Tour du Lac Biwa
Tour du Lac Biwa
5
Cultural Tours • Bike Tours • Eco Tours • Sightseeing Tours • Cooking Classes
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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
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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.
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
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5.0
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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.
rachel651
Oak Creek, Colorado4 contributions
Jun 2023 • Family
This was fabulous. We took a short cab ride to a local temple. It was very calm and relaxed because there weren't a lot of people around, unlike Kyoto. Then we walked slowly to the houses, on the small streets. It was so awesome to go at a slower pace that day, and meet this really cool couple who helped us understand their life in Japan. They were so open and gracious. The food was simple and DELICIOUS. Personally, I loved seeing their shrines in the house and learning about how they meditate daily. The extra walk around the streets was also so relaxing after a fantastic meal. At the end of our time together, I feared I lost my phone. Misako, our guide, was so calm and encouraged me to just be calm too, and sure enough, I found it on the floor of the cab. :)
Written June 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.
limosteers
Derbyshire. uk67 contributions
May 2023 • Couples
Absolutely fab tour. We were met at station as promised and given a very informative tour of local village shrine and then onto visit local village couple in their house. The guide spoke very good English and we had fun making Mochi and enjoyed a traditional meal with the family. All in all a very enjoyable day. Would thoroughly recommend
Written May 30, 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.
hartmank
Basel, Switzerland27 contributions
Mar 2023 • Couples
After a gentle e-bike ride in the area, we arrived at our hosts’ home, They graciously showed us their garden and invited us to harvest fresh shiitake mushrooms (which became part of lunch) and pick kumquats and oranges from their trees. We then prepared the salad together and sat down to a wonderful homemade feast of sukiyaki. We learned that our host had climbed the Matterhorn! The conversation was lively and wide-ranging with our lovely guides, Misako and Asami, hosts, Mr. and Mrs. Nakai, and fellow travelers. It was a very special experience.
Written April 3, 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.
Janet E
1 contribution
Nov 2022 • Couples
Our adventure in Lac Biwa I Japan was our favorite experience in our 2 1/2 week trip. We toured Lac Biwa’s shrine and it’s beautiful setting, then ambled over to Mr. Tsuji’s farmhouse to make mochi. That was a lot of fun.
Then we were served a wonderful lunch in his home. It was a feast!
Thank you Misako…you were our favorite guide. Thank you for the wonderful memories created during our visit with you all!
Then we were served a wonderful lunch in his home. It was a feast!
Thank you Misako…you were our favorite guide. Thank you for the wonderful memories created during our visit with you all!
Written November 24, 2022
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 wonderful reveiw! It's our pleasure to have you as our guest. What we did was really simple but we are so glad that you enjoyed the time with us. Please take care, we wish you all the best.
Misako & Hiromi
Written March 6, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Louise J
London, UK8 contributions
Apr 2023 • Family
We spent a fantastic few hours on this trip. Guide spoke excellent English and was very knowledgable. She shared some great insights and personal perspective. We loved making Mochi and having lunch with the family. They made a great gluten-free lunch that we could all enjoy. We enjoyed playing some traditional Japanese games as well!
Written April 10, 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.
Dave F
1 contribution
Aug 2019
My wife and I did a day-long tour of a tea farm near Uji with Keiko as our guide. It was a great day! We were able to see the tea leaves being harvested and then, later in the day, we saw them processed through many machines to make green tea leaves for consumption. Afterwards, we went to the house of a local resident and had a wonderful lunch with tea picked and processed that day and roasted by us. It was a magical experience. Everything with this tour company is first class. Keiko was a great guide for the day. We think of Japan and the tea farm every time we brew tea with the tea that we brought back with us that day.
Written March 31, 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.
Hi, thank you so much for posting such a wonderful review on our tour. We are so glad that you enjoy the tea that you brought back! We believe green tea boosts the immune system so hope it works. We also hope you are doing alright and stay well and safe. Please take a good care of yourself.
Written April 5, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
fch
3 contributions
Mar 2023
Our guides were both knowledgeable and fun. Both the shrine visit and mochi making were amazing. The local shrine is lovely and tranquil, and our guides were very knowledgeable of its ancient history. The farm where we made mochi has been in the same family for seven generations. The farmer and his wife were gracious, welcoming and full of life. A wonderful meal was prepared for us. Highly recommend.
Written April 10, 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.
Pat
6 contributions
Mar 2015 • Couples
We had a great tour with a most professional company. We appreciate the attention to details before, during and after the tour. Our guide was punctual, knowledgeable and spoke excellent English. She and our driver were most courteous. The itinerary was perfect for an introductory tour to the Shiga area. Would definitely tour with them again.
There's a lot more to seem in Shiga.
There's a lot more to seem in Shiga.
Written April 4, 2015
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 your kind review of the tour. We appreciate you taking the time and effort to help us maintain and continually improve our tour programs.
We are delighted that you enjoyed the tour with our tour conductor Misako and the taxi driver Hiroko. They were honored to have shared a wonderful time with you.
Yes, we have a lot more to show you here in Shiga although it is unknown for most tourists from overseas.
We hope we have the chance to serve you again to show you off the beaten track Shiga in future.
Written April 6, 2015
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
BobChen1980
Hualien, Taiwan2 contributions
Sep 2017 • Friends
If you are now planning a trip to Kyoto or somewhere around Shiga, please don't forget to save at least an half day for such a wonderful experience. We, 4 people from Taiwan, signed up 2 tours for 2 days.
In our first tour, Electric Bike Ride & Home Cooking, we met our beautiful and professional guides in the morning. They helped us to choose a suitable electric bike, and then brought us to the fascinating lakeside of Biwa. They showed us a wooden board（橋板) lying on the the surface of the water, and they had an old farmer, a witness I thought, to told us all the secrets among the board、the lake and the villages. And then after a short but fun riding, we arrived a farmer's house for lunch. Both the house and the hosts are charming and nice. About our lunch, Tour du Lac Biwa considerately substituted self-hand-rolled sushi for Sukiyaki beforehand, in case of having same lunch during our 2 tours. After lunch, the highly efficient E-bike helped us to climb up to a shrine and a rice terrace nearby. We had a lot of fun there, and killed a lot of our camera's memory capacity! So don't forget to bring your camera.
In our second tour, Mochi and Chicken SUKIYAKI Lunch, we visited Ogura Shrine firstly. There are many soaring-to-the-sky trees as well as well-keeping buildings. Besides, our informative guide helped us to know the shrine's history and helped us to ask God's word which is a very unique experience. After leaving the shrine, we had a little walking to the farmer's house, and we were all satisfied by the spectacular view. Our lunch was amazing Sukiyaki, It was delightful to make it by ourselves. But before that we had a Mochi Pounding experience, believe it or not, this experience is the best memory of all during my trip in Japan.
To sum up, The guides and the hosts will take care of everything during the tour, and the food is not only delicious, but also high standard both in quality and quantity. Top recommend.
In our first tour, Electric Bike Ride & Home Cooking, we met our beautiful and professional guides in the morning. They helped us to choose a suitable electric bike, and then brought us to the fascinating lakeside of Biwa. They showed us a wooden board（橋板) lying on the the surface of the water, and they had an old farmer, a witness I thought, to told us all the secrets among the board、the lake and the villages. And then after a short but fun riding, we arrived a farmer's house for lunch. Both the house and the hosts are charming and nice. About our lunch, Tour du Lac Biwa considerately substituted self-hand-rolled sushi for Sukiyaki beforehand, in case of having same lunch during our 2 tours. After lunch, the highly efficient E-bike helped us to climb up to a shrine and a rice terrace nearby. We had a lot of fun there, and killed a lot of our camera's memory capacity! So don't forget to bring your camera.
In our second tour, Mochi and Chicken SUKIYAKI Lunch, we visited Ogura Shrine firstly. There are many soaring-to-the-sky trees as well as well-keeping buildings. Besides, our informative guide helped us to know the shrine's history and helped us to ask God's word which is a very unique experience. After leaving the shrine, we had a little walking to the farmer's house, and we were all satisfied by the spectacular view. Our lunch was amazing Sukiyaki, It was delightful to make it by ourselves. But before that we had a Mochi Pounding experience, believe it or not, this experience is the best memory of all during my trip in Japan.
To sum up, The guides and the hosts will take care of everything during the tour, and the food is not only delicious, but also high standard both in quality and quantity. Top recommend.
Written October 2, 2017
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 time to write such a wonderful review on TripAdvisor!
We feel greatly flattered at your compliment…!
It’s getting cooler here in Japan, and Mochi does taste better when the outside temperature is low. If you have a chance to come back here, please come in Winter time to enjoy snow and taste more delicious mochi…!
Written October 4, 2017
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Hi can we take our 2 year old and 7 month old on any of your tours?
LacBiwa
Otsu-shi, Shiga, Japan5 contributions
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!
Tour du Lac Biwa (Otsu) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go
Tour du Lac Biwa Information
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Very Good Reviews | 3 |
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