8:00 AM/9:20AM Osaka/Kyoto Start Your Journey Let’s embark on a day filled with breathtaking views and unforgettable memories! ▼ 10:20AM Shirahige Shrine & Floating Torii Gate on Lake Biwa (Approx. 30 min) Lake Biwa is Japan’s largest freshwater lake and a national symbol, located near Kyoto. It's known as the “Lake of Life” and is listed as a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance. Shirahige Shrine, with a history of over 1,900 years, is the oldest shrine in the Omi region and part of Japan Heritage. Its famous floating torii gate stands gracefully in the lake, offering stunning views that change with the time of day and weather. Tip: For the best photos, visit the nearby Blue Lake Shirahige Observatory.
▼ 11:30 AM Lake Biwa Observatory – Panoramic Views of the Dreamlike Lake Scenery (Approx. 120 min, Free Time & Optional Lunch at Own Expense, Available from May 1 to Oct 31, 2025) Ride Japan’s fastest ropeway with a 360° glass cabin and enjoy breathtaking views all the way up! Located on the west side of Lake Biwa, Biwako Valley is a popular destination for visitors from Kyoto and Osaka. The ropeway takes you to an altitude of 1,100 meters in just 5 minutes (operates slower from April to November for better sightseeing at 7 m/s). Along the way, you'll enjoy spectacular views of Lake Biwa. At the top, the Biwako Terrace is a favorite photo spot for young travelers and influencers. The area also features exciting activities such as the Zip Line with 7 routes, Skywalk, outdoor play areas, and more — perfect for couples and families alike.
▼Sanzen-in Temple – A Hidden Gem in Kyoto’s Ohara Countryside (Approx. 120 min, Free Time & Optional Lunch at Own Expense, visited on other dates or when ropeway is closed) Located in the quiet village of Ohara in northeastern Kyoto, Sanzen-in Temple is surrounded by tranquil mountains and rich history. Ohara has long been a retreat for nobles and monks, and its beauty has inspired many poets throughout the ages. Founded in the 8th century by monk Saicho on Mount Hiei, Sanzen-in offers stunning seasonal landscapes — cherry blossoms in spring, lush greens in summer, fiery maple leaves in autumn, and serene snowscapes in winter. This peaceful temple invites visitors not for the crowds, but for a calm heart and spiritual connection.
▼15:30 PM La Collina Omihachiman – A Storybook-Style Sweets Village with a Grass Roof (Approx. 60 min, Free Time) La Collina Omihachiman is a unique confectionery complex created by the famous Japanese sweets brand Taneya, designed by renowned architect Terunobu Fujimori, known for his imaginative and nature-inspired buildings. The main building features a grass-covered roof that blends beautifully with the surrounding landscape, making it look like a fairytale cottage. The name "La Collina" means "little hill" in Italian, reflecting the site's natural, eco-friendly concept. Inside, you’ll find Shiga’s first Baumkuchen specialty shop, where freshly baked layered cakes fill the air with a sweet aroma. You can also enjoy exclusive treats like made-to-order dorayaki filled with red bean paste and butter cream — popular with both locals and visitors. 16:30PM Start to return.(The return time may be affected by traffic, weather, and other factors.)
Had a great day lut, good guide and lovely driver. really scenic drive and loved the views(great weather as a bonus) well worth the long day . really enjoyed our last stop at La Collina, something different, a little quirky, loved the coffee and cake from the factory. Great trip overall
Richard was a good guide. The trip was totally long and frustrating due to the traffic. I think we were running 2 hours late to our first destination. Lake Biwa is impressive however the floating Tori Gate at this location is not worth it. I believe we missed the Sanzen-in Temple due to running so late. What was worth it was seeing the Biwako Valley and cable car ride. It is an absolutely must and the saviour of this trip. I would recommend this location however if it was me, I would not do a bus trip. The La Collina Omihachiman was nice, cake was delicious.
The experience was very interesting to say the least. We visited the Lake Biwa shrine and then made our way upto the observatory in the mountains to check out the views and Sky Bridge. The weather was very cloudy, and it started pouring rain, but the staff was extremely helpful in getting everyone rain ponchos and assisting us back down the mountain in the rain storm. Our guide, Effy, was very helpful in explaining the locations and what was available to see. I wish the weather cooperated better, but if you are able to go on a sunny day, the views and pictures would be amazing!
Effy and her driver were incredible! Effy’s English was really good. She was so friendly and professional. 10/10 experience
The trip itself was good and we enjoyed the places we visited. However, we were disappointed with the tour guide. She didn’t provide much information or explanation about the places we were seeing, and unfortunately, she wasn’t very friendly or engaging with the group. The tour has a lot of potential, but having a more knowledgeable, welcoming, and enthusiastic guide would make the experience much better.
Effy was great. She was informative, friendly and waited 5 minutes at one of the stops when I messaged her and stated we would be late due to a slight issue. We personally didn't love the cake factory but definitely could tell it was a personal preference as many others bought tons of treats there and it is beautiful
The pickup point were in either Osaka or Kyoto. Ours was at the Nipponbashi Station. We booked a hotel nearby. The entire trip was excellent. Our tour guide, Fe Fe did a great job explaining in English in addition to Mandarin. We were the only English speaking group on that bus, lol. The bus driver was very professional (Bus 3088). The destinations were on point for a day tour. The last stop was at La Collina, a famous Baumkuchen cake factory ! I would highly recommend booking this tour !
Effy was a great tour guide :) i loved the mountain we went to and the ski lift was my favorite part!
It was a nice tour, some aspects were more fun than others, but that's normal. The tour was nicely organized , and the guide was good and efficient.
Great value for money Effy was a very helpful guide dealing with both Chinese and European tourists at the same time, switching between languages. She helped with buying tickets, taking photos, everything. She gets 5/5 rating The gondola up the mountain was excellent and the views spectacular! La Collina was interesting and the shrines were lovely to visit
an delightful experience to such a beautiful Museum
Wonderful hidden day trip out of Kyoto. A must do! Beautiful scenic drive, Japanese garden, great lunch/coffee spots (Blend) , beautiful shrines and finished with a dessert with an unforgettable view
The tour guide is not proactive . 1. We have to locate the guide despite trying to connect on the mobile 2. He just walk to the next stop and not co-ordinate for everyone when we reach the tourist spot 3. We have a delayed for an hour . The driver missed the stop at Kyoto . He makes an u-turn back to the stop despite reaching Osaka soon. It was terrible. 4 . There is no stop for lunch except at the Lake Biwa . If you missed your meal at this stop . You cannot get anymore food . We went was raining . The view is bad if you take the cable up .
The weather was rainy but that is not the fault of the trip. The visit to the cable car attraction was a disappointment. The tour should tell potential travellers there is nothing to do and very little option to eat unless you pay to take the cable car up the mountain.
Naomi was a great tour guide, she was very kind and welcoming. She explained each landmark very well and even recommended other attractions and sites to see in Kyoto. The tour was very timely and Naomi and the driver were able to make the tour work even with the rain going on. This is a great option for people who want to visit all of these locations without having to worry about public transportation.
謝謝導遊 NAOMI 在旅程中的照顧，並且解說景點的特色讓我們更加了解當地的特色。She is nice and has patience.
Naomi was very professional and kind with multilingual abilities. She was the perfect guide for the tour. I will definitely do the same tour with Naomi with my family.
I joined a Lake Biwa day tour from Osaka with Gogoday Travel on 20 May 2026 (Tour Guide: Mr. Zhang), and unfortunately, the experience was not satisfactory. At Manyue Temple, we were initially instructed to return to the bus at 14:35, which aligned with the itinerary and allowed approximately 50 minutes at the stop. However, after consulting with the bus driver (Bus No. 29), the tour guide revised the return time to 14:20, stating that “the place is small, 35 minutes is sufficient.” While this might seem minor, the temple is located some distance from the parking area. This change significantly impacted my mother, who has difficulty walking. She had to rush and ultimately had to turn back shortly after reaching the temple to ensure she could return to the bus on time. This caused her considerable stress and diminished the overall experience. We had specifically chosen a guided tour to provide her with a more comfortable and manageable way to visit these locations. Unfortunately, this adjustment undermined that purpose. Although we raised this issue during the tour and both the guide and driver apologized, the situation could have been avoided with better planning and consideration. Additionally, we returned to Osaka at 18:10, approximately 40 minutes earlier than the scheduled itinerary. This suggests there was no real need to shorten the visit time at Manyue Temple. The tour guide also mentioned that it was “520” (a day associated with spending time with loved ones) and that he planned to meet his girlfriend after the tour. While I cannot confirm if this influenced the decision, it did raise some concern. Based on this experience, I would advise travelers—especially those traveling with seniors—to carefully consider before booking with Gogoday Travel.
As a group of 5 we had an amazing experience on this trip! Our guide, Casper, was incredibly informative, helpful, and genuinely kind throughout the entire journey. She explained everything clearly, answered all our questions with patience, and made everyone feel comfortable and welcome. The tour was well organized and very enjoyable thanks to them. Highly recommended
森久代Naomi is nice warm great . 5/5 one day tour.
our guide Liu Du showed us some secret spots and history about the sacred temples. He knew where the best picture spots were. Very friendly and helpful. He gave the tour in both English and Chinese.
This is a very relaxing experience. Our guide Kazama was wonderful, happy, calm and knowledgeable.. The places are amazing and must see/do.
The trip is perfect, have a nice day!
We took a version of this tour with Naomi that visited the Miho museum. She was knowledgeable, very nice, and gave clear instructions on when we needed to be back, which is very important for a group tour! Ours was a mixed English and Chinese tour.
We will visit Japan for around 10 days, the trip with Naomi in Miho museum is really wonderful! She is kind, warm and she knows everything! Thank you Naomi!
Our tour guide Casper was excellent. She was very informative, friendly and attentive. I highly recommend
It was an interesting tour , specially Sanzen-in Temple was amazing. Situated In the outskirts of Kyoto in picturesque countryside.When in the area one should really visit this holy place. Then the Tori in Lake Biwa is also a point of interest. And last Ukimi-do Hall in Kaimonsan Mangetsu-ji Temple . A scenic overwater Temple, considered a cultural property. Really beautiful. And the closure of the tour was Baumkuchen Factory, where we feasted on the fresh, still warm delicacy. Our Guide Nick took good care of us and had little stories about Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and many more topics. It is really a worthwhile Tour.
Be there at 8 last minute changed to 7:45, have 20 Chinese tour guides with confusing flags that dont speek english. Deliver the information you need poorly. The location they give you is incorrect as well. No refunds and they leave strictly at 8. 🤭
Casper was an amazing guide and made the trip fun! This trip is very relaxing and covers a lot of north Kyoto.
Casper explained everything very informative. she was kind and helpful. It was interesting to listen to her
This morning, I went to the designated meeting point, but much to my disappointment, no one was there. It is not a pleasant experience to arrive and find no information available. Compared to the original schedule, the bus arrived 47 minutes late; compared to the revised schedule, it was 27 minutes late. Since I had no information, I was just about to leave... thank goodness I didn't! The rest of the day went well; the guide was present and helpful. My only regret is not having taken the cable car to enjoy a panoramic view of the lake.
I reserved this trip almost a month in advance. Got the information for the pick up at the very last minute. The tour guide was unable to speak a lot of English, which made me unable to find the pick up point for the excursion, thus, I ended up missing this tour and they refuse to refund me my money. Initially, the Toregas stated that it was going to be at Kyoto Station, however, upon arrival I was told that it was across the street and later told it was at Kyoto station. That was lots of confusion regarding the pick up due to the language barrier and the tour guide being unable to communicate effectively. Highly upset because I was very excited about this tour. They need to make sure that they have people that are able to communicate effectively to customers that speak the language of the tour as provided.
This whole tour was fantastic! Lovely to get out of the cities and into the countryside. Lake Biwa was beautiful and sunny! Liu Katam was great, the tour was done in Japanese and English! He was very informative and patient (we were a little late getting back to the bus once!)!
It was a good tour, Casper was kind and helpful, she managed the group well. This tour is by a Chinese company and the first language of the tour is Chinese. She was speaking in English as well but being 2 languages was a bit confusing and sometimes hard to understand! Also, be advised that cable cart and panoramic view is seasonal! So not alway there! We didn’t get to cable cart and we didn’t get to the panoramic view point! Photos are misleading!
This was a wonderful tour! We saw some incredibly beautiful places and Casper was a brilliant tour guide, really helpful, informative and helped take photos. I loved this tour, thank you !
Pictures of the tour were deceptive, tour photos show cable cars, the only cable car I saw was driving past a sign 🤔. The guide could have been more informative walking past, certain landmarks without any explanation. In our opinion the cake shop was a waste of time.
Its a chinese tour company just FYI, guide is chinese. The bus we took is small and old. If you are big like me, its uncomfortable. Also, we had to make a stop at kyoto to pick up additional tourists as well as drop them off at the end of the tour which was kind of annoying. Lake biwa was just meh, i wish we actually went to the observatory like the itinerary said. Our last stop was at some place called la colima, a unique pastry and confectionery land of sorts. Had i have known all this beforehand, i think i would have picked a different day tour.
Very happy with guide and tours company well looked after and very interesting tours, beautiful area to see and well planned
We thoroughly enjoyed our trip and appreciated the chance to witness the last opening day of the Miho Museum in 2025. Our tourist guide - Naomi-san was incredibly friendly and attentive, making our experience even more special. The tour was well-organized, and the time management was exceptional. Highly recommended!
Vivian was a great guide and Sanzen-in temple was a highlight especially with those lovely autumn colors. Unfortunately, tour happened on national holiday, so it was a bit rushed, especially towards the end. As someone who Iikes looking around, taking pictures, and enjoying the scenery, I was a bit stressed, but the tour guide was very patient and reassuring.
Today's one-day tour of Sanzen-in temple ,the White Beard Shrine the Floating Shrine at the Hikone Pavilion of the Lake Biwa Scenic Spot and La Colina was quite enjoyable. The scenery was beautiful, especially La Collina. We also had delicious food. Our tour guide Casper was very enthusiastic and conscientious. A good tour guide can indeed add color to a simple trip.
This is a very relaxing out of the city tour of Kyoto's country side around Lake Biwa. Great garden with fall colors at Sanzen-in Temple. Lake Biwa offers a different color. Our tour guide Mia got contact info from everyone right at the start of the tour. This ensures no one is left behind. Very professional. I recommend this tour.
The itin was well planned. We had enough time in each attraction. Our tour guide, Naomi, was experienced and professional.
Our tour guide, Naomi-san, was absolutely the best part of the entire trip. While I feel our time could have been better maximized, given the amount of travel vs. places we saw, all of it was worth it to experience her warmth, deep care, and expert camera skills. We never stopped smiling with her as our guide.
So there is quite a few issues. The bus was an initial 5-10mins late. (It can happen and don't blame them too much but they could have messaged "Be with you shortly" to reassure. The Bus description as being white was wrong (It was silver). The guide was nice but clearly English was no where near being a common language for her and most comms were done over on WhatsApp which was usually broken english: "The admission fee for Sanqian Hospital is 700 yen. If you don't want to go, you can also take a stroll around nearby" She is meaning the Sanzen-in Temple... not great as for a guide in this instance I was hoping she could tell me more about the locations where the chinese tourists probably had a better experience. She could only try and immediately fail to read from a script on the places we were to visit. As for the locations... The time of year was fine for Sanzen-in as you had the multicolor foiliage but not for the other locations as the dark and withering trees nearby Shirashige Shrine felt ominous. The Mangestsu floating shrine was ok but probably looks better in spring or summer. La Collina is another that may/would look better during a different season like spring or summer. The grass roofing looked patchy and dry which made the location look tacky and cheap where as the prices were certainly a rip off. Paying so much already and getting no admission to any of the locations was really strange but was clearly mentioned and so expected. Not being told till I asked about why we didn't do the cable car was odd as it was one of the main reasons I booked the trip. To find out it doesn't operate at certain times of the year is one of the main aspects I find very misleading on your booking page and one to mention the most. Overall I was very underwhelmed and very unlikely to be using the service again.
Rather long bus ride. Other than that, tour planned well. Interesting, very scenic, cable car and ski lift fun. Our guide, Casper, was excellent.
Simple and easy peasy trip with young child to learn some culture. Love the mountain trip and really hope to have longer time over there.
The Shrine and Torii that is on Lake Biwa and that can be seen in the photo, can be seen from a distance, since it is on the other side where the road passes. Expectations were higher than what was obtained. The rest of the trip, a mountain from where you can see the immensity of the lake and the visit to a cake factory, feels like filler for the tour.
My guide Effy was diligent at all times, before the trip regarding the location of the meeting point, as well as at all times during it. At every stop, he would previously give a complete explanation of everything that was going to be visited and all the logistical issues. At each location, he accompanied us to guide us toward the areas where there might be questions. Furthermore, he is a very kind and pleasant person.
A lot of walking and buses, so a little long with children but magnificent. We discover the Japanese countryside and it is beautiful. And above all, we take a complete tour of the lake.
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