Shiga: Lake Biwa Shirahige Shrine & Miho Museum & Former Chikurin-in Temple Day Trip | Departing from Osaka/Kyoto
- Step into I. M. Pei's masterpiece, the Miho Museum, and experience the dreamy beauty of an art sanctuary hidden in the mountains and a cherry blossom tunnel in spring.
- Explore the Kyu-Chikurin-in Temple and admire the mirror garden, reminiscent of Rurikoin Temple, immersing yourself in the tranquil Zen atmosphere of mossy stone steps and matcha sweets.
- If the temple is closed, visit Hiyoshi Taisha Shrine on Mount Hiei instead, and experience the origin of Japan's Sanno faith and the spiritually powerful monkey guardians.
- Visit the Lake Biwa Floating Torii Gate, a sacred place for photography enthusiasts, and enjoy the stunning scenery of Oki Island interwoven with the lake surface in the distance.
- In a single day, experience architectural aesthetics, Zen gardens, and natural lake views, and discover the diverse cultural charm surrounding Kyoto.
What to expect
This is a high-quality route that connects architectural aesthetics, Japanese gardens, ancient beliefs, and lakeside hidden gems. Its overall ambiance is quiet and restrained, yet full of surprises at every turn, making it an immersive, niche-style INS journey✨.
- The journey begins at the Miho Museum, known as a "real-life Peach Blossom Spring." Designed by the master I.M. Pei, 80% of the building is hidden within the mountains. After passing through tunnels and crossing suspension bridges, the view gradually opens up, as if truly entering the world of "The Peach Blossom Spring." The architectural lines are minimalist yet powerful, perfectly blending with the mountains, sky, and light and shadow. Every step offers a high-end composition📐🌿. The museum's collection spans diverse ancient civilizations, where art and nature echo each other, and during cherry blossom season, the pink tunnel gives the entire space a soft-focus filter.
- Next, we arrive at the Old Chikurin-in Temple, a photographer’s secret “Rurikoin alternative.” The wooden table in the attic reflects the garden scenery, creating a transparent and tranquil mirror image. With no crowds and no time limits, you can slowly find your perfect angle. Moss, maple leaves, rocks, and flowing water form a scene full of Zen. With a cup of matcha in hand, time seems to pause🍵. From July 1, 2026, to September 30, 2026, due to garden renovation work, the garden will be closed, and visitors will be redirected to Hiyoshi Taisha Shrine on Mount Hiei, which is the head shrine of over 3,800 Hie and Hiyoshi shrines in Japan. The red Sanno Torii gates and the “divine messenger monkeys” scattered throughout the grounds give the entire shrine both solemnity and a lively spirit. During the autumn foliage season, the shrine is surrounded by red leaves, with incredibly rich layers of color, making every casual shot a masterpiece⛩️.
- The journey culminates at the Shirahige Shrine's torii gate in Lake Biwa. The torii stands quietly in the lake, presenting different expressions with changes in light, weather, and water color. Fishing boats pass through, creating a clean and powerful scene. There is no hustle and bustle here, only the lake breeze, the sky, and the traces of time flowing, making it a place where one can truly slow down🌊.
This route does not seek excitement, but rather uses architecture, nature, and faith to create a high-aesthetic journey that is both enduring and engaging.
Reviews
The Miho Museum is truly stunning. It's remarkable how much effort an organization can put into promoting and disseminating aesthetics, from collecting and displaying exhibits to constructing the museum itself. Visitors to this secluded mountain location will undoubtedly be awestruck and impressed by this architectural masterpiece that rose from nothing. The quaint Bamboo Forest Garden is charming and compact. According to the introduction, it was once a training dormitory for monks from Enryaku-ji Temple. Enjoying matcha while gazing at the garden is quite therapeutic and relaxing. Shirahige Shrine, especially on a clear day, offers beautiful photo opportunities, and its omamori (charms) are also lovely. After a full day of sightseeing, I actually felt incredibly relaxed and peaceful.
Visited the MIHO Museum, which has a collection of ancient art. Had to pay the entrance fee on-site. Then took a long bus ride to see Biwa Lake and the Torii gate in the water. Ended the trip at an old temple; the highlight was the mirror reflecting the trees. I was the only English speaker on the entire trip; everyone else spoke Chinese. The guide took great care of us, explaining everything well in both languages. It was enjoyable and I got to see new places, but I would recommend spending more time in the Shiga area.
Had a great day with A-JI saw all the sights. it was a very cold day and A-JI was kind enough to buy me a hot green tea as I am not used to the cold coming from Brisbane Australia. I highly recommend.
This one-day trip is fantastic, the tourist guide name YuJun(于君) is very good, easygoing and considerate! Everything made the trip very enjoyable. It's worth the visit. Miho Museum is really a breathtaking museum, the architecture is excellent with exquisite workmanship, I love it so so much.
Ms Kuo is very professional and she speaks Mandarin and English efficiently and clearly. gave us her WhatsApp and mobile in case we lost contact while on this tour. also gave the Coach Bus no. 903. the places are so beautiful and enjoy this trip.
Loved tour guide Bruce's standup comedy style approach during the trip. Fortunately, the weather was quite clear and we managed to see Mt. Fuji from the first two destinations. Couldn't pass up the opportunity to buy a pair of shoes from Onitsuka Tiger at one of the largest outlets. Overall, pretty fun trip!
Stated our preferred language is English but was grouped together with a Chinese speaking group. if you did not rent a car, would recommend purchasing this due to the chartered bus service which allow us to travel conveniently within Kyoto.
Pleasant sightseeing journey. Saved us the hassle of travelling. The 3 locations were interesting sightseeing places and few crowds were there during our trip. Not sure why, the Shirahiga torii was switch to the first sightseeing location. Not a major issue though. Then it was Miho Museum - beautiful quiet peaceful museum. there was a glass exhibition which was very enjoyable for us. And for the Chikurin-in temple, very beautiful place, just a little disappointed that the matcha and wagashi were not available while we were there. Was told it was closed. Not sure when they will open. Thankfully we had our lunch at Miho Museum.
I've always dreamed of visiting the Miho Museum, but the inconvenient transportation always deterred me. When I stumbled upon this tour, which allowed me to visit several desired locations at once, I immediately signed up! I was incredibly lucky to catch a beautiful sunny day on April 16th, and the cherry blossoms at the museum hadn't completely fallen yet. Seeing the interplay of light and shadow on the architecture amidst the spring scenery was like a dream. I especially want to commend our guide, Sen. He was energetic and enthusiastic, providing detailed explanations in both Chinese and English, making the entire trip incredibly enjoyable. I highly recommend this tour to anyone who wants to visit Miho but is worried about the hassle!
the tour was great, and the tour guide is even better, i was the only englosh speaking person in tje group but he still make the effort of translating pmeverything he said in chinese to.english.
Good to know
- According to Japanese law, vehicle usage time cannot exceed 10 hours. Therefore, the tour guide may adjust the itinerary based on the actual conditions of the day. We appreciate your understanding.
- We will send an email with the tour guide and vehicle information for the next day between 20:00-21:00 (8:00 PM - 9:00 PM) on the day before the tour. Please check your inbox promptly. Emails may be mistakenly filtered into your spam folder. During peak season, there may be delays in sending the email. We apologize for any inconvenience. In special circumstances, if you receive multiple emails, please refer to the latest one. If you use WeChat, you can add the tour guide's account proactively based on the information in the email.
- Please note: As this is a group tour, there may be guests who speak other languages traveling in the same vehicle. We appreciate your understanding.
- To ensure your trip goes smoothly, please be sure to confirm the meeting location and avoid making temporary changes once it is confirmed. If you fail to board the vehicle due to a change of meeting location for personal reasons, we will not be able to issue a refund. We appreciate your understanding.
- We will do our best to accommodate your seating requests, but as this is a shared tour, seating is primarily allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. If you have special needs, please inform us in the remarks, and we will do our best to arrange a suitable seat for you. The final arrangement is subject to the tour guide's coordination on the day. We hope you understand and are accommodating. Thank you for your understanding.
- During peak tourist seasons or other special circumstances, the departure time of the tour may be earlier or slightly later than scheduled. The specific departure time is subject to the email notification you receive the day before the tour. Please prepare accordingly in advance.
- As the day tour is a shared ride, we kindly ask that you arrive at the meeting location or attraction on time. No refunds will be given for late arrivals, and any incidental expenses and responsibilities incurred due to tardiness will be borne by you. Thank you for your understanding.
- In the event of severe weather or other unforeseen circumstances, the park may adjust the operating hours of the rides or show times, or even cancel some projects and performances without prior notice. We appreciate your understanding.
- This product may be adjusted according to weather and other factors. To ensure your safety, staff members have the right to ask guests to suspend outdoor activities, communicate with you, and make alternative arrangements. The specific situation is subject to the actual situation on the day.
- The transportation, sightseeing, and stopover times involved in the itinerary are subject to the actual conditions on the day. In special circumstances (such as traffic jams, weather conditions, etc.), the tour guide may reasonably adjust the order of attractions, with the consent of the guests, without reducing the number of attractions in the itinerary.
- Each guest can bring one piece of luggage free of charge. Please indicate this in the "Special Requirements" section when placing your order. If you bring luggage without informing us one day in advance, it may cause congestion in the vehicle and affect driving safety. The tour guide has the right to refuse you boarding, and the fee will not be refunded. Thank you for your understanding.
- We will arrange different vehicle types based on the actual number of travelers. We cannot specify the vehicle type. Thank you for your understanding.
- It is not possible to leave the group early or depart midway during the tour. If you choose to leave the group midway, the uncompleted portion will be regarded as a voluntary abandonment, and no refund will be given. You will be responsible for any accidents that may occur after leaving the group. Thank you for your understanding.
- Seasonal limited-time events (such as cherry blossoms, autumn leaves, special flowering seasons, illuminations, fireworks displays, snow scenery viewing, hot spring season, festive activities, etc.) are greatly affected by climate, weather, or other force majeure factors, and specific arrangements may be adjusted. Therefore, please refer to the official notification. If we do not receive an official notification to cancel the event, we will arrange it according to the original plan. If the flowering period or special event does not meet expectations, no refund will be given. Please be aware of this.
- As the journey is long, the actual arrival time will be affected by factors such as traffic and weather. The above times are estimates only. Please avoid arranging other activities after the day's itinerary. We will not be liable for any losses caused by delays. Thank you for your understanding.
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