Items | Shiga: Discover Otsu’s History, Culture, and Faith on Foot
Shiga: Discover Otsu’s History, Culture, and Faith on Foot
Otsu
About
Explore the rich history and culture of Otsu on this engaging three-hour walking tour. Guided by a knowledgeable local, uncover Otsu's transformation from a bustling post town on the Tōkaidō highway to a spiritual center by Lake Biwa. Visit the Otsu Hyakucho-kan to feel the pulse of commerce and hospitality, savor the unique funazushi delicacy at Sakamotoya, and admire the unique Otsu-e art. The highlight is Miidera Temple, where ancient paths and sacred sites tell stories of devotion and culture.
- Three-hour guided walking tour through Otsu's historic sites - Discover local delicacies like funazushi and unique Otsu-e art - Visit the revered Miidera Temple and its expansive grounds - Perfe...
Highlights
3 hours
Offered in English
Free Cancellation
Mobile Ticket
3 hours
Offered in English
Free Cancellation
Mobile Ticket
What's Included
Visit to Otsu Hyakucho-kan with explanation of Otsu’s history as a post town
Visit to an Otsu-e shop with explanation of Edo-period folk art
Commentary on pilgrimage culture, local traditions, and Otsu’s role as a historic city
Stop at Sakamotoya to learn about funazushi and Lake Biwa’s food culture
Entry fee to Miidera (Onjo-ji Temple) including access to main halls and temple grounds
Guided 3-hour walking tour of Otsu led by an experienced local guide
Food and drinks
Transportation to and from the meeting point
Meeting Points
Departure
Otsu Station Police Box
Please meet in front of the Otsu Police Station Otsu Ekimae Koban. Your guide will be waiting for you holding a yellow sign. Please refer to the map for details.
Return
Niomon Gate
The tour concludes near the center of Otsu, with easy access to railway stations such as Hama-Otsu Station.
Important Information
•
Public transportation options are available nearby
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Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
•
For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
•
Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
•
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
•
This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.
•
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
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Shiga: Discover Otsu’s History, Culture, and Faith on Foot
Otsu
About
Explore the rich history and culture of Otsu on this engaging three-hour walking tour. Guided by a knowledgeable local, uncover Otsu's transformation from a bustling post town on the Tōkaidō highway to a spiritual center by Lake Biwa. Visit the Otsu Hyakucho-kan to feel the pulse of commerce and hospitality, savor the unique funazushi delicacy at Sakamotoya, and admire the unique Otsu-e art. The highlight is Miidera Temple, where ancient paths and sacred sites tell stories of devotion and culture.
- Three-hour guided walking tour through Otsu's historic sites - Discover local delicacies like funazushi and unique Otsu-e art - Visit the revered Miidera Temple and its expansive grounds - Perfe...
Highlights
3 hours
Offered in English
Free Cancellation
Mobile Ticket
3 hours
Offered in English
Free Cancellation
Mobile Ticket
What's Included
Visit to Otsu Hyakucho-kan with explanation of Otsu’s history as a post town
Visit to an Otsu-e shop with explanation of Edo-period folk art
Commentary on pilgrimage culture, local traditions, and Otsu’s role as a historic city
Stop at Sakamotoya to learn about funazushi and Lake Biwa’s food culture
Entry fee to Miidera (Onjo-ji Temple) including access to main halls and temple grounds
Guided 3-hour walking tour of Otsu led by an experienced local guide
Food and drinks
Transportation to and from the meeting point
Meeting Points
Departure
Otsu Station Police Box
Please meet in front of the Otsu Police Station Otsu Ekimae Koban. Your guide will be waiting for you holding a yellow sign. Please refer to the map for details.
Return
Niomon Gate
The tour concludes near the center of Otsu, with easy access to railway stations such as Hama-Otsu Station.
The Otsu Hyakucho-kan introduces the history of Otsu as a bustling post town on the Tōkaidō highway during the Edo period. Here, you can learn how “one hundred districts” once thrived with inns, teahouses, and shops serving travelers between Kyoto and Edo. The museum’s displays and atmosphere recreate the lively spirit of the town, making it the perfect place to begin exploring Otsu’s role as a center of commerce and hospitality.
30 minutes
2
Sakamoto-ya
Sakamotoya is the birthplace of funazushi, a unique fermented fish dish made with freshwater fish from Lake Biwa. This delicacy, one of Japan’s oldest forms of sushi, reflects the ingenuity of local food culture and the deep connection between the lake and the people of Otsu. Visiting Sakamotoya allows travelers to discover not only the story of funazushi but also the traditions of the “Lake Country” that have shaped life around Biwa for centuries.
30 minutes
3
Otsu Enomise
The Otsu-e shop preserves the last living tradition of Otsu-e, a form of folk art that originated in Otsu during the Edo period. Initially sold as Buddhist charms to travelers, these paintings evolved into humorous, satirical, and playful works often described as Japan’s “hidden pop art.” With their simple yet expressive lines, Otsu-e captured the imagination of people on the road. A visit here offers the rare chance to see this endangered art form and even bring home a piece of living history.
30 minutes
4
Mii-dera Temple
Miidera, officially known as Onjo-ji Temple, is one of Japan’s great Buddhist temples and a spiritual landmark of Otsu. Its vast grounds include the Moon-Viewing Stage, the Hall of One Hundred Kannon, and the legendary “Evening Bell of Miidera,” celebrated in Japanese poetry and art. Walking through its temple halls, stone bridges, and sacred springs, visitors experience both the grandeur of its architecture and the depth of its faith traditions. Miidera embodies Otsu’s role as a religious city where history, devotion, and culture converge.