castle and the tranquil Genkyū-en Garden before reaching your lodging for the night in Hikone.

Walking distance: 4.8 km / 3 mi
Elevation gain: 145 m / 475 ft of ascent and descent
Time required: About 2.5 hours
Please expect an additional 3 km / 1.9 mi of walking during your visit to Hikone Castle.
Accommodation: Ryokan (traditional Japanese inn) or Japanese-style hotel

Day 4: Enjoy a boat ride on Lake Nishinoko and explore the merchant town of Ōmihachiman

B: Included L: -- D: Included
After breakfast, travel by train and bus to reach Suigo-no-sato Maruyama, where you will take a ride in an Edo-period-style rowboat on Lake Nishinoko, one of the inner lakes of Lake Biwa. The surrounding wetlands and the area’s reed farming industry form a crucial part of the cultural identity of the nearby merchant town of Ōmihachiman. After your boat ride, continue on foot, passing through agricultural areas to reach central Ōmihachiman. Explore this old merchant town, complete with its historic moat and canal; you can even take a cable car ride up to the summit of nearby Mount Hachiman from where, on a clear day, you can even see to the mountains on the other side of Lake Biwa. After finishing your exploration, travel onward by bus and train to Ōtsu, where you will stay tonight.

Please note that the Lake Nishinoko boat ride is only available during the availability period of this tour.

Walking distance: 3.4 km / 2.1 mi
Elevation gain: negligible
Time required: About 1 hour
Accommodation: Western-style hotel

Day 5: Sightsee in Ōtsu and walk along the Lake Biwa Canal to return to Kyoto

B: Included L: -- D: --
This morning, explore the lakeside city of Ōtsu, the largest city in Shiga prefecture which served briefly as Japan's capital. Visit Mii-dera Temple, considered a both a sister and a rival of Enryaku-ji Temple, and then explore other highlights of Ōtsu. After enjoying some of the city’s sights, take a train to the start of today’s walk along the Lake Biwa Canal. Built in the late 19th century, this important waterway provides the city of Kyōto with water from Lake Biwa, and stretches from Ōtsu to Keage in Kyōto. End your walk at the Keage Incline, the longest incline railway in the world at the time of its construction in 1890.

Walking distance: 6.5 km / 4.1 mi
Elevation gain: 170 m / 560 ft of ascent and descent
Time required: About 2.5 hours

Terms & Conditions

  • This is a self-guided land arrangement only.
  • Each tour has been assigned with Activity Level & Technical Level to help guests have a better understanding on what to expect. Please check both the Activity Level and Technical Level sections to ensure that you are choosing a trip appropriate to your adventure style.
  • The rate quoted per person is in US Dollars (US$). Any payments to be made in Philippine Pesos (PHP) at the time of booking are subject to the prevailing Airline Exchange Rate (ACR).
  • A minimum of one (1) person is required to book this tour arrangement.
  • A single supplement fee per person must be paid on top of the total tour fare (only if applicable).
  • This offer is valid for Philippine Passport Holders.
  • Eligible foreign passport holders may be subject to additional charges and may be required to secure extra travel documentation, such as visas, transit permits, travel authorizations, etc. All required documents must be completed before departure, as incomplete or missing documentation may lead to additional costs, cancellations, or denied boarding.
  • The itinerary and activities on this land arrangement are subject to change due to local weather conditions.
  • The following payment schedule applies to this group tour package:
    ○ Reservation Fee: a payment of the 50% of the total tour fare & submission of a signed travel service agreement form are required to secure your reservation on your preferred departure date.
    ○ The reservation fee is refundable but subject to penalties or charges.
    ○ Full Payment: the remaining tour fare must be settled at least seventy-five (75) days prior to the departure date or upon visa approval.
    ○ Bookings and reservations made within seventy-five (75) days prior to the tour departure may still be accommodated, subject to availability on the selected departure date. In such cases, full payment will be required upon confirmation to secure the reservation.
  • Banks may charge additional fees for bank transfers and over-the-counter transactions. These fees are imposed by your bank and are not included in the company’s total tour fare. The company is not responsible for covering these charges, and passengers are advised to settle them directly with their respective banks.
  • Full cancellation charges shall apply to the following:
    ○ Voluntary cancellations or withdrawals of tour participation made seventy-five (75) days before the tour departure.
    ○ No-show guests or offloaded guests (airport-to-airport cases)
  • This tour package excludes visa services, airline tickets, round-trip airport transfers, beverages and meals not included in the itinerary, local bus journeys which must be paid directly to the bus driver, daily luggage transfer, entrance fees for sites and activities not listed in the Tour Inclusions, pocket Wi-Fi device rental, & other items not mentioned in the itinerary.
  • Any unused services of the tour package are non-refundable.
  • This itinerary or tour package may be booked as a private arrangement. Please seek the assistance of our reservation team.
  • This special interest travel experience is operated in partnership with a contracted operator in Japan.

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