Lake Biwa
Legend Tour
Living with Water, Moving through Time
Our Lake Biwa day tour is the best way to experience Japan beyond Kyoto. For generations, the people of this region have lived in harmony with Lake Biwa — Japan’s largest freshwater lake. On this private trip, you’ll discover how water shapes daily life, spirituality, and seasonal customs in these quiet villages.
Lake Biwa Day Tour– Life Connected by Water
Nagahama offers some of the country’s most tranquil and scenic landscapes.
Here, water shimmers in every season, reflecting both the sky above and the stories below.
In Nagahama, water is more than a natural element—it’s a vessel of memory, tradition, and quiet connection.
For over a thousand years, life has flowed in harmony with the lake.
Here, water is sacred.
It nourishes the fields, supports the lives of fishermen, and quietly receives the gratitude and prayers woven into daily life.
Even something as simple as watching the evening light dance across the lake becomes a moment of stillness and reverence.
These values continue to live on in Nagahama today.
In seasonal festivals, in the preserved townscapes, and in the rhythm of everyday life, you can feel the enduring spirit of a community shaped by water.
In this place, water doesn’t divide—it connects.
It links people and places, and has long carried stories, customs, and culture across its surface.
The lake reflects a way of living rooted in humility, balance, and quiet strength.
This tour isn’t just about seeing the sights.
You’ll walk through a historic post town, visit a centuries-old sake brewery, and ride to a mountaintop with panoramic views over Lake Biwa.
You’ll feel the pace of life slow down, and with it, a deeper sense of place begin to emerge.
Here in Nagahama, you’ll find a quieter, more meaningful Japan.
Take your time. Breathe in the silence.
Let the story of this land become a part of your own journey.
◇Tour Overview — What Makes Our Lake Biwa Day Tour Special
Authentic Encounters
Discover hidden temples, local charm, and real people. Experience the side of Japan that tour buses never reach.
Stories That Live
Join a local priest to hear untold legends and cultural memories. Not just facts — but living traditions
Slow Travel
Walk, pause, feel. Embrace the calm of rural Japan through mindful and meaningful exploration.
Choose Your Experience
◆Lake Biwa Day Tour
Tailored lake biwa day tour for your pace and style
Highlights of Your Private Lake Biwa Day Tour:
Experience an authentic temple ritual led by the resident priest – not a performance, but a practice handed down for generations.
Guided by a certified interpreter from Nagahama, who is also deeply connected to the temple community
Stroll through the preserved streets of Kinomoto, once a bustling post town along Japan’s old highways.
Taste sake at a historic family-run brewery, and learn how water, rice, and craftsmanship come together.
Ride a lift up Mt. Shizugatake(*), famous for samurai history and panoramic views of both Lake Biwa and Lake Yogo.
Your guide can adjust the route to match your interests.
Slow travel experience that connects history, faith, and the rhythm of daily life by the lake.
Time Frame:
・Approx. 7-8 hrs.
MeetingPoint：JR Kinomoto Sta.(or JR Maibara Sta.)
Language: English/Spanish
Tour type : Private
Pricing(Lake Biwa Day Tour)
・1 person ￥40,000 yen
・2 persons ￥54,000 yen per group (￥27,000 per person)
・3 persons ￥63,000 yen per group(￥21,000 per person)
・4 persons ￥70,000 yen per group (￥17,500 per person)
*Children under school age: Free
*Elementary school children ¥ 1,000
*The tour price does not include lunch or train fare to Kinomoto Station
Group Size: Maximum 4 guests including children
Description
Lake Biwa Day Tour – For more than a thousand years, life around Lake Biwa has been shaped by water. It nourishes the fields, supports the lives of fishermen, and holds the prayers and gratitude of the people. On this full-day private tour, guided by a licensed interpreter from Nagahama, you will experience how these values still live on today through temples, traditions, and the quiet rhythm of local life.
The journey begins at a temple in Kinomoto, where you will take part in a morning ritual led by the resident priest. This is not a performance, but an authentic practice that has continued for generations, expressing gratitude to the water and nature that sustain the community. Your guide, the priest’s wife and a certified English-speaking interpreter, will explain the meaning of the ritual and share personal insights into how faith and everyday life remain connected in this region.
From there, we step into the historic town of Kinomoto, once a bustling post station where travelers and merchants passed along the old highways. Today, wooden houses, small shrines, and traditional shops preserve the atmosphere of the past. Strolling through these quiet streets reveals how communities grew and thrived with the blessings of the lake. Lunch will be enjoyed at a local restaurant, where seasonal dishes showcase the flavors of the area.
In the afternoon, we visit a long-established sake brewery. Just like the temple rituals, sake brewing is inseparable from water. Tasting freshly brewed sake and hearing the family’s stories passed down through generations offers a glimpse into how craftsmanship and nature remain intertwined.
The tour concludes with a lift ride up Mt. Shizugatake. From the summit, you can see both the vast Lake Biwa and the smaller, mystical Lake Yogo. The panoramic view of mountains, lakes, and sky embodies the timeless bond between people and water—a moment of stillness that reflects the spirit of the region.
At the end of the day, we return to JR Kinomoto Station, where the tour concludes in the late afternoon. More than just photographs, you will take home stories, flavors, and moments of stillness that reveal another side of Japan. This is a journey into the heart of “Life Connected by Water.”
Timetable(sample itinerary)
The following is a sample itinerary. Times and activities can be adjusted in consultation with you.
10:00 Meeting with guide at JR Maibara Sta.(or JR KinomotoSta.)
-You’ll ride a half hour on a local train.
10:30 Arrive at JR Kinomoto Sta.
– Visit a local Buddhist temple
– Hear about the character of the community and its connection with nature and water
– Introduction to Japanese Buddhism and its influence on daily life
– Join a morning ritual with the resident monk
11:30 Lunch at Kinomoto
– Enjoy local seasonal dishes at a casual restaurant.
12:30 Exploring Kinomoto, an old post-station town.
– Walk through nostalgic streets once traveled by merchants and pilgrims
– Sake tasting at a historic family-run brewery
14:30 Ride a lift to the top of Mt. Shizugatake
– Panoramic views of Lake Biwa and the smaller mystical Lake Yogo
16:30 Tour ends at JR Kinomoto Station.
Remarks
・Included
-Licensed English-speaking guide (Nagahama City certified interpreter)
-Participation in a temple morning ritual
-Sake tasting at a historic brewery
-Round-trip lift ticket to Mt. Shizugatake summit
-All local transportation during the tour (train, bus, lift)
-Travel insurance
-Local tax
・Not Included
-Lunch (guests may choose freely at a local restaurant)
-Drinks and personal expenses
-Transportation to/from JR Kinomoto Station (meeting & ending point)
・Please note
-Tour fees are to be paid on the day of the tour. Cash or credit card is accepted.
-We walk 3-4 km on this tour. After the lift ride, there’s a short 10-minute walk along a mountain path to the top.Please wear comfortable walking shoes and clothing.
-Processes are subject to last minute changes due to weather or unforeseen circumstances.
-The lift to the top of Mt. Shizugatake is in operation from the end of April to the end of November. Outside of the operating period, tours will take visitors to the Lakeview Café.
-Please inform us in advance if you have any food allergies, health conditions, or special needs.
Cancellation
-3 days or more before tour: No charge
-2 days before tour: 50% of total tour cost
-24 hrs or less before tour: 100% of total tour cost
◆Overnight Plan（Temple Stay）
Turn your lake biwa day tour into a once-in-a-lifetime experience with an overnight stay on temple grounds.
After a day of exploring historic post towns, tasting fine sake, and taking in the sweeping views of Lake Biwa, retreat to the quiet embrace of a temple guesthouse.
As night falls, feel the stillness of centuries-old traditions surrounding you. In the morning, awaken to the soft sounds of temple life and enjoy a traditional Japanese breakfast experience, lovingly prepared to start your day in harmony.
For the overnight plan, the tour can be arranged either before or after your stay—just let us know your preference.
Price:(Overnight Plan: Lake Biwa Day Tour price + accommodation fee)
・Adults:＋ ¥8,500 per person
・Children (age 6–12): ＋¥2,000 per person
・Maximum 4 guests including children
・Additional nights available at the same rate as above
＊See full accommodation details here★.
Please note:
・Dinner is not included, but we are happy to recommend excellent local restaurants where you can taste regional specialties.
・Guests staying overnight may enjoy free use of our rental bicycles—perfect for exploring the charming streets and countryside at your own pace.
・Breakfast is included as part of the overnight experience and cannot be booked separately.
This is more than just a place to sleep—it’s a chance to live, even for one night, in the peaceful rhythm of temple life.
How to Join the Lake Biwa Day Tour
1.Inquiry
・Please send us your preferred date(s) through the Contact Form.
・Feel free to ask any questions or check if something is possible—we are happy to help.
2.Confirmation & Schedule
・We’ll reply within 24 hours (JST) to confirm your date and share the detailed itinerary.
・If you do not receive a reply within 24 hours, please kindly resend your message.
3.Payment
After the schedule is confirmed, you can choose one of the following payment options:
・Advance Payment : You can pay securely online by credit card. We will send you a payment link.
・On-site Payment: You may pay by credit card or cash on the tour day.
4.Tour Day
Enjoy the day with your personal guide and experience Nagahama in a truly special way.
◇Booking / Inquiry
To book your tour or ask any questions, just send us a message using the form below. Simply send us your preferred date – we’ll check availability and get back to you within 24 hours.
Please note: Our emails are sent from koraigen0801@gmail.com. If you have spam filters set, our reply may end up in your spam/junk folder. Please check there if you do not see our email.
◇Your Personal Guide profile:
From Asami:
Hi, I’m Asami! I live in the peaceful town of Kinomoto, where I welcome guests from around the world as if they were old friends. Ko-Rai-Gen isn’t just a guesthouse—it’s a place where we can share stories, slow down, and connect. Through my private tours, I enjoy showing guests the hidden charm of the area and creating moments we’ll both remember. I look forward to meeting you and spending a special time together at Ko-Rai-Gen.
◇Access from Kyoto or Tsuruga to Lake Biwa Day Tour
The meeting point will be either ★Maibara Station or ★Kinomoto Station, depending on your travel schedule.
