Time zone
GMT +09:00
No time difference
Currency
Japanese Yen
1USD = 158.48JPY
Official languages
Japanese
Best time to visit
MAR - MAY
Cherry blossoms and mild weather enhance lakeside visits.
Recommended trip duration
1 days
Top things to do in Otsu
Biwako Valley Ropeway Round-way Ticket in Shiga
Book now for tomorrow
Instant confirmation
(238) • 10K+ booked
From
US$ 28.29
Retail: US$ 31.55
Lake Biwa, Shirahige Shrine, La Collina Omihachiman & Mangetsu-ji Ukimido One-Day Tour (Departing from Osaka/Kyoto)
English guided
Free cancellation
(58) • 600+ booked
US$ 36.79
Klook's choice
Osaka's 4 Major Attractions: Lake Biwa & La Collina Day Trip
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English guided
Free cancellation
(733) • 8K+ booked
US$ 59.50
Klook's choice
Shiga: Lake Biwa Shirahige Shrine and Observation Deck / Kyoto Arashiyama Sanzen-in Temple and Omihachiman One-Day Tour (Departing from Osaka/Kyoto)
Book now for tomorrow
English guided
Free cancellation
(179) • 1K+ booked
US$ 42.50
Klook's choice
Biwako Valley Ski Tour from Osaka
English guided
Free cancellation
Instant confirmation
(28) • 700+ booked
US$ 43.55
Biwako Valley Ski & Snow Play Day Tour From Osaka
English guided
Free cancellation
Instant confirmation
(73) • 1K+ booked
US$ 47.19
[Shiga In-depth Tour] Miho Museum, Old Bamboo Forest Garden or Hieisan Shrine, Lake Biwa Shirahige Shrine Water Torii Gate (Roundtrip from Osaka / Kyoto)
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English guided
Free cancellation
(60) • 600+ booked
US$ 67.05
Miho Museum & Old Chikurin-in & Hiyoshi Taisha Shrine on Mount Hiei & Lake Biwa-Shirahige Shrine One-Day Tour (Osaka/Kyoto pick-up and drop-off available)
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English guided
Free cancellation
(16) • 100+ booked
US$ 73.49
Shiga: Lake Biwa Shirahige Shrine & Miho Museum & Former Chikurin-in Temple Day Trip | Departing from Osaka/Kyoto
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English guided
Free cancellation
(319) • 4K+ booked
US$ 63.09
Klook's choice
Osaka and Kyoto Biwako and La Collina Full-Day Guided Tour
Book now for tomorrow
English guided
Free cancellation
(74) • 700+ booked
US$ 60.15
Klook's choice
From Osaka - Ski/Snow Play at Mt.Rokko & Arima Onsen One Day Tour
English guided
Free cancellation
Instant confirmation
(44) • 800+ booked
US$ 54.45
Lake Biwa Secret Scenery Pilgrimage Day Trip丨Shirazu Shrine, Observation Deck/Sanzen-in Temple, Floating Temple, La Collina
Free cancellation
Instant confirmation
(11) • 100+ booked
US$ 38.55
Hotels in Otsu
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Reviews of Otsu activities
KWAN ***************
2026-09-13 16:02:30
though it is a bit expensive , it is worth to go for at least once. However, the parking fee is the most expensive so far in my trips to Japan.
Klook User
2026-11-05 14:42:38
Overall it was a good and enjoyable experience for me. I'm a Thai solo traveller. Since these places are difficult to go by public transportation so this tour is convenient. Though this tour members were mainly Chinese, the Guide Zoey still supported and tried to look out for English speaking members as best as she can. Personally, I like Biwako Valley, Umikado, and La Collina. It was a shame that the day I went with the tour(5 Nov), the top of the mountain was foggy so everyone couldn't see the Biwa lake view from up there but fortunately we see the Lake when we rode the cable. Umikado Temple is peaceful & relaxing. La collina is a nice place too. Shirahige Shrine is okay. It's beautiful but it's a little bit small and nothing much to see.
Peonie ***
2026-11-02 07:01:03
My husband and I had a wonderful experience on the tour. Special thanks to our tour guide, 郑雅菲, for her guidance, and to the bus driver for ensuring a safe and smooth journey throughout our day trip.
Although the weather wasn’t ideal, with rain and mist throughout the day, we still appreciated the opportunity to take the ropeway, walk across the Sky Bridge, and capture beautiful photos along the way.
Overall, we had an enjoyable experience and truly appreciate the efforts of the tour guide and bus driver. Thank you!
Luciana ***********
2026-10-05 07:17:48
It was my first experience with klook and I couldn't be happier. Even if it was rainy the whole day, we could enjoy the itinerary as described thanks to Effy. She was amazing, she explained everything and was always ready to answer other questions and doubts. I would totally recommend 🌱
Hsieh *********
2026-08-26 14:08:37
The day before the one-day tour, we received an email from our tour guide, Sun Jiaxue (Yuki), detailing the itinerary, important notes, meeting point, and contact information.
Since there were about 20 people in our group, we traveled by large bus. At the start of the one-day tour and just before reaching our destination, our guide Yuki provided detailed explanations and important information. She also used Line to send reminders about the itinerary and pickup locations.
Itinerary Stop 1: Miho Museum - I.M. Pei's Utopia. Anyone studying architecture must experience the master's architectural design and its integration with the environment. Lunch was at our own expense; the rice balls and Miho tofu at the ticket center's restaurant are worth trying. (Photos 1-3)
Itinerary Stop 2: Hiyoshi Taisha Shrine on Mount Hiei - This is the head shrine for over 3,800 Hie, Hiyoshi, and Sanno shrines across Japan, known for monkeys serving as messengers of the gods. (Photo 4)
Itinerary Stop 3: Shirahige Shrine and Water Torii Gate on Lake Biwa - A legendary spot said to be closest to the gods. (Photos 5-6)
Many thanks to our tour guide Yuki and the driver for their excellent service on today's one-day tour. Our family of four had a truly enriching experience.
CHIAO ********
2026-10-16 11:18:50
Tour guide Zhang Yanjin was extremely nice 👍 He drove smoothly, provided just the right amount of information, and kindly answered all our questions. I felt the time allocated for each stop was well planned. Also, thank you to all the fellow travelers who joined today—even though there were only 8 of us, everyone was quite punctual! ✅ I recommend renting an audio guide at Miho Museum ✅ (The last photo of Shirahige Shrine was edited because of bad weather 🤣)
Klook 用戶
2026-05-26 03:42:09
This was my first time joining a KLOOK one-day tour, and from the start, I was impressed by our guide Liu Du's professionalism. He seamlessly switched between Chinese, English, and Japanese for the tour commentary (speaking with a gentle and refined local charm). Throughout the trip, he was very attentive and caring towards the group members, providing detailed explanations. He was also very clear about pick-up/drop-off points and time management. At the Lake Biwa observation deck, he recommended we take the second cable car up to the very top to enjoy 360-degree views, and also suggested trying Omi beef steak, among other things. All of these experiences left us with wonderful memories of Kyoto. Thank you, Liu Du, and thank you, KLOOK, for such a fantastic tour. We look forward to seeing you again next time!
Klook User
2026-10-24 03:39:08
Wonderful day trip to the Miho Museum
Our bus trip to the Miho Museum was one of the highlights of our time in Kyoto. Kangfu was both our driver and our guide, and he did a great job at both. He drove safely and comfortably, and he made the day easy and enjoyable from start to finish. The itinerary was perfect: not too long, not too short. We had enough time to enjoy the museum without feeling rushed, and we were back without being worn out. Thank you, Kangfu, for a memorable day. We'd happily recommend this trip to anyone visiting Kyoto.
Klook 用戶
2026-10-19 06:19:28
This tour does not include the Biwako Valley ropeway tickets, but you can buy them on Klook, which is cheaper than buying them on-site. If you choose to board at Kyoto Station and get off at Osaka Station, your luggage can be stored on the tour bus. Look for staff wearing yellow vests with "gogoday" to check in. There are many tour groups on the same day, but overall the itinerary is very good and highly recommended.
08:00 Kani Doraku Dotonbori Higashi Store
09:20 Kyoto Station Hachijo-guchi Tourist Bus Parking Lot
10:20 (Stop for 30 min) Shirahige Shrine
11:30 (Stop for 3 hours) Biwako Terrace
15:30 (Stop for 1 hour) La Collina Omihachiman
16:30 Scheduled return departure
17:40 Kyoto Station Hachijo-guchi Tourist Bus Parking Lot
18:40 Kani Doraku Dotonbori Higashi Store
Otsu at a glance
Quick facts about Otsu
General info
What to know before visiting Otsu
What to do in Otsu year-round
Otsu draws visitors mainly for Attraction passes, followed by Tours and Outdoor & sports activities, with Cable cars and Historical sites also booked. Klook booking data shows activity through the year peaks in February, when demand jumps sharply, while July is the quietest month. That rhythm means winter months are busiest for sightseeing and guided experiences, while summer is far calmer. For choosing when to go you must balance crowds and atmosphere: pick between lively, peak-season energy or quieter, more flexible summer travel — Klook booking data.
When to visit Otsu
Demand on Klook is highest in February and March, and falls to its lowest point in July. Prices move through the year as well: typical booking prices are lowest in July and climb to a priciest point in January, with notable rises around late autumn and winter. Where demand and prices align, February and January feel busiest and costlier; July offers the quietest experience at lower typical prices. For lower prices and smaller crowds, consider July or early summer; for peak-season atmosphere and more events, aim for February or March.
| Month | Demand Level | Typical Price |
|---|---|---|
| January | Busier than usual | USD 75 |
| February | Peak demand | USD 75 |
| March | Peak demand | USD 43 |
| April | Busier than usual | USD 57 |
| May | Very quiet | USD 30 |
| June | Very quiet | USD 33 |
| July | Very quiet | USD 25 |
| August | Very quiet | USD 59 |
| September | Very quiet | USD 51 |
| October | Quieter than usual | USD 56 |
| November | About average | USD 73 |
| December | Busier than usual | USD 64 |
Demand is bookings in that month compared with a typical month, from historical Klook booking data, grouped into the demand levels above; typical price is the median paid on Klook in that month; prices are shown with their currency code. Based on Klook booking data, July 2025 – June 2026.
Tips for travellers planning ahead
Most travellers book experiences on Klook about 6 days ahead, with the earliest planners reserving around two weeks out. That means you can often be flexible and secure activities close to your trip, but during the February–March peak it pays to book earlier. If you prefer lower prices and quieter sites, target July when typical prices are around USD 25 and demand is very low. Use Klook to compare passes, tours and outdoor activities, lock in popular time slots in peak months, and revisit bookings a few days before travel to catch last-minute availability.
FAQs about Otsu
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Explore more on Klook
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- 1 Biwako Valley Ropeway Round-way Ticket in Shiga
- 2 Sakamoto Cable Car Ticket
- 3 Shiga: Lake Biwa Shirahige Shrine and Observation Deck / Kyoto Arashiyama Sanzen-in Temple and Omihachiman One-Day Tour (Departing from Osaka/Kyoto)
- 4 Biwako Valley Ski & Snow Play Day Tour From Osaka
- 5 Shiga Lake Biwa Day Trip | Lake Biwa Observation Deck / Kyoto Sanzen-in Temple & Shirahige Shrine & La Collina Omihachiman
- 6 Miidera Temple Autumn Leaves Illumination + Metasequoia Tree Lined Day Tour (Shiga / Osaka departure)
- 7 Biwako Valley Ski Tour from Osaka
- 8 Experience Scenic Spot Biwako Terrace 1 Day Bus Tour from Osaka
- 9 Kyoto Biwako Valley Winter Snow Day Trip