Time zone
GMT +09:00
No time difference
Currency
Japanese Yen
1EUR = 177.34JPY
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
(232) • 10K+ booked
From
€ 25.39
Retail: € 28.19
Fall deal
Klook's choice
Osaka's 4 Major Attractions: Lake Biwa & La Collina Day Trip
Book now for tomorrow
English guided
Free cancellation
(717) • 8K+ booked
€ 53.19
Lake Biwa, Shirahige Shrine, La Collina Omihachiman & Mangetsu-ji Ukimido One-Day Tour (Departing from Osaka/Kyoto)
English guided
Free cancellation
(48) • 500+ booked
€ 32.89
Fall deal
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
(173) • 1K+ booked
€ 53.19
[Shiga In-depth Tour] Miho Museum, Old Bamboo Forest Garden or Hieisan Shrine, Lake Biwa Shirahige Shrine Water Torii Gate (Roundtrip from Osaka / Kyoto)
Book now for tomorrow
English guided
Free cancellation
(56) • 500+ booked
€ 59.95
Klook's choice
Biwako Valley Ski Tour from Osaka
English guided
Free cancellation
Instant confirmation
(28) • 700+ booked
€ 38.90
Biwako Valley Ski & Snow Play Day Tour From Osaka
English guided
Free cancellation
Instant confirmation
(73) • 1K+ booked
€ 42.19
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)
Book now for tomorrow
English guided
Free cancellation
(12) • 100+ booked
€ 65.65
Shiga: Lake Biwa Shirahige Shrine & Miho Museum & Former Chikurin-in Temple Day Trip | Departing from Osaka/Kyoto
Book now for tomorrow
English guided
Free cancellation
(316) • 4K+ booked
€ 56.39
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
€ 48.65
Klook's choice
Osaka Biwako & Sanzen-in Full-Day Cultural Tour
Book now for tomorrow
English guided
Free cancellation
(13) • 100+ booked
€ 53.19
Mt. Fuji, Hakone, and Kamakura 2-Day Tour | Mt. Fuji 5th Station or Arakurayama Sengen Park, Kawaguchiko Ropeway, Owakudani, Lake Ashi Torii, Shuzenji Onsen Hotel, Enoden, Kamakurakoko-mae Station | Departure from Tokyo
English guided
Free cancellation
(15) • 200+ booked
€ 251.60
Hotels in Otsu
From
€ 79.37
From
€ 202.47
From
€ 219.21
From
€ 33.8
From
€ 186.3
€ 187.67
From
€ 85.57
From
€ 297.36
From
€ 158.21
From
€ 147.11
€ 157.05
From
€ 44.77
€ 45.2
From
€ 49.56
€ 51.5
SUPER HOTEL Otsu Station
Instant confirmation
From
€ 54.97
Reviews of Otsu activities
Klook User
2026-10-07 07:50:38
Thank you to our guide Effy! I enjoyed the tour today and it was nice to connect with nature. The tour made transport easy for me to visit areas that are not convenient with public transit. Reminder that the Biwako terrace is at a ski resort... bring a jacket or brave the cold wind like I did!!
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 🌱
Klook 用戶
2026-08-05 02:24:45
I was very fortunate to have Abu as my tour guide this time; he was truly exceptional. In addition to providing detailed explanations of the attractions along the way, he also shared a lot of Japanese culture and historical background, making the entire trip very enriching. He took great care of every group of guests, and even as a solo traveler like myself, I never felt overlooked, which was very reassuring.
During the trip, a small incident occurred: a vending machine in a tourist area took my money when I tried to buy water. At the time, we were in a hurry to catch a cable car, so Abu quickly decided not to delay the itinerary and told me he would accompany me to the service center to handle it later.
Due to the language barrier, when I explained my situation to the service staff, they didn't fully understand at first and asked for clarification multiple times. Fortunately, Abu was there to help translate and explain. Although the back-and-forth communication took some time, we eventually managed to get a refund.
Not only is he a professional guide, but he also proactively assists and patiently handles unexpected situations for travelers, which I truly appreciate. I highly recommend Abu and hope to join another one of his tours in the future!
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 🤣)
Rene ***********
2026-10-03 07:55:54
Peggy, our tour guide was awesome and very helpful, while the tour itself was really nice. First time riding a lift.
Kwok *****
2026-09-25 15:05:01
Our tour guide was Ms. Effy Ya-fei, who speaks Mandarin, English, and Japanese. She was very patient with our questions, and her communication was clear and well-organized. She thoughtfully sent an email before departure with her contact information, and on the day of the tour, she kept us updated via a messaging app group. Before arriving at each attraction, she would give us helpful tips on what to look out for. We were all very satisfied with the arrangements 👍🏻
F ******
2026-06-12 06:07:46
We had a great time in Himeji and Kobe! The atmosphere was so peaceful… slow, calm, and serene.
Mr. Cao is a great driver! He is very approachable, friendly, and organized, which made the whole trip even more enjoyable.
Overall, it was a wonderful experience! ✨
Klook User
2026-09-16 08:19:14
We had a wonderful experience with our private car charter in Kyoto! A special thank you to our driver, Aki, who was incredibly kind, patient, and accommodating throughout our very long day.
The car was immaculately clean, luxurious, spacious, and extremely comfortable, which made traveling around Kyoto throughout the day so enjoyable. Aki never made us feel rushed and allowed us to truly enjoy each stop and take in the beauty of Kyoto.
More than just transportation, Aki helped make our day an experience filled with wonderful memories that we will treasure from our visit to Japan. His kindness, patience, and professionalism made such a difference. We are incredibly grateful and would highly recommend this private car charter—and especially Aki—to anyone visiting Kyoto! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Otsu at a glance
Quick facts about Otsu
General info
What to know before visiting Otsu
Quick snapshot of Otsu and what draws visitors
Otsu is a lakeside city where attraction passes, tours and outdoor & sports activities dominate bookings, so the year swings between sightseeing and active days out. Demand peaks in November and dips around May, giving the city a clear high-season rhythm driven by fall travel.
Best times to visit based on crowd and price trends
Klook booking data shows November as the busiest month and May as the quietest. Prices are typically lowest in October and then climb into winter, with booking prices peaking in February; overall prices rise sharply after October and are much higher through December to February. If you want lower prices and smaller crowds, aim for October or the quieter shoulder months around May–June; for full peak-season atmosphere choose November when demand is highest even though prices are higher.
Tips for travellers from Hong Kong planning a trip
Most travellers from Hong Kong book experiences roughly a week in advance, so a short, flexible planning window works well for Otsu; last-minute bookings are still possible a day out for some activities. For travel during November’s peak, try to reserve popular tours and outdoor activities earlier in that typical booking window to secure your preferred times on Klook.
FAQs about Otsu
When is the best time to visit Otsu?
When is the best time to visit Otsu?
When is the cheapest time to visit Otsu?
When is the cheapest time to visit Otsu?
How far ahead should I book activities in Otsu if I'm travelling from Hong Kong?
How far ahead should I book activities in Otsu if I'm travelling from Hong Kong?
How much do activities in Otsu typically cost?
How much do activities in Otsu typically cost?
What is Otsu best known for on Klook?
What is Otsu best known for on Klook?