Coisas para fazer em Takashima

The Floating Shirahige Shrine Torii Gate and the Mangetsu-ji Ukimido, floating on Lake Biwa, are quite unique and beautiful. La Collina's grass-roof pavilion in Omihachiman also has a somewhat fairytale-like feel, and their Baumkuchen is worth trying. The only downside was that after several days of heavy rain, the Biwako Valley Ropeway we were supposed to take was under maintenance, so we went to Sanzen-in Monzeki instead. Fortunately, the temple was tranquil and a good place to purify the mind. The guide, Mr. Roman, was a courteous, thoughtful, and responsible person. He maintained accurate time management, provided brief introductions and reminders before reaching each attraction, and thoughtfully catered to the needs of every member of the group. It was a valuable experience.

Great weather all day. Got to see some beautiful sights, though if I'd known Biwako Valley would be so cold up there, I would've brought my jacket. Anyways thank you for being patient with me. seemed like I was the naughty one in this group tour😅and I really appreciate the guide Peter for taking photos, it meant a lot to us which is why I give 5 stars. The weather was great, and I saw some beautiful scenery. Also, I'm very grateful to our guide Peter for helping us take photos; it made us very happy.

This is a meaningful tour visiting four locations: Shirahige Shrine, Sanzen-in Temple, Mangetsuji Temple, and La Collina. I chose it to see Shiga Prefecture, which is not well-known in the Kinki region, and it was great to see the magnificent Lake Biwa, which is quite large. Sanzen-in Temple, included as an alternative to the Lake Biwa Terrace during the winter season, unfortunately turned out to be a temple located in Kyoto Prefecture. Personally, I would prefer a schedule that only includes attractions in Shiga Prefecture, excluding Sanzen-in. It seems that an image upgrade is needed for Shiga Prefecture tours. Unfortunately, the tour bus (18-seater) was old and fully booked with no empty seats, so if you ended up in a bad seat, you had to endure the discomfort of a long journey.

The Miho Museum is truly stunning. It's remarkable how much effort an organization can put into upholding, promoting, and disseminating aesthetics: from the collection and display of exhibits to the construction of the museum itself. Travelers who come here, believing they are in a remote mountain corner, will undoubtedly be awestruck and impressed by this architectural masterpiece that rose from nothing. The ancient bamboo forest courtyard, on the other hand, is small and exquisite. According to the introduction, it was once the training quarters for monks of Enryaku-ji Temple in ancient times. Sipping matcha while gazing at the courtyard is quite therapeutic and relaxing. Shirahige Shrine, when the weather is good, is beautiful for photos, and its omamori (charms) are also lovely. After a full day of activities, I actually felt very relaxed and peaceful.

Tour guide Xiao Liu was very attentive and took care of everyone. He also explained the cultural background to us on the bus. This kind of day trip activity is really great; you don't have to rush through itineraries every day like with typical tour groups. When I come back to Japan, I'll definitely participate in this type of activity again. The only minor drawback was that it snowed too heavily 😅

Our tour guide, Mia, was incredibly gentle and considerate this time. Her explanations in both Chinese and English were excellent, making her a five-star guide! The Miho Museum is a very worthwhile place to visit, and it was even more beautiful during cherry blossom season. We were also very lucky to encounter a festival when we visited Chikurin-in Temple, and the torii gate on Lake Biwa was absolutely stunning.

Casper is amazing! He's the best tour guide I've ever had on multiple tours. All four Lake Biwa spots we visited on this trip were beautiful, and I highly recommend this tour to everyone! I look forward to joining another tour during the snowy season or autumn foliage next time!

Naomi was a great tour guide, she was very kind and welcoming. She explained each landmark very well and even recommended other attractions and sites to see in Kyoto. The tour was very timely and Naomi and the driver were able to make the tour work even with the rain going on. This is a great option for people who want to visit all of these locations without having to worry about public transportation.