Open Travel Guide
Day trips from Shiga

Best Day Trips from Shiga 2026

Where a single day out of Shiga can take you, and exactly how to make each trip work.

By Updated Reviewed by Daniel Mercer

The short answer: start with Hikone Castle — Original Edo-Era Keep, Nagahama & Chikubushima — Lakeside Town and Sacred Island and Miho Museum & Shigaraki Pottery Town. This guide profiles 6+ day trips in Shiga, with prices, timing, and the practical notes that decide whether each one earns a place in your plan.

Shiga Prefecture surrounds Lake Biwa, Japan's largest freshwater lake, just a short train ride east of Kyoto. Landlocked and often overlooked by international visitors, it pairs the UNESCO-listed temple complex of Enryaku-ji on Mt. Hiei with the National Treasure castle at Hikone, Edo-era merchant towns, Shigaraki pottery villages, and some of Japan's finest wagyu in Omi beef.

Top day trips

Handpicked excursions within easy reach.

35 km northeast of Otsu

Hikone Castle — Original Edo-Era Keep

JR Biwako Line New Rapid from Otsu Station to Hikone Station (30 min, ¥990/$6.20), then a 15–20 min walk uphill to the castle. Ohmi Railway also stops at Hikone Station.
50 km northeast of Otsu

Nagahama & Chikubushima — Lakeside Town and Sacred Island

JR Biwako Line New Rapid from Otsu to Nagahama Station (50 min, ¥1,340/$8.40), then a short walk to Nagahama Port for the Biwako Kisen cruise to Chikubushima (35 min each way, ¥3,600/$22.70 round trip; island admission ¥600/$3.80). Boats also depart from Imazu Port on the west shore.
30 km south of Otsu

Miho Museum & Shigaraki Pottery Town

JR Biwako Line from Otsu to Ishiyama Station (10 min, ¥210/$1.30), then the Miho Museum shuttle bus (50 min, ¥820/$5.20 one way). Shigaraki pottery town is reached separately via the Shigaraki Kogen Railway from Kibukawa Station on the JR Kusatsu Line.
20 km northeast of Otsu

Omihachiman — Canal Town and Merchant Streets

JR Biwako Line New Rapid from Otsu to Omi-Hachiman Station (25 min, ¥660/$4.20), then a 10-min bus or 30-min walk to the Hachiman-bori canal for the traditional wasen boat cruise.
10 km northwest of central Otsu

Mt. Hiei & Enryaku-ji — Sacred Mountain and Sakamoto

JR Kosei Line from Otsu (or Kyoto) to Hieizan-Sakamoto Station (~15–20 min, ¥330/$2.10 from Kyoto), then a 10-min walk to the Sakamoto Cable base station, followed by the funicular ride up (11 min, ¥880/$5.50 one way) to Enryaku-ji Temple.
60 km northeast of Otsu

Ibuki-yama — Alpine Flower Hike

JR Biwako Line New Rapid from Otsu to Omi-Nagaoka Station (1 hr, ¥1,340/$8.40), then a seasonal bus to the Ibuki-tozanguchi trailhead (30 min, ¥370/$2.30). Summit hike from the trailhead takes 3–4 hours round trip.

Day trip tips

Make the most of your excursions.

Tip

Start early — most popular day-trip destinations get crowded by mid-morning.

Tip

Check return transport times before you leave — missing the last train or bus can be costly.

Tip

Carry water, snacks, and layers — weather and food options can be limited at smaller destinations.

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