Top 10 Cultural Tours in Shiga Prefecture, Kinki

Enjoy a day off in the ultimate tranquility of the countryside as you take a leisurely cycle along the serene shores of Lake Biwa, the largest in Japan. Using electric bikes that provide an effortless, refreshing ride, this course follows beautiful lakeside roads up to stunning scenes of stepped rice terraces. This is a slow-paced, off-the-beaten-path tour in the countryside, showing a different side of Japan. Visit local shrines and wander along village streets free of the tourist crowds. Have a delightful lunch in the traditional home of a local farming couple. Instructed by the lady of the house, indulge yourself in preparing a delicious lunch (a vegetarian menu is also available) using the freshest local ingredients. We hope you will join us on this tour and its feast of discoveries!

Inclusions: Use of electric bicycle and helmet, Farm to table lunch cooking lesson, English-speaking local tour conductor, All taxes, fees and handling charges

Exclusions: Gratuities, JR Kyoto Station Pickup Charge, Round trip train fare between JR Kyoto and JR Shiga

On this tour, you will be visiting the Takashima area on the northwest side of Lake Biwa that offers exceptionally charming views of both the lake and mountains. In this rare and exclusive experience, you will also stand along side the farmer's wife and assist as she prepares a simple and amazing multi-course lunch. During lulls in the preparation, step outside to enjoy the most commanding views of the picturesque rice terraces, taking your leisure to stroll among them. Those with an interest in photography will particularly enjoy the vantage points this access provides.

Inclusions: Use of bicycle and helmet, Lunch, English speaking local tour conductor, All taxes, fees and handling charges, Air-conditioned vehicle

Exclusions: Gratuities, JR Kyoto Station Pickup charge, Round trip train ticket between JR Kyoto and JR Omi-Takashima stations

Visit and experience a local village’s lifestyle and food culture where terraced rice fields, continuously cultivated for 1300 years, cascade down the mountains as far as the eye can see. First, take a stroll to visit the local shrine while surrounded by the beautiful views with Lake Biwa glimmering far below. The friendly and good-natured farming couple that hosts the mochi rice cake-making experience will welcome you wholeheartedly. They will demonstrate mochi rice cake making following the traditional method using homegrown rice. Freshly pounded with your own hands, they will taste exceptionally delicious. Also, try our farm-to-table special Sukiyaki made with fresh chicken and lots of homegrown vegetables. The farmer will show you how to make it, so participate and learn. Chicken Sukiyaki is a holiday dish in Western Shiga, especially for local festivals. Many of our guests become big fans of this salty-sweet hotpot.

Inclusions: Mochi rice cake making & Farm to table style lunch, Taxi fare, English-speaking local tour guide, All taxes, fees and handling charges

Exclusions: Gratuities, Drinks/bottled water, JR Kyoto Station Pickup charge , Round trip train fare between JR Kyoto and JR Ogotoonsen Station

Discover and learn in detail about the beautiful Japanese roof architecture of temples and shrines. This is a unique opportunity to visit workshops and experience this form of craftsmanship. On this tour, you will visit some of the last craftsmen who dedicate their lifework to the preservation of renowned temples and shrines in Japan. Since ancient times, Japanese people have believed that the beauty of Japanese architecture starts from the roof. This tour is an amazing chance to learn and understand Japanese roof tiles, which are recognized internationally for their beauty and artistic details. In the intimate venue of their workshops and homes, the roof craftsmen will explain to you how roof materials such as tiles, cypress bark and rice straw are used for roofs and share in detail the differences between temple and shrine roofs. 

Inclusions: Local guide, Mini onigawara ornament, Local transportation fare (taxi fare from JR Hieizan-Sakamoto Station), A snack (SOBA buckwheat noodle), All Fees and Taxes

Exclusions: Gratuities, JR Kyoto Station Pickup charge, Round trip train fare between JR Kyoto and JR Hieizan-Sakamoto stations

Just a 20 minute shinkansen ride from Kyoto to our starting point, we offer an easy way to explore small town rural life in Japan on this leisurely beginner-friendly ride, with a local resident guide, fluent in English, to help you enjoy our area’s unique geographical and historical points of interest. This 13km course features a broad range of sights such as rice and agriculture fields, historic trade routes, local villages combining old and new ways of life, a temple and shrine, a brief hike, and the shores of Lake Biwa, all in about 3 hours. In our tours, we hope to both share and preserve our local culture and traditions. Toward this goal, we also work closely with municipalities and residents to ensure that we always respect the wishes and needs of the local communities that we visit. Our convenient location and short tour time make it easy to explore more before or after your tour too, such as visiting Hikone Castle, or Lake Biwa!

Inclusions: Bottled water, Coffee and/or Tea, Snacks, Use of bicycle, Insurance

Exclusions: Lunch

Accompanied by a nationally-licensed and experienced multilingual guide, explore the area of Arashiyama and Sagano, where aristocrats once unwound in their villas more than 1,000 years ago. The highlights of this tour include the scenic countryside views from Togetsukyo bridge; Tenryu-ji temple with its beautiful traditional gardens; the enchanting world from within the Bamboo Grove; and Jojakko-ji Temple with its breathtaking green moss. During the tour you will also visit some secret spots unfamiliar to the usual tourists. Enjoy the walk and delicious food while learning about Japanese culture and history. Our guides are looking forward to arranging a tour that’s best for you! Note*1: Please select your must-see spots from a list in the tour information to create your customized itinerary. Note*2: The Nationally-licensed Tour Guide-Interpreter certification is issued by the Japanese government requires a good knowledge and understanding of Japanese culture and history.

Inclusions: Free Photos, Hotel Pick up and Drop-off, Licensed Local Guide

Exclusions: Other personal expenses, Lunch - Lunch (for yourself and your guide), Entrance fee (for yourself), Transportation fee (for yourself and your guide)

Kinomoto is a charming old brewery town blessed by an abundant source of fresh water. As a former post station town of Edo era kaido routes, the town has retained much of its historical charm, without heavily catering to tourism, but rather sustaining its natural community and identity of local family businesses that have thrived here for centuries. After meeting up at JR Maibara Station (shinkansen stops here), our guide will lead you on the 24-minute train ride north to JR Kinomoto Station. Here we will give a walking tour including 2 sake breweries, both among the 10 oldest operating in Japan, as well as a traditional soy sauce brewery. We can meet the staff of these family-owned businesses, taste samples, and aside the winter brewing season, if not busy, they'll often show us around the actual brewing area behind the storefront. We'll also visit the large local Buddhist temple, a central presence in local culture, and local shops such as traditional confectioneries and bakeries.

Inclusions: Insurance, Professional Guide

Exclusions: Local train fare between Maibara and Kinomoto, Complementary tasting often provided, but other drinks should be purchased., We don't provide snacks, but there are many spots to buy along the way.

Explore Kyoto, one of Japan's most popular tourist destinations, accompanied by one of our nationally-licensed, experienced multilingual guides, who will help you efficiently enjoy a four-hour tour, introducing both modern and traditional sides of this dynamic and ancient city. Your guide will pick you up at your hotel, or anywhere else at your convenience, and will take you to a number of Kyoto's famous spots. Let us know what you would like to experience and we will arrange a tour that's best for you! Note*1: Please select your must-see spots from a list in the tour information to create your customized itinerary. Note*2: The Nationally-licensed Tour Guide-Interpreter certification is issued by the Japanese government requires a good knowledge and understanding of Japanese culture and history.

Inclusions: Licensed Local Guide, Free Photos, Hotel Pick up and Drop-off

Exclusions: Transportation fee (for yourself and your guide), Entrance fee (for yourself), Lunch - Lunch (for yourself and your guide), Other personal expenses

Take a short trip from Kyoto on a local train and explore the village of living water, Harie. This small village has been recently known for its unique lifestyle, with each home having its own crystal-clear water spring called "Kabata", which is used as both a well and a kitchen sink. Your English speaking guide will meet you at Shin-Asahi Station and take you on a tour of the village. At the village, one of the residents of Harie will also take you to the villagers residence where "Kabata" is still used in there daily life and explain about the culture. You can only see a real life "Kabata" if you book this tour, since you will need permission from the local residence to enter their homes to see it. After the Harie tour, the guide will also take you to a local sake brewery. The tour concludes at the Shin -Asahi Station. We have morning tour and afternoon tour. The morning tour starts at 10AM and the afternoon tour starts at 12:30PM.

Inclusions: Admission fee for guided walking tour in Harie , Sake brewery tour and tasting at Kawashima Shuzo

Exclusions: Hotel pickup and drop-off, Food and drinks are not included

Have you ever dreamed of being a ninja? In this round you will not only be able to attend a ninja show and discover a lot of things about the lifestyle of the ninjas, but also try for yourself some techniques they used! Shuriken throwing, ninja river crossing, obstacle clearance, and more!

Inclusions: Private transportation, All entrance tickets, Ninja outfit

Exclusions: Spare clothes, Lunch, Bottled water