Cycling Tour along Japan's Biggest Lake -15mins from Kyoto-
Joined 2018
During the Edo priod, Tokugawa Shogunate established the highway system connecting cities to cities. The Tokaido Highway was the most important route connecting Kyoto and Tokyo (Edo). On this tour, we will cycle around the first post town of the highway from Kyoto, Otsu. The city Otsu is also famous for Lake Biwa, Japan's biggest lake. Let's enjoy the views of the lake and historical sites while cycling.
Itinerary
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Meeting Point
JR Kyoto Station or your hotel
- Meet up with you at a train station or at your hotel in Kyoto city area
JR Otsu Station (or JR Ishiyama, Keihan Hama-Otsu Sta)
We will rent bicycles and buy some snacks.
Ishiyamadera Temple (National treasure site)
This temple is known as the place where Murasaki-Shikibu wrote "The Tale of Genji, " which is said to be the world's first full length novel.
Seta-no-Karahashi Bridge
This bridge is on the old Tokaido Highway, and was a strategic point of traffic in olden times.
Zeze Park on the ruins of Zeze Castle
We will take a short break at a park located on the ruins of Zeze Castle
Nagisa Park along the lake
Cycling in Nagisa Park with views of Lake Biwa.
Otsu Festival Hikiyama-float Museum (We have lunch around here.)
The museum features a full-size model of a Hikiyama Float. The sound of musical accompaniment, lighting and slide projection create a festival mood. Closed on every monday.
Miidera Buddhist Temple (National treasure site)
This temple has the history of more than 1200 years. It is famous as a location for period dramas, such as "Rurouni-kenshin". The Buddhist bronze bell of the temple is one of the three major Buddhist bells in Japan.
Hama-Otsu Port
You can enjoy the magnificent view of Lake Biwa from the port.
JR Otsu Station (JR Ishiyama, Keihan Hama-Otsu Station or Hama-Otsu Port)
Return the rented bicycles and see you off at a train station in Otsu city area.
After the tour, you can enjoy a cruise on Lake Biwa from Hamaotsu Port.
Ending Point
JR stations or Hama-otsu Sightseeing Ship Port
Want to personalize this tour?
This tour can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Click below to send me a message with your requests.
Inclusions & Exclusions
Guiding Services
Rental bicycles, Personal Expenses,Souvenirs,Public Transportation,Tickets,Food, Drinks, Snacks
Tour Important Information
>For those who like to enjoy cruising on Lake Biwa, a sightseeing boat will depart from the Hama-Otsu Port at 3:00 pm. Please let me know if you wish to board the ship.
>In case of rain, we will use the KeihanTrain instead of bicycles to get around Otsu city.
Important message from the supplier
I usually use public transportation systems such as trains, buses, taxi, and so on.
I like outdoor activities. If you would like to do hiking, cycling etc., please feel free to ask me in advance.
Cancellation Policy
- Free cancellation - 8 days prior to meeting time
- 50% Refund - 3 to 7 days prior to meeting time
- No Refund - Within 2 day(s) prior to meeting time
Joined 2018
About Tour Guide Koichi W.
Hi! I'm Koichi. I was born in Osaka, I studied in Kyoto when I was a university student. Now I live in Shiga next to Kyoto. I am a national government licensed tour guide. I have been guiding about 160 groups over the past twelve months.
I usually guide my customers mainly in Kansai region including Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, Kobe and Shiga by public transportation systems.
Well, I am curious about Japanese history, especially the history of Japan's ancient times since I was raised next to the world biggest mausoleum of the ancient Emperor called "Nintoku" in Sakai city Osaka which has just become one of the world cultural heritage sites. I dug out some ancient earthen ware vessels around there when I was a primary school student like the adventure archaeologist “Indiana Jones" (It’s our secret!!). That was my hobby. Now, one of my hobbies is outdoor activities such as mountaineering, kayaking, skiing and others. So I would like to take you to some good places where you can enjoy Japanese unique nature.
I love to guide foreign visitors from all over the world. I think it is my calling or heavenly given job. Let's go and enjoy together! I hope to see you soon.
Reviews
Mark W.
“Kyoto Highlights”
We were very lucky to have Koichi give us a tour of some of the highlights of Kyoto. Koichi is kind, friendly, and incredibly knowledgeable about Kyoto, it history, the shrines and the temples. Koichi crafted a perfect itinerary for us and he is an excellent guide. I would highly recommend touring with Koichi if you have the chance. Koichi also shared with us his fondness of sake and we shared a bottle of "natural" sake that he picked out to cap off the day.
Samantha F.
“Koichi is our best and favorite guide!”
Book with Koichi! He is so fun, nice, kind, knowledgeable and so cool! He personalized the trip to our needs. He tried so hard to accommodate us from the food, to helping us get bug bites cream. We had to switch from Osaka trip to Kyoto trip so he changed when we would go to Osaka. He went out of his to make us try some genuine Kyoto desserts!!!!!He gave us a ton of information about history of Kyoto and osaka but it wasnt overwhelming especially with an ADHD kid! He knows his history of Kyoto so well! He helped us get to the station so we knew where to go! Of course we got lost once we got to Tokyo, lol.
Koichi W.
This was the last day of our six days together. Although there were some changes in the itinerary due to bad weather and other reasons, I was able to complete the tour with everyone's cooperation. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you again. Yesterday, a day has passed since I saw everyone off at Kyoto Station and said goodbye to you all, and now I remember the days of the past week with fondness. I am looking forward to seeing you again in the near future! Koichi
Samantha F.
“Incredible guide, native to Kyoto”
Koichi is the guide to get! He personalized our tour today. We booked several days with him and we needed to go to Osaka today and change our tour tomorrow to Kyoto. He did that for us! He is incredibly kind, full of knowledge, gave us information but did not overwhelm us. Went out of his way to personalized the day in Osaka. We wanted certain food and he helped us to get the best restaurant for us, great meal. I wanted to stop and shop and he made sure we had time. Went out of his way at the end of the day to take us to our booked Geisha (Geiko) show that he helped us book the previous day. He is an incredible guide, very funny, lots of stories and has incredible knowledge
Koichi W.
Thank you for the excellent rating and comments for me. I am glad that you were able to enjoy Osaka's specialty food, okonomiyaki, in Osaka, which is known as a city of foodie delights. I am also glad to see that you enjoyed the squid jerky (called Ika-kun) that goes well with beer. Thanks again for giving me such a wonderful oppotunity today.
$242/ per group
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