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[Jan.] Lake Yogo on a Brisk Fine Day in Winter

[Jan.] The Monument of Haiku Poem by Rotsu (路通), a Disciple of the Famous Haiku Poet Basho

[Feb.] Calm Lake Yogo on Snowy Day

[Feb.] Local Food “Funa-zushi” (鮒鮓), the Original of Japanese “Sushi” (Fermented Crucian Carp with Cooked Rice)

[Mar.] Yellow Field Mustard along the Yogo River, a Symbol of Early Spring

[Mar.] Statue of the Deity of Mercy at Koyasu Temple Hall (1 of 2)

[Mar.] Statue of the Deity of Mercy at Koyasu Temple Hall (2 of 2)

[Apr.] Late-blooming Double Cherries at Lake Yogo

[Apr.] Emerald Green Surface of Lake Yogo (Seen from the Summit of Shizugatake Old Battlefield)

[May] The Willow Tree in Green Season, on Which the Angel Hung Her Plumage (From “Plumage Legend”)

[May] Myori no Sato (妙理の里), a Camp Site

[May] Seven Spears (Valiant Worriers) of Shizugatake

[May] A Statue of Surviving Feudal Warlord, at the Summit of Shizugatake

[May] Seen from the Summit of Shizugatake

[May] Genbao-jyo Castle (玄蕃尾城）

[May] The Niu Valley (1 of 3)

[May] The Niu Valley (2 of 3)

[May] The Niu Valley (3 of 3)

[May] Walkway along Lake Yogo

[May] Lake Yogo in Idyllic Spring Day

[May] The Ruin of Genbao-jyo Castle (1 of 2)

[May] The Ruin of Genbao-jyo Castle (2 of 2)

[Jun.] Hydrangea Garden at Zencho-ji Temple (全長寺)

[Jun.] Hydrangea Garden at Yogo Lakeside (1 of 3)

[Jun.] Hydrangea Garden at Yogo Lakeside (3 of 3)

[July] Hydrangea Garden at Yogo Lakeside (1 of 2)

[July] Hydrangea Garden at Yogo Lakeside (2 of 2)

[July] The Birthplace of Yoshitsugu OTANI, One of the Excellent Warlords in the Age of Provincial Wars

[Aug.] Lake Yogo in Mid-summer (1 of 3)

[Aug.] Lake Yogo in Mid-summer (2 of 3)

[Aug.] Lake Yogo in Mid-summer (3 of 3)

[Aug.] Kinomoto Guardian Deity for the Folks (Jizo Budda)

[Aug.] The Forest & Wetland of "Yamakado Suigen" (3 of 3)

[Aug.] Lake Yogo in Idyllic Summer Day

[Aug.] The Lake Yogo Park in Front of the Visitor Center (1 of 2)

[Aug.] The Lake Yogo Park in Front of the Visitor Center (2 of 2)

[Sep.] Mirror Lake Yogo in Autumn

[Oct.] Lake Yogo Marathon (1 of 2)

[Oct.] Lake Yogo Marathon (2 of 2)

[Nov.] The Tea Gargens, an Approach to Keisoku-ji Temple

[Nov.] Autumnal Leaves at Keisoku-ji Temple (1 of 2)

[Nov.] Autumnal Leaves at Keisoku-ji Temple (2 of 2)

[Dec.] Local Japanese Rice Wines of Kinomoto

[Dec.] A Small Port of Lake Yogo (1 of 2)

[Dec.] A Small Port of Lake Yogo (2 of 2)

[Dec.] Lake Yogo in Early Winter (1 of 2)

[Dec.] Lake Yogo in Early Winter (2 of 2)

Bike Tour around Yogo, an Old Home of Japan in Shiga

Nature & Outdoor

Joined 2017

Yoshi K.

5.00 / 5

(4 reviews)

Identity Verified

Interview-Based Quality Checks

Shiga

English

9 hours

Private tour (only you and Yoshi K.)

Up to 5 people

Lake Yogo, alias "Mirror Lake" is a northernmost attraction in Shiga pref. Literally, it looks like a natural mirror on a calm day, perfectly reflecting surrounding mountains. The one day tour takes you to representative spots associated with impressive folklores about the lake and its vicinity. We can also visit the stage of the fierce historical battle of Shizugatake of the Provincial Wars.

Itinerary

This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!

08:00 AM

Meeting Point

JR Yogo Station

The Willow Tree that the Angel Hung Her Plumage (From “Plumage Legend”)

Koyasu Temple Hall Enshrining the Deity of Mercy

The Stone of the Big Snake’s Eye (From Princess Kikuishi Legend)

Hydrangea Garden (From June to July)

The Monument of Haiku Poem by Rotsu, a Disciple of the Famous Haiku Poet Basho

Cherry Flowers around the Lake (From Late Mar. to Early Apr.)

Kinomoto Guardian Deity for the Folks (Big Jizo Budda)

Shizugatake Old Battlefield

Woody Pal Yogo

Niu Valley

Tojyuin Temple

Zencho-ji Temple (If Time Permitted)

Ending Point

JR Yogo Station

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.

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Inclusions & Exclusions

What‘s included

Guide Fee

What‘s not included

Admission / Entrance Fee (For Tourists and the Guide)

Transportation (If necessary; For Tourists and the Guide)

Lunch and/or Dinner (For Tourists)

Any Unexpected Cost (For Tourists)

Tour Important Information

[General Itinerary]

The one-day course around Yogo (approx., 8 hours) consists of the following 2 major courses:

1) Morning Course

We can enjoy representative landscapes around the Lake, some of which are associated with the folklore descended from more than 1,200 years ago, and others are historical stages, especially in the midst of the age of Provincial Wars (1583). We climb up to the summit of Mt. Shizugatake (an old battlefield) too by a lift, from where we can see the fantastic vista of both Lake Biwa and Lake Yogo.

2) Afternoon Course

We can reach to Woody Pal Yogo (Camping resorts), sleepy mountainous hamlets which are deeply covered with snow in winter, and Tojyuin temple (Famous Zen Temple) along the Niu Valley.

If the weather and time permits, we can go to Zencho-ji temple (one of the high-ranked Zen temples in Kohoku area) and The Grave of Loyal Menjyu Brothers as well.

The biking road has a steep pitch, so it may be a bit tough for the old tourists or primary schoolers. The total distance is about 50km. We can take lunch at Woody Pal Yogo.

[Note]

[1] Both 1) and 2) above are to be cancelled if it heavily rains.

[2] Bicycle Rental: At JR Yogo Sta. (500 JPY / 1 day・1 person)

[3] One Day Course Schedule

8:00 AM at JR Yogo Sta. Start

5:00 PM at JR Yogo Sta. Arrive (Tour end)

[4] Lift service for the summit of Mt. Shizugatake is available from Late Apr. to Early Dec.

[5] In a case of Rainy weather: Only a Half Day Course (Morning Course) is available.

(A tourist has to prepare a rain apparel by him/herself.)

Half Day Course Schedule

8:00 AM at JR Yogo Sta. Start

12:00 AM at JR Yogo Sta. Arrive (Tour end)

Lift service for the summit of Mt. Shizugatake is available as follows; May, Oct., Nov.: Every day (9:00 - 17:00) Apr.: only Sat. and Sun. during 23 to 30 Aug.: During 1 to 27 Jun., July, Sep.: Only Sat., Sun. and holidays Others: Out of service

Important message from the supplier

1. Basically 7 days a week

2. Besides sightseeing spots in Kansai (Kyoto, Osaka, Nara), the guide has a detailed knowledge in KOHOKU (Northernmost) district in Shiga Pref.

i.e.,

1)Shizugatake Old Battlefield, 2)Lake Yogo, 3)Woody Pal Yogo, 4)Tojyuin temple, 5)Kanzan-ji temple, 6)Zencho-ji temple, 7)Kaizu Osaki for Cherry Blossom Viewing, 8)Keisoku-ji temple for Autumnal Leaves, 9)Throughout Central Kinomoto area, 10)Odani Jyo Castle, 11)Sugatani Hot Spring Resort, 12)Chikubu-shima island, 13)Doganji-temple (A National Treasure), 14)Takatsuki Museum of Ethnic and Historical Materials, 15)Throughout Central Nagahama city, etc.

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 2017

Yoshi K.

5.00 / 5

(4 reviews)

Identity Verified

Interview-Based Quality Checks

About Tour Guide Yoshi K.

My name is Yoshi, alias known as "Lonesome Cowboy", who used to live and work in El Paso in the Lone Star state of the US. During my stay there, I was able to enjoy opportunities to go around the Southwest (TX, NM, AZ, UT, CO) alone, taking advantage of given long holidays. The total distance I drove was no less than 3,000 km (about 1,900 miles).

I dropped by a motel in a countryside town along the highway, drank several glasses of whiskey at the bar, and the next day continued travelling for other new towns that I had never seen before. I felt that I was just a cowboy wandering place to place of the wide country in the middle of the 19th century.

Long time has passed since I had come back to Japan from that exciting and fulfilling life there, and I already retired and came back to my hometown, KOHOKU (湖北; The northern region of lake Biwa, Shiga pref.) When I recall back those good old days, a kind of feeling that I would like to serve tourists from abroad has bubbled over in my mind. I want to help you to see and enjoy quite distinctive four seasons, impressive legends and moving stories caused by historic happenings, and casual everyday lives of the village people here.

Let me guide you around KOHOKU, which is not definitely on the Golden route of Japan travel and will not become in the future either, but we believe you must be able to feel and catch a kind of essence of the Japanese people who had created and have developed the deep and genuine culture. Such nature, historical events and crystallization of the people's effort are the ultimate attraction of KOKOKU.

Reviews

Linda L.

5 / 5

Nov 18, 2023

The Best Selected Spots in Kyoto

Kyoto

8 hours

Customized

Nov 18, 2023

“Yoshi was awesome!”

Yoshi was very informative, knowledgeable, time conscious, kind, humble, and considerate. We asked a lot of questions because we truly wanted to understand the Japanese culture, and he -answered them with honesty. We are 69 years old and he often asked us: can you walk 15 minutes to a certain location or can you walk up the stairs? He seemed to be very sensitive about our health mobility. Although he is about our age, he has great wisdom and much more energy than we did. We would highly recommend him.

Yoshi K.

Dear Linda san, and Mike san I was so happy to be able to share the time with you on the 18th. Thank you for your lavish words to this amateurish tour guide. I was glad to know that both of you were listening in earnest, when I explained about the histories and the related episodes, with what little knowledge I have. I already sent my "Homeworks" to your e-mail address, and will send all the photos in a week, as I promised. Again, I was really lucky to get acquainted with the nice couple from Louisiana. From Yoshi

Julie Y.

5 / 5

Apr 19, 2019

Kyoto Custom Booking : 2019-04-18

Kyoto

8 hours

Customized

Apr 19, 2019

“Excellent guide! ”

Yoshi is an excellent guide! He is a hard-working and wonderful ambassador for his country. Yoshi takes his work seriously and is scrupulously prepared. His care for his clients really shows. He went above and beyond for us. Yoshi is very well-informed about so much, including Japanese history, current Japanese affairs, and the flowers and trees of Japan. He is interesting, energetic, kind, and hospitable. Our only wish was that we had more time with Yoshi! We are grateful we met him.

Yoshi K.

Dear Julie san and Ron san. Thank you very much for your nice feedback. As our mission as a tour guide is, of course, to insure our customers' satisfaction, I've believed (as a former Quality Engineer) that we have to do our maximum effort, sacrificing our short lunch and rest time. I'm so glad to know that you kindly felt a touch of it. Again, I was extremely happy to be able to have an opportunity to go around the best spots with you and Ron san yesterday. Thank you, PS: I will try not to be a "Crybaby" any more. From Yoshi Apr., 19 (Fri.), 2019; 22:23

Siti M.

5 / 5

Mar 31, 2019

Impressive Three-Day Tour around Old Capitals (Nara, Kyoto, Osaka) of Japan (Revised on Mar., 18)

Osaka

3 days

Customized

Mar 31, 2019

“Nara Kyoto Osaka revisited”

Very lucky to have Yoshi san as our guide who took care of us from the time he picked us up from the hotel until he send us back to the hotel. I'm very impressed and appreciative when he accomodate to our slow movement. He planned well according to what we wanted even at the short notice of visiting Nara Womens University. Really love the Kimono experience and picnic under cherry blossoms at Osaka castle. Our family especially my daughter had a lovely and wonderful time. Thank you Yoshi san for understanding and being an amazing tour guide for us. - Siti, Malaysia.

Yoshi K.

Siti san, Zainal san, alias sweet Sumo wrestler, and a promising No.1 journalist in Malaysia, Farah san, I thank you very much for selecting such an amateurish tour guide like me for your memorable tour tripping around Kansai district, Japan. I was relieved that the weather on the days during your trip was relatively good (not so cold and not so warm), and we could make it in time when the cherry blossoms that all of you must have eagerly anticipated started. You were able to dabble at OHANAMI (Cherry viewing) at Osaka Jyo park, eating Takoyaki, weren't we? The gift that charming Farah san surprisingly gave me must have become one of my most important treasuries. Thank you so much. PS : As I promised so, I'm going to send all the photos that I took for your wonderful family through e-mail in a few days. From Yoshi