Oumihachiman was once very flourished town under Hachimanyama castle back in the 16th century. Still you see a beautiful town with traditional style houses as well as the moat used for the castle. The area is also famous for Oumi beef which is one of the 3 best beefs in Japan similar to the famous Kobe beef. We will go up the mountain by the cable car. Will see the beautiful view of Lake Biwa, the biggest lake in Japan together with the rice paddies.
JR Oumihachiman station
We will meet right outside the ticket gate of JR Oumihachiman station.
We will visit Himure Hachimangu Shrine.
We will ride on the cable car to go up the mountain to the castle ruins area. Will trek a bit and see the beautiful view of Lake Biwa and rice paddies.
We will come back down from the small mountain/ruins and walk along the moat and see the beautiful traditional scenery of Japan.
We will go through the photogenic streets with old style houses and visit an area where some charming/unique shops are.
We will go to the restaurant and have a lunch with Oumi beef which is one of the three best beefs in Japan.
I will take you back to the JR station where our tour started and
end the tour.
JR Oumihachiman station
- You can experience Oumi beef which is one of the 3 most well known beefs in Japan.
- Up on Hachimanyama cast ruins you will be able to see the great view of Lake
Biwa and rice paddies
- We will walk around Hachiman moat and old town areas for some shopping.
- English translation / guide fee
- Lunch has to be paid by yourself based on what you would like to have (avg. 15 to 30 USD per person).
- Lunch for the guide also has to be borne by your side.
- Cable car fee (up & down, cash only, 6 USD).
For some tours I can not guide everyday due to store closings. Please check my availability on each tour page. Thank you!
- It is possible to customize the start time of the tour.
- There are several authentic temples nearby in the mountains which can be added to this tour in the afternoon as well (extra charge applies).
- It is better to wear comfortable shoes since we will walk for more than three hours.
- The guide will not be liable for any injuries or loss incurred during the tour. It is recommended to have overseas travel insurance.
- Also, please remember to carry enough cash in Japanese Yen since some small stores do not accept credit card.
Nori was a great guide. Attentive to our needs and overall had a well structured, memorable and overall fantastic day in Kyoto. Nori is the best, book a tour with him!!
Thanks a lot for your kind comments! I had a fun time also with you guys. I can not believe we went to Shinjyu-An too which was totally not included in the plan! That was a bit unique, wasn't it? ( : Also, because you asked so many great questions, I myself was able to learn new things too! Thanks again and hope to see you sometime again in the future!
Nori is such a knowledgeable guide about all things Japan- history, culture and society, etc. He knows how to read his audience and offers the right amount of information. He speaks English fluently and having lived all over the world, he has much global insight. Additionally, he is detail oriented and a very responsive communicator, plus he crafts good itineraries while providing plenty of opportunities for input.
Thanks so much for your kind comments! I try not to overwhelm people with information and rather try to act as a local/knowledgeable friend. I am really glad that you liked the evening tour. Let's enjoy the full day tour coming up also!!
We are a mid 30s and 40s couple from the USA and UK, and we spent 2 full days with Nori experiencing Kyoto. It could not have been a better decision. We saw and learned so much that we otherwise would have missed, and his guiding is seamless. Definitely highly recommended!
Thank you so much for kind comments. I also had a lot of fun exploring Kyoto with you guys! As for taiyaki today’s was good but the one I mentioned is even better. Please try it! Hope you can come again sometime. Enjoy the rest of your trip!!
We had an incredible experience with Nori as our tour guide in Kyoto, Japan! Having worked in the US for many years with a major Japanese corporation, Nori speaks excellent English and was incredibly kind and engaging, especially with our two kids. His passion for traveling and surfing, which has taken him to many places, shines through in his tours. Nori was one of the best tour guides we have encountered in our travels across different countries. He communicated with us well before the tour started, discussing the itinerary and offering helpful suggestions for transportation options. Impressively, he provided multiple itinerary options to accommodate both sunny and rainy days, ensuring we had a fantastic experience no matter the weather. We highly recommend Nori to anyone visiting the Kyoto, Nara, and Osaka areas. His professionalism, friendly demeanor, and thorough planning made our trip unforgettable!
Thanks so much for leaving such a kind and detailed message. I really appreciate it! I am really glad that you all were able to enjoy the tour. Hope you can come again and explore more amazing places in Japan together someday!