Osaka's 4 Major Attractions: Lake Biwa & La Collina Day Trip

Floating Shirahige Shrine Torii Gate and Mangetsu-ji Ukimido floating on Lake Biwa are quite unique and beautiful. La Collina's grass-roof pavilion in Omihachiman also has a bit fairytale-like feel, and her Baumkuchen is worth trying. The only downside was that after several days of heavy rain, the Biwako Valley Ropeway we were supposed to take was under maintenance, so we went to Sanzen-in Monzeki instead. Fortunately, the temple was tranquil and a good place to purify the mind The guide, Mr Roman, was a courteous, thoughtful, and responsible person. He kept accurate time management, provided brief introductions and reminders before reaching each attraction, and thoughtfully catered to the needs of every member of the group. It was a valuable experience.

We had a wonderful experience with Carina during our Kyoto – Lake Biwa and La Collina day trip. She was incredibly kind, considerate, and professional throughout the entire tour. Despite the uncertain weather conditions, she thoughtfully checked with all of us to see if we still wanted to proceed with the itinerary, making sure everyone was comfortable and informed. Carina was always punctual, well-organized, and friendly. Her warm personality made the trip enjoyable and relaxing, and she created a welcoming atmosphere for everyone in the group. She was attentive to our needs, patient with questions, and genuinely cared about ensuring we had the best experience possible. Thank you, Carina, for your excellent guidance, positive attitude, and dedication. You made our trip memorable, and we would highly recommend you to anyone visiting Kyoto!

I had such a great time on this tour! 💗 Our guide, Carina, was really kind, communicative, knowledgeable and answered any questions we had. It was a great mix of beautiful nature spots - my favorite was the Biwako Terrace and La Collina (the baumkuchen there is amazing! I’d recommend getting a freshly baked slice 😍) I’d wholeheartedly recommend the is experience for anyone who wants to see some lesser-known spots in this area :)

Casper was a very beautiful tour guide with lots of knowledge on areas visited. The weather was foggy and wet at Lake Biwa's observation platform, which did not dampen our spirits, although no views following the 1 chair lifts we did get a tasty lunch. The baumkuchen at the last stop was also very delicious with very tranquil scenery around about at La Collina

Casper is a highly recommended and beautiful tour guide. For our full-day itinerary on April 8th, from her explanations before we arrived at each attraction to her guidance and assistance once we were there, she made us feel completely at ease and confident following her lead. Although the one-day trip was a bit tight on time, she made every effort to ensure we had a happy and enjoyable journey. We were so lucky to have great weather today, and even luckier to meet the lovely, enthusiastic, and thoughtful Casper. Thank you again for being a part of our cherry blossom viewing trip. We had a very pleasant and wonderful day. Finally, I wish you eternal beauty and happiness every day, and as you said, always be a happy princess.

The trip was amazing. Our guide Kazama was very informative about the places that we are going to. The entire Lake Biwa Trip was breathtaking, though it was a long trip, it was still full of fond memories.

We went during the off-season near April where the Biwako terrace is closed. The attractions were a good mix of traditional and exciting. Guide Liu speaks Mandarin Chinese very clearly and with a soothing voice, and also speaks decent English and Japanese. He has an energetic personality and good knowledge about the attractions and other related matters as well. For example, he was able to describe in depth La Collina's different areas and attractions. Bus driver Yamaguchi drives safely and carefully, and has a clean bus. The tour bus format is also particularly suited to this area as you get to take the scenery of Biwako and the surrounding mountain ranges in. One thing I would caution though is that the weather can make or break the experience.

This trip included the historic Sanzen-in Temple, Shirahige Shrine with its torii gate in the water, Mangetsuji Temple, and "La Collina Omihachiman," Shiga Prefecture's first Baumkuchen specialty store—"Fairy Tale Town." Except for the Sanzen-in area, where we stayed for about 2 hours, the other attractions were about 1 hour each. In addition to experiencing Japanese culture, historical architecture, and high-latitude climate, we also enjoyed exquisite and delicious cakes. Furthermore, our guide, Liu Du, was very kind and professional, explaining each attraction very diligently and thoroughly, which greatly enhanced the entire trip. We were very fortunate to have such a great guide and attractions, and we will definitely choose a similar trip again in the future.

Liu was our guide and he was absolutely fantastic! So welcoming and helpful with any questions about the best spots or knowledge of the area! The scenery and places we visted were Fantastic and so amazing I would love to revisit again one day. If you have the opportunity to take this trip you will have no regrets but only beautiful memories and photos and maybe you will be lucky to get Liu as your guide!!!

This activity is a blast and something everyone should give a shot on your first or second day. Big shoutout to our tour guide, Andy, for the good insights about local culture and life here! He took us to some really cool spots and shared fun stories about the area’s history and also very proactive help everyone to take a good solo or group photos. This tour is perfect for solo travelers or families looking to explore together, especially if you didn’t book anything similar on your first visit to the city.