Time zone
GMT +09:00
No time difference
Currency
Japanese Yen
1JPY = 1.00JPY
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
(242) • 10K+ booked
From
¥ 4,377
Retail: ¥ 5,000
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
¥ 8,200
Klook's choice
Osaka 4 Major Attractions Lake Biwa & La Collina Day Tour
Book now for tomorrow
English guided
Free cancellation
(735) • 8K+ booked
¥ 8,200
Biwako Valley Ski & Snow Play Day Tour From Osaka
English guided
Free cancellation
Instant confirmation
(73) • 1K+ booked
¥ 6,500
Lake Biwa & Shirahige Shrine & Omihachiman La Collina Day Tour (Departure from Osaka/Kyoto)
English guided
Free cancellation
(58) • 600+ booked
¥ 5,827
Klook's choice
Biwako Valley Ski Tour from Osaka
English guided
Free cancellation
Instant confirmation
(28) • 700+ booked
¥ 6,000
¥ 941
Retail: ¥ 960
Shiga Day Tour | Lake Biwa Shirahige Shrine & Miho Museum & Kyu-Chikurin-in (Departing from Osaka/Kyoto)
English guided
Free cancellation
(319) • 4K+ booked
¥ 10,000
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
¥ 7,500
(Shiga In-Depth Tour) Miho Museum ・ Kyuchikurin-in or Hieizan Shrine ・ Lake Biwa Shirahige Shrine Floating Torii Gate (Round trip from Osaka / Kyoto)
English guided
Free cancellation
Instant confirmation
(60) • 600+ booked
¥ 15,179
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
¥ 10,625
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)
English guided
Free cancellation
(16) • 100+ booked
¥ 10,125
Hotels in Otsu
From
¥ 14,067
From
¥ 38,367
From
¥ 36,142
¥ 38,076
From
¥ 34,226
From
¥ 12,218
From
¥ 5,591
¥ 5,647
From
¥ 47,542
From
¥ 25,290
From
¥ 14,055
From
¥ 29,180
¥ 29,475
From
¥ 7,915
¥ 7,919
SUPER HOTEL Otsu Station
Instant confirmation
From
¥ 7,443
Reviews of Otsu activities
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 🌱
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 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
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!
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.
劉 **
2026-07-29 07:40:04
Sherry, thank you so much for taking us to admire the beautiful scenery of Mount Fuji, experience the tranquility of Shuzenji Temple, and savor the exquisite cuisine at the onsen ryokan. Everything was made even more perfect by your meticulous arrangements. Thank you for giving us an unforgettable memory of Japan. We hope to have the opportunity to join another one of your tours in the future! 🇯🇵🗻✨
Tour Guide: Sherry was excellent 👍👍👍👍👍
Itinerary: Excellent
Transportation: Excellent
Attractions: Excellent
Accommodation: Excellent, being able to enjoy the hot springs ♨️ was very comfortable
Otsu at a glance
Quick facts about Otsu
General info
What to know before visiting Otsu
What to do in Otsu year-round
Otsu’s calendar is driven by visits to Attraction passes, Tours and Outdoor & sports activities, with smaller peaks around Cable cars and Historical sites. Klook booking data shows demand climbs into the autumn and reaches its high point in November, while late spring (May) is much quieter. That seasonal rhythm means the city suits outdoorsy travellers in busier months and those after museums or easy sightseeing in quieter months. Decide whether you want peak-season atmosphere or a low‑crowd visit — Klook booking data can help you pick dates that match the mood you want.
When to visit and price rhythm
Demand peaks in November and dips most in May; prices are lowest in October and rise sharply into late-year and early-year months, so season and cost sometimes move together and sometimes diverge. For example, November is both one of the busiest months and has a much higher typical price, while October shows low prices despite rising demand the next month. For lower prices and smaller crowds, aim for October or the quieter spring months; for full autumn atmosphere, target November.
| Month | Demand Level | Typical Price |
|---|---|---|
| January | About average | AUD 122 |
| February | About average | AUD 125 |
| March | About average | AUD 81 |
| April | Very quiet | AUD 81 |
| May | Very quiet | AUD 45 |
| June | Quieter than usual | AUD 45 |
| July | Quieter than usual | AUD 37 |
| August | Busier than usual | AUD 37 |
| September | Busier than usual | AUD 37 |
| October | Peak demand | AUD 36 |
| November | Peak demand | AUD 96 |
| December | Quieter than usual | AUD 108 |
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 from Australia
Most travellers book experiences fairly close to travel, with bookings typically made about 6 days ahead and the earliest planners booking around 17 days out, according to Klook booking data. That means you can usually be flexible and reserve things a few days before you travel, but during November and other peak windows earlier booking pays. If you want the best choice of dates and times for tours and outdoor activities, lock them in sooner rather than later on Klook; otherwise, last‑minute options are often available a day out. Book on Klook for convenience and to compare typical prices and timings.
FAQs about Otsu
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What is Otsu best known for on Klook?
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Explore more on Klook
Top destinations
Top Activities and Tours
- 1 Biwako Valley Ropeway Round-way Ticket in Shiga
- 2 Experience Scenic Spot Biwako Terrace 1 Day Bus Tour from Osaka
- 3 Sakamoto Cable Car Ticket
- 4 Biwako Valley Ski Tour from Osaka
- 5 Shiga: Lake Biwa Shirahige Shrine and Observation Deck / Kyoto Arashiyama Sanzen-in Temple and Omihachiman One-Day Tour (Departing from Osaka/Kyoto)
- 6 Shiga Lake Biwa Day Trip | Lake Biwa Observation Deck / Kyoto Sanzen-in Temple & Shirahige Shrine & La Collina Omihachiman
- 7 Biwako Valley Ski & Snow Play Day Tour From Osaka
- 8 From Osaka - Ski/Snow Play at Mt.Rokko & Arima Onsen One Day Tour
- 9 Lake Biwa, Shirahige Shrine, La Collina Omihachiman & Mangetsu-ji Ukimido One-Day Tour (Departing from Osaka/Kyoto)
- 10 Nagoya Classic Day Tour: Nagoya Castle + Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology + Osu Kannon (From Osaka, Guaranteed Departure for 1 )
- 11 Lake Biwa Secret Scenery Pilgrimage Day Trip丨Shirazu Shrine, Observation Deck/Sanzen-in Temple, Floating Temple, La Collina