Tour du Lac Biwa
Tour du Lac Biwa
5
Cultural ToursBike ToursEco ToursSightseeing ToursCooking Classes
9:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Monday
9:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Tuesday
9:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Wednesday
9:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Thursday
9:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Friday
9:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Saturday
9:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Full view
About
Spend quality time with your family, friends or a special person at the tranquil lakeside which is a hidden gem away from all the main tourist's hot spots of Japan. On our tour, you can experience quality Japanese traditional life as well as cooking experience using plentiful fresh local vegetables and rice through heart-warming communication with our friendly local host families. We offer programs where you can enjoy the beautiful scenes of Lake Biwa or terraced rice fields either by bicycles or by foot at your own pace. Other programs are offered where one can learn about traditional local culture and art. All the tours are either private or as part of a small group attended by a guide to ensure the quality of your tour. Discover and participate in the traditions of Shiga life in un-crowded, natural surroundings. We believe that our tours offer a real heart to heart cross-cultural experience, which will remain as one of the highlights of your trip to Japan.
Otsu, Shiga Prefecture, Japan
Awards
Travelers' Choice
2024
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
251 reviews
Excellent
248
Very good
3
Average
0
Poor
0
Terrible
0
PCO
1 contribution
Nov 2019
What a wonderful, memorable experience. We visited the tea terraces at Asamiya, had lunch prepared by the gracious ladies of the village, and then roasted our own tea. The women are so proud of the tea growing heritage of the area and so enthusiastic in describing the cultivation of the tea plants and how the tea is harvested. The best experience was being able to sit with them as they prepared our lunch and how comfortable and welcomed they made us feel. There are beautiful sights in Japan, however, we have found that spending time with the Japanese people in this type of setting can be the most memorable.
Also, our guide, Keiko, was excellent. She was knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the area and the tour we were on. We have been on many tours in Japan and experienced many guides. This is one of our best experiences and Keiko was one of the best guides we've had the pleasure to spend time with. We would recommend this experience to anyone who would like to spend time away from the cities.
Also, our guide, Keiko, was excellent. She was knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the area and the tour we were on. We have been on many tours in Japan and experienced many guides. This is one of our best experiences and Keiko was one of the best guides we've had the pleasure to spend time with. We would recommend this experience to anyone who would like to spend time away from the cities.
Written February 1, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for your warm & courteous message.
Keiko was super happy to have read your wonderful comment on her guiding, and I will surely share it with the ladies at the tea farm who will also be very glad to have received such a lovely comment.
Our tour is so small and the challenge has just started, but as long as we have great people like you from around the world and enjoy sharing our beautiful natural environs and its blessings (tea), we take it would be worth keeping on trying. Thank you for the encouraging comment, we wish you all the best. from Keiko & Hiromi
Written February 2, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Jesse B
1 contribution
Sep 2023 • Family
My son and I had an absolutely wonderful time in Biwa with guide Misako and host family the Nakais. The food was very delicious and we enjoyed the conversation. Mr and Mrs Nagai have a very beautiful home and garden. We felt very much at home, and Misako was a wonderful and knowledgeable guide. I can tell she loves her local community of Shiga.
After our tour we enjoyed the peaceful lakeside and did catch 2 bass, although very small😃🎣. We highly recommend your tour to anyone who wants to visit Kyoto area and have a relaxing cultural experience on the shores of Lake Biwa
Thanks again!
Jesse and Ian Brown
After our tour we enjoyed the peaceful lakeside and did catch 2 bass, although very small😃🎣. We highly recommend your tour to anyone who wants to visit Kyoto area and have a relaxing cultural experience on the shores of Lake Biwa
Thanks again!
Jesse and Ian Brown
Written September 26, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for choosing our tour for your special father-and-son trip. We are glad to hear that you did catch 2 bass :). Although what we did was simple, we hope this will be a memorable experience. We also appreciate your excellent review. Please take care.
Written November 19, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Jesse G
10 contributions
Oct 2024 • Family
My family and I had an amazing experience with Tour du Lac Biwa. Starting from the beautiful and informative bike tour around Lake Biwa and ending with an unforgettable lunch with Grandma Sawai-san, we will never forget this glorious and fun-filled day. Special thank you to Misako and Miromi for making the experience as memorable as it was. Would highly recommend them to anyone looking to enjoy a unique area of Japan one might otherwise miss.
Written October 14, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for sharing your feedback. We are glad that visiting Sawai-san in Ōmi-Takashima was a valuable experience for you. We also cherish hosting the tour with her and her daughter. Sawai-san is delighted to remain active and engaged throughout her life, and we hope to follow in her footsteps as well.
Written January 17, 2025
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Anne J
13 contributions
Nov 2023 • Couples
Our trip organised by Tour du Lac Biwa was one of the highlights of our extensive visit to Japan.
We started the morning with a bike ride. Hiromi and Asami ensured that we were comfortable on the electric bikes before we set off to Lake Biwa. The view was stunning and the silence was a great contrast to the previous few days spent in Kyoto. We left the lakeside and cycled through the surrounding paddy fields where Asami, our guide, explained the annual harvesting process. We had a short tea-break by the roadside and then cycled higher up the hillside to visit a simple shrine. This bit of the ride might be a bit challenging to those of a mature age who have no experience of electric bikes. Though mature in age we have used electric bikes on steep hills before so it was just part of the fun of the day for us.
We then traveled by train and taxi to the home of the Iwami family where we had a wonderful lunch and an afternoon sharing experiences and laughter. Asami’s ability to translate in both directions whilst maintaining the flow of the conversation was remarkable and was a major contribution to the success of the day.
We started the morning with a bike ride. Hiromi and Asami ensured that we were comfortable on the electric bikes before we set off to Lake Biwa. The view was stunning and the silence was a great contrast to the previous few days spent in Kyoto. We left the lakeside and cycled through the surrounding paddy fields where Asami, our guide, explained the annual harvesting process. We had a short tea-break by the roadside and then cycled higher up the hillside to visit a simple shrine. This bit of the ride might be a bit challenging to those of a mature age who have no experience of electric bikes. Though mature in age we have used electric bikes on steep hills before so it was just part of the fun of the day for us.
We then traveled by train and taxi to the home of the Iwami family where we had a wonderful lunch and an afternoon sharing experiences and laughter. Asami’s ability to translate in both directions whilst maintaining the flow of the conversation was remarkable and was a major contribution to the success of the day.
Written January 2, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for the great review. We are so glad you had a great day of countryside touring with beautiful weather. Was it hard on the hills on the electric bike? We saw you active folks just enjoyed it. We are also delighted to celebrate your anniversary day. Have a wonderful new year!
Written January 7, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
ramsey d
Chicago, IL9 contributions
Jul 2023 • Family
I visited Japan with my teenage son in July/August 2023, and we had an absolutely wonderful day trip to Lake Biwa with Tour du Lac. We took an e-bike ride around part of the lake with our guide Misako and were hosted by Mr. and Mrs. Nakai to a wonderful lunch in their home. It was great to see life in Japan outside of the larger cities. The area was beautiful, and we learned so much about local life and culture. It was definitely one of the highlights of our trip.
Written December 1, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for your excellent feedback. It must have been a very hot day, but we are glad you had a wonderful time with Misakok and Mr. & Mrs. Nakai. We hope that your precious time with your son will be a great family memory. Thank you for choosing us for your special occasion.
Written December 3, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
EllieO
Near London, England55 contributions
Nov 2024 • Couples
What a great trip! We travelled out from Kyoto on the local train to be met by our friendly guide Misako who led us round the village of Shiga on e-bikes, with stops along the way by the lake and a local temple where we had some tea and cakes. Misako was a great guide, talking about life by the lake, the traditions and customs. We then left the bikes and went on another short train trip followed by a taxi ride to Mr and Mrs Kosaka’s house. They are the most delightful elderly couple who welcomed us into their house and cooked us a delicious traditional lunch, which we helped prepare. Lots of chat and laughter with Misako translating. Photos at the end and their visitors book signed, we left to return to Kyoto. A real pleasure. Our thanks to all concerned.
Written December 2, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Roving616439
1 contribution
Oct 2024 • Couples
The lake was glorious, the cycling easy - thanks to pedal power - and we thoroughly enjoyed meeting our local hosts. Having lunch with them was like eating with old friends - we all got on so well we barely stopped laughing and finding experiences in common despite our different cultures. Special mention must go to our tour guide who was wonderful: friendly, fun to be with, informative and warm hearted. A great trip deserving full marks.
Written October 14, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you very much for joining our tour. Both our hosts and guides proudly represent Japan, and we take great joy in working together as a team that is well-suited to welcoming guests from around the world. We are delighted to hear that you had a wonderful and enjoyable time with us. Thank you.
Written January 17, 2025
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Mary H
3 contributions
Sep 2023 • Friends
This tour was one of the highlights of our trip to Japan! Asami, our guide, was so welcoming and friendly. She met us at the train station and then we rode by taxi to a local Shrine. Asami shared very informative information about this particular Shrine, pointing out unique features and explaining the meaning. We were the only visitors in the Shrine at that time, which was very beautiful and peaceful. She also shared about the festival that takes place in this area during Spring, and just hearing about it made us want to visit Shiga during that time (perhaps next visit to Japan!). We walked throughout the village, admiring its beauty and character. Beautiful views of the mountains and Lake Biwa (which is the largest lake in Japan). The area was absolutely gorgeous, peaceful, and so relaxing. We arrived at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Kosaka, who were so welcoming and friendly. The mochi making experience, enjoying Mr. Kosaka's chicken sukiyaki, and learning about their life in Shiga was a highlight of our trip to Japan. Asami has such a great personality and was a great translator. Because of Asami, we were able to have a very engaging conversation with Mr. and Mrs. Kosaka and learned so much about life in Shiga. We highly recommend this tour and having Asami as a guide. She's fantastic and her English is great!
Written October 7, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for taking the time to post the excellent review! Asami was delighted to have read this and so encouraged. Shiga is a peaceful hidden gem, and we are glad you had a chance to be here with us. We appreciate your visit and hope you can be here again, hopefully for the village festival season. Thank you.
Written November 23, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Gary B
1 contribution
Oct 2023 • Friends
We, two couples in early 60s, did the e-bike tour with Tour du Lac Biwa. Pretty easy cycling. More of a cultural experience. It was awesome. Our guide, Misako, spoke very good English. She was easy to understand and discussed things that would be obvious to locals, but were very interesting to foreigners. Our lunch with a local family was one of the highlights of our 3 weeks in Japan.
Written October 22, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your excellent review. We are glad you had a great time with us. Misako is passionate to introduce about our beloved local area and the beautiful lake. Our hosts are so lovely people and very accommodating, and their farm-to-table style lunches are delightful even for us locals! Please take care.
Written November 23, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Edna L
1 contribution
Oct 2024 • Couples
My husband and I joined the Tour du Lac Biwa and it was the most memorable and educational experience. Our tour guide, Misako, was absolutely fantastic! Her warm personality and extensive knowledge made the tour not only enjoyable but also deeply enriching. She even took the time to help us take photos! We appreciated her positive spirit, which truly enhanced our time together. Our host family, Mrs. Sawai and her daughter, Fusae's welcoming nature made us feel right at home, and we are so grateful for the memories we created together. The intimate setting of the tour allowed us to discover a beautiful side of Kyoto that we might have otherwise missed. Additionally, the lunch prepared was incredibly tasty! The dish we tried was a delight and added another layer to our experience, showcasing the rich culinary culture of Japan. When I think back to this experience, it really brings me to tears because of the connection I made with everyone. If we are fortunate enough to go back to Japan, we would love to join the other tours. Thank you so much!
Written November 5, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We are truly delighted to hear that you had such a wonderful time. Mrs. Sawai is such a lovely grandmother who instantly wins everyone's hearts, and we feel so proud to work alongside her. She is a role model for how we hope to age gracefully.
Misako pursued her graduate studies during the challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic and dedicated herself to learning about the local community. Her explanations reflect a genuine pride in living and contributing to the region. We are committed to continuing to create meaningful and enjoyable tours. Thank you so much!
Written January 17, 2025
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Hi. Thank you for your inquiry.
If you have small children, why not try our Mochi pounding tour? It is a fun activity for both adults and small children. Also, we all help parents take care of their children and make sure parents get relaxed and enjoy the tour at most.
We look forward to meeting you & your family in Shiga!
Written May 28, 2018
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*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.