Osaka Miho Museum & Lake Biwa Full-Day Guided Tour
- Miho Museum: Visit the "modern paradise" created by architect I.M. Pei
- Omihachiman: Wander in the "Little Venice of Omi" and follow the Hachimanbori Canal to feel the prosperous charm of the Edo-era merchant town
- Kyubatakerinin: Feel the elegant prelude to the Buddhist culture of Mount Hiei
- Lake Biwa: Enjoy the magnificent view of Japan's largest lake
- Shirahige Shrine & Water Torii: The vermilion large torii gate standing in Lake Biwa is one of the most representative views in Shiga Prefecture and even Japan
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What to expect
From I.M. Pei's paradise (Miho Museum), to the famous dry landscape garden (Hiyasu Taisha Shrine), to the floating sacred area on Lake Biwa (Shirahige Shrine and Water Torii), a fulfilling itinerary starts now
- First stop: Miho Museum/Omihachiman-Hachimanbori (Miho Museum will go to Omihachiman-Hachimanbori on closed days) Miho Museum: Designed by the master architect I.M. Pei with inspiration from “Peach Blossom Spring”. You need to go through a tunnel and a suspension bridge to reach it. The silver dome and glass curtain wall change light and shadow in the mountain scenery of the four seasons. Known as the “ideal town pursued by modern people”
The white-walled earthenwarehouses (warehouse buildings) stand on both sides of Omi Hachiman-Hachimanbori. Take a stroll through the white-walled earthenwarehouse buildings and appreciate the tranquility and simplicity of the traditional water town
- Second stop: Former Takerin-in Temple/Hieizan Hiyoshi Taisha Shrine (Go to Hieizan Hiyoshi Taisha Shrine when Former Takerin-in Temple is closed)
Former Takerin-in Temple is the imperial gate of Enryakuji Temple on Mount Hiei, and the existing shoin-zukuri architecture of the early Edo period exists. The wandering dry landscape garden is certified as a "national scenic spot". It is one of the most quiet maple viewing spots in the suburbs of Kyoto
Hieizan Hiyoshi Taisha Shrine enshrines the gods of the mountains and the gods of sake, guarding the "ghost gate" in northeastern Kyoto. The vermilion lacquered gate, the monkey god statue (god's messenger) and the thousand-year-old cedar forest form a mysterious barrier
- Third stop: Lake Biwa, Shirahige Shrine, and Water Torii Lake Biwa is the largest freshwater lake in Japan and the third oldest lake in the world. Like Mount Fuji, Lake Biwa is regarded as a symbol of Japan by the Japanese and is affectionately called the “Lake of Life”
Shirahige Shrine: The vermilion torii gate on the water stands alone in Lake Biwa. When the water level is high, it looks like a floating temple and is known as the "Itsukushima of Omi"
Reviews
This tour was great. Nice to get out of the city and see some amazing sights outside of the hustle and bustle of Osaka.I loved the Miho Museum.Our tour guide Nick Lee was a great driver and awesome host taking us around the sights.I recommend this tour.
2 hours is plenty of time for the museum. It's worth a visit.
Everything is safe and sound, thank you.
First of all, the tour bus was unbelievably bad. I can't believe there's such a rundown tour bus in Japan, it was really old and shabby. Second, the tour guide didn't show up at the meeting point in advance, which made us anxiously search for the group. Third, the tour guide slept almost the entire way... I won't mention the rest.
The entire itinerary was more boring and less interesting than I expected.