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Private Car Tour - Enjoy the authentic castle towns and famous Omi beef just outside Kyoto

Hikone Castle

Hyakusaiji

Hachiman Moat

Top of Mt. Hachiman

Famous Omi Beef - One of three best beefs in JP

Hachiman Moat

Hikone castle garden

Top of Mt. Hachiman

Himure Shrine

Hachiman Castle ruins

Old street of Omihachiman

Kongorinji

Kyorinbo

Kyorinbo 2

Private Car Tour - Enjoy the authentic castle towns and famous Omi beef just outside Kyoto

Art, Culture, & Historical

Car Tour (driving guide)

Joined 2023

Nori I.

5.00 / 5

(82 reviews)

Identity Verified

Interview-Based Quality Checks

Shiga

English, Japanese (Native)

7 hrs 30 mins

Private tour (only you and Nori I.)

Up to 4 people

First, while it is early enough, we will drive and hike a little bit on the ancient steps to one of the oldest temples in Kyoto and Shiga called Hyakusaiji. After that, we will explore a castle that has a tower that is one of the five originals remaining in Japan, Hikone Castle.

We will enjoy Omi beef for lunch. Omi beef is if not better, as good as Kobe beef known as one of the three best beefs in Japan.

We will enjoy the scenery in Omihachiman from the mountain top and the old moat.

Itinerary

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

09:30 AM

Meeting Point

JR Omihachiman station

- Will come and pick you up at the station by my car. * Omihachiman is about 30 minutes by JR train from the Kyoto station.

10:00 AM

Visit Hyakusaiji temple

Will visit Hyakusaiji which was established by the famed prince, Syotoku back in the early 7th century. We will hike up for about 15 mins through the woods on the ancient steps and get to the main hall of the temple.

11:30 AM

Visit Hikone Castle and the town

Will visit Hikone Castle which is one of the only five original castle towers in Japan date back to the early 17th century.

01:00 PM

Lunch

We will go to a restaurant that serves Oumi beef which is one of the three best beefs in Japan.

02:00 PM

Omihachiman old street and the shopping area

We will go through the photogenic streets with old style houses and visit an area where some charming/unique shops are.

02:30 PM

Hachiman moat

We will walk along the moat and see the beautiful traditional scenery of Japan.

03:00 PM

Himure Hachimangu Shrine

We will visit Himure Hachimangu Shrine.

03:30 PM

Hachimanyama castle ruins

We will ride on the cable car to go up the mountain to the castle ruins area. Will trek a bit and see the beautiful view of Lake Biwa and rice paddies.

05:00 PM

JR Omihachiman station

I will take you back to the JR station where our tour started and

end the tour.

Ending Point

JR Omihachiman 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.

Inclusions & Exclusions

What‘s included

- English translation / guide fee

- Private car

- Pick up and drop off by car (at JR train station)

What‘s not included

- Transportation cost from Kyoto to Oumihachiman (JR train)

- Lunch has to be paid by yourself based on what you would like to have (avg. 15 to 30 USD per person).

- Lunch for the guide also has to be borne by your side

- Entrance fee to the castle, temples and etc

- Parking fee (if necessary)

- Cable car fee (up & down, cash only, 6 USD

Tour Important Information

- This tour involves a lot of walking, so make sure to wear comfortable shoes.

- Please let me know in advance if you have any food allergies or other dietary restrictions.

- Need to allocate at least 45 - 60 mins for lunch time.

- The guide will not be liable for any injuries or loss incurred during the tour. It is recommended to have overseas travel insurance.

Also, please remember to carry enough cash in Japanese Yen since some small stores do not accept credit card. Thank you.

Important message from the supplier

For some tours I can not guide everyday due to facility and store closings. Please send me a message and check my availability first before booking. Thank you!

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 2023

Nori I.

5.00 / 5

(82 reviews)

Identity Verified

Interview-Based Quality Checks

About Tour Guide Nori I.

I have lived in the US, UK, and India for approximately 20 years, and I’ve also traveled to about 30 countries. Living abroad for such a long time made me realize Japan’s value and sparked my interest in working as a translator/guide for foreigners. I’m truly passionate about introducing people to historical sites, authentic Japanese culture, and stunning natural spots that may not be widely known to people outside of Japan. There are countless places that I believe people would love.

I am a certified English interpreter guide certified by Kyoto City, Uji City and Otsu City. Plus, I passed the Kyoto Tourism and Culture Exam (the 3rd level). Originally from Nagoya, I cover areas around the Kansai region including Kyoto, Shiga, Nara and Mie. I’m here to ensure your trip to Japan becomes an unforgettable memory. Looking forward to meeting you!

Reviews

Scott H.

5 / 5

Jun 7, 2026

Fully customizable your own private tour in Kyoto

Jun 7, 2026

Kyoto

8 hours

“Great day in Kyoto”

Nori was a fantastic guide. We gained so much over doing it by ourselves. He added value to the experience making it mire fun and enjoyable. I highly recommend Nori and would use him again next time we are in Kyoto. The restaurant we had lunch at was one of the best meals we had on our Japan trip. Best udon we’ve ever had. (Sorry, don’t recall the name of the restaurant but it is on the main street).

Nori I.

Thanks for your kind words. I really appreciate it. I was amazed to find out so many things in common as well. You guys made me want to go back to AZ. Maybe I will do that sometime soon. Take care!

Orkideh S.

5 / 5

May 27, 2026

Fully customizable your own private tour in Kyoto

May 27, 2026

Kyoto

8 hours

“Exceptional guide~Go with Norie!”

Norie was an outstanding tour guide who made our day in Kyoto truly memorable. His deep knowledge of the city and its history brought every location to life, and his perfect English made communication effortless throughout the day. He has a wonderful intuition for what travelers want to see and experience, taking us to beautiful places that perfectly captured the essence of Kyoto. Despite it being a long day of touring, Norie's engaging personality and thoughtful pacing kept the experience enjoyable from start to finish. If you're looking for a guide in Kyoto who combines expertise, excellent communication skills, and genuine passion for sharing his city, I highly recommend Norie. He made our visit unforgettable! Feel free to adjust any details or let me know if you'd like me to make it shorter, longer, or emphasize different aspects of your experience!

Nori I.

Thanks for the kind words. I really appreciate it. I also enjoyed the tour with you. Hopefully you had a wonderful time for the rest of your trip in Japan. Take care!

Kimberley G.

5 / 5

May 3, 2026

Fully customizable your own private tour in Kyoto

May 3, 2026

Kyoto

8 hours

“Kyoto Visit”

We spent a lovely day with Nori exploring Kyoto. He is a wonderful, personable, knowledgeable guide. His english is excellent, he was able to answer every question we had, and we really enjoyed his company. If we ever go back to Japan, we would definitely want him to be our guide again. I can't say enough good things! Highly recommend!!

Nori I.

Thanks for your kind words. I appreciate it. Though it was a short tour, I am really glad that you enjoyed it so much. As talked, hopefully you can come back in the future to enjoy the other areas of Kyoto!