Sightseeing in the historic Ogoto Onsen! Introducing 18 fascinating spots!

Ogoto Onsen is a hot spring with a history of nearly 1200 years located in Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture. The number of tourists continues to increase every year, so much so that it has been certified as a "regional brand." Ogoto Onsen can be enjoyed in a variety of styles, whether you're with your family, friends, or a romantic partner. There are many tourist spots in the surrounding area, including Lake Biwa, that give you a sense of the history and seasonal atmosphere that is deeply rooted in the area. In this article, we will introduce some recommended spots to visit when you visit Ogoto Onsen!

1. Take a boat trip on Lake Biwa before soaking in the hot springs! A cruise that will heal your body and mind

If you visit Ogoto Onsen, be sure to take a tour of Lake Biwa. Among them, the "Lake Biwa Island Tour" is very popular with tourists. It is a luxurious sightseeing cruise that allows you to enjoy Lake Biwa, the largest lake in Japan, at your leisure for a full day.

Departing from Ogoto Onsen, the cruise returns to port as the sun sets. Afterwards, relax in the hot springs to soothe your fatigue. When you visit Ogoto Onsen, why not try a refreshing cruise on Lake Biwa?

2. If you go to Ogoto Onsen, experience the spectacular panoramic view! [Biwako Valley]

Biwako Valley is home to the fastest ropeway in Japan. The Biwako Terrace, which offers a panoramic view of Lake Biwa, is a popular attraction. There are also many attractions, including the zip line that offers a spectacular panorama and the Skywalker, which allows you to stroll through the sky.

In winter, the area transforms into a ski resort with one of the best views in the country, attracting many skiers who come to enjoy the scenery and the skiing. Biwako Valley is a place where you can enjoy sightseeing throughout the year. It is a leisure spot where you can have fun with your family and friends.

3. Enjoy the hot springs of Ogoto Onsen at Yumotokan! The view of Lake Biwa from the top floor is amazing

"Yumotokan" is an accommodation facility where you can enjoy the hot springs of Ogoto Onsen in various situations, from the hot spring on the top floor with a panoramic view of Lake Biwa to a fulfilling hot spring where you can take a bath. You

can also eat seasonal dishes throughout the year. You can spend an unparalleled blissful time soaking in the hot springs while enjoying delicious food and looking at the scenery. After enjoying a lot of sightseeing, the ultimate relaxation awaits you at the inn. Yumotokan has such a comfortable space.

4. Enryakuji Temple, a World Heritage Site and the historic Mount Hiei

Mount Hiei is about 30 minutes by car from Ogoto Onsen, and is located between Shiga and Kyoto. It is about 848m above sea level and is famous as "the mountain where gods reside" and "the mountain of faith." Enryaku-ji Temple on Mount Hiei is a temple registered as a World Heritage Site, and is highly regarded both in Japan and overseas as a historic tourist spot with 1200 years of history. Ogoto Onsen is also famous as the closest alkaline hot spring to Mount Hiei, so learning about its history will change the way you enjoy the hot springs.

5. Take a walk through the fascinating tunnel of Metasequoia trees!

The Metasequoia Tree-lined Tunnel is also a popular tourist spot where you can feel the seasons. You can drive there by car, but there is also a parking lot, so why not take a walk and see the sights?

In particular, the tunnel in autumn when the leaves change color, and the tree-lined tunnel covered in snow in winter look like a scene from a drama, making for wonderful memories with your loved ones. It would also be nice to take a photo of the view of the tree-lined tunnel before soaking in the hot springs of Ogoto Onsen, and send it to a friend as a seasonal message.

6. Enjoy water sports at Lake Biwa Opal!

If you're visiting Ogoto Onsen in the summer, we recommend Lake Biwa Opal. You can splash around in Lake Biwa in giant balls, such as water balls and water tubes. Canoeing, SUP, wakeboarding, and more are also available, making this a tourist spot that's sure to be a hit with family and friends. There's also a terrace with a view of the pool and lake, so you can enjoy a wide range of activities. After playing, be sure to soothe your fatigue in the hot springs of Ogoto Onsen. Don't forget to bring sunscreen.

7. The illuminated autumn leaves at Hiyoshi Taisha Shrine are fantastic! Enjoy an autumn night walk

Hiyoshi Taisha Shrine has a history spanning several thousand years. It is a tourist spot that attracts many tourists regardless of the season. This is a famous spot for viewing maple leaves in the Kansai region, and is very crowded during the autumn foliage season. The

illuminated maple approach to the shrine is a must-see. The atmosphere is completely different from the sunlight during the day, and the approach filled with maple leaves is fantastical and somewhat mystical. A fascinating tour of the illuminated maple leaves is sure to make for a wonderful autumn night walk.

8. Enjoy a blissful time with hot springs and cuisine [Ogoto Onsen Biwako Flower Road]

Ogoto Onsen Biwako Hana Kaido is a hotel where you can luxuriously enjoy the skin-beautifying waters of Ogoto Onsen, which was discovered by Dengyo Daishi Saicho. You can relieve your daily fatigue by soaking in the spacious indoor and outdoor baths. There

are a variety of guest rooms, including Japanese-style rooms, Western-style rooms, Japanese-Western style rooms, rooms with outdoor baths, and special rooms, with a wide range of sizes and atmospheres. On the luxurious premium floor with outdoor bath on the 5th floor, you can spend a blissful time watching the sunlight of Lake Biwa. Meals are made with Lake Biwa's "lake delicacies," Omi beef, and seasonal local ingredients. Please enjoy the delicious dishes carefully selected by the head chef.

9. The best shopping spot in Ogoto Onsen is here! [Pieri Moriyama]

If you want to enjoy shopping as well as touring Ogoto Onsen, we recommend "Pieri Moriyama." The spacious mall is open and spacious, so you can shop comfortably. There are a wide range of brands such as "ZARA" and "H&M," and there is also a wide selection of miscellaneous goods and interior items.

10. The torii gates on the lake are fantastic! Visit the power spot of Shirahige Shrine

Shirahige Shrine, the oldest shrine in Omi, is the head shrine of all Shirahige shrines across the country. It is famous as a power spot for longevity, and attracts many tourists.

The torii gates floating on Lake Biwa are truly fantastical! Their appearance changes depending on the depth of the water and the weather, providing a fascinating view along with the lake scenery. The best time to visit is at dusk. It is gaining attention within Shiga Prefecture, so why not visit this power spot?

11. Enjoy historical sightseeing at the national treasure [Mii-dera Temple]! We also recommend viewing the autumn leaves

If you visit Ogoto Onsen, we recommend including Miidera Temple in your sightseeing plan. This temple is one of the three main temples of the Tendai sect in Japan. The building is a national treasure and an important cultural property.

Like Hiyoshi Taisha, it is also a famous spot for viewing autumn leaves. At night, it is lit up, creating a mystical atmosphere. If you are planning to visit Ogoto Onsen in the fall, a visit to Miidera Temple will surely be an unforgettable memory, along with the colors of the maple leaves and the hot springs of Ogoto Onsen.

12. The fantastic scenery is fascinating! Get a panoramic view of Lake Biwa from Ukimido

Ukimido is easily accessible from Ogoto Onsen. The temple, which stands alone on the lake, has a mysterious quality that draws tourists. The splendor of the scenery is such that even Matsuo Basho loved it. If you visit Ogoto Onsen, be sure to stop by this temple to get a panoramic view of the lake. It has

also been used in a TV drama, and the view is particularly spectacular at dusk. The temple was originally built for safety reasons on the lake, but is now a popular spot visited by many tourists.

13. Enjoy a relaxing foot bath at Ogoto Onsen Tourist Park!

Ogoto Onsen Tourist Park is a place of relaxation where you can interact with locals and tourists alike through a free footbath. You may also be able to get information on little-known spots and delicious food around Ogoto Onsen. It's nice to see the community expand through the hot springs.

There is a cafe on the premises where you can eat dishes such as Omi beef yakiniku donburi curry and rice terrace lunches, and bicycles are available for rental for a fee. If you get tired from walking, it's nice to be able to casually stop for a meal and take a stroll around Ogoto Onsen.

14. Lake Biwa Grand Hotel: A relaxing hotel facing the lake

Lake Biwa Grand Hotel is a tourist hotel that boasts the largest number of guest rooms in the Ogoto Onsen area. From the large public bath where you can enjoy Lake Biwa right in front of you to the open-air baths in your guest rooms, you can enjoy the waters of Ogoto Onsen in a variety of styles.

The cuisine is popular with tourists as it is unique to a hot spring inn, making use of local seasonal ingredients. Why not spend some time at Lake Biwa Grand Hotel, enjoying the openness of the spacious hotel interior and the sound of the waves of Lake Biwa?

15. Garden art sightseeing in Ogoto Onsen! [Garden Museum Hiei]

The Garden Museum Hiei is a garden art museum where you can experience a foreign atmosphere while sightseeing in Ogoto Onsen. Various flowers bloom in the gardens throughout the seasons, and the view from an altitude of 840m is spectacular. Some

parts were designed by a French architect, so you can experience a space with beautiful flowers and French impressionist painters as its motif. The view of Lake Biwa from the cafe, which is reminiscent of a corner of Paris, is art itself. It's a great place to have a stylish tea time.

16. See Kyoto's cherry blossoms at Ogoto Onsen and walk on the train tracks at Keage Incline

If you're visiting Ogoto Onsen for sightseeing and want to enjoy Kyoto's cherry blossoms to the fullest, we recommend the cherry blossoms at Keage Incline. Approximately 90 beautiful cherry trees bloom every year on the road surface behind the world's longest inclined railway, which is 582 meters long, captivating viewers. Many tourists take photos of the cherry blossoms on the tracks, so it would be nice to send a message to a loved one with a photo of the cherry blossoms in Kyoto after returning to your hot spring inn. This is a spot you'll want to include in your travel plans for Ogoto Onsen in the spring.

17. Saikyo-ji Temple, founded by Prince Shotoku, is a recommended place to visit historical spots

If you are touring historical sites in the Ogoto Onsen area, this should definitely be on your itinerary. "Saikyoji Temple" is a temple founded by Prince Shotoku. The recommended times to visit are spring and autumn, when the temple grounds spread out toward Mt. Hiei and the cherry blossoms along the approach to the temple, as well as the autumn leaves, are unique to this temple. As there used to be many monkeys on Mt. Hiei, where Saikyoji Temple is located, you can see adorable monkey statues here and there within the temple grounds. Don't miss the magnificent view of Lake Biwa from the gate, which is also wonderful.

18. The historic city of Omihachiman is also famous as a filming location for many TV dramas and movies!

The Omihachiman area is about 40 minutes from Ogoto Onsen. It is a historic townscape that makes you feel like you've stepped into a scene from a period drama. The Hachimanbori area, famous as a filming location for "Onihei Hankacho" and "Abarenbo Shogun," retains the atmosphere of Edo and is very popular with tourists. You can enjoy the feeling of being in a movie screen somewhere. With the Edo atmosphere still intact, when you return to your accommodation, relax in the hot springs of Ogoto Onsen.

◎ Summary of sightseeing spots in Ogoto Onsen

Ogoto Onsen is full of sightseeing spots where you can experience the beauty of Lake Biwa, traditional history, and the beauty of nature. You can also experience hospitality and warm human kindness only in hot spring towns and inns. Come to Ogoto Onsen and enjoy the four seasons and traditions of Japan while soaking in the famous hot springs with 1200 years of history.

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