Shiga Prefecture Tours & Attractions

The 150 years-old Kawashima is located at Takashima in Shiga prefecture, which is about one hour from Kyoto. The owner, Mr Kawashima, hosts the brewery tour, in which you will have a chance to taste the local sake, “Matsuno Hana” and experience Takashima’s traditional culture and nature. Takashima is well-known for its unique water culture called “Kabata” which is an ancient method to use the natural spring water for daily life. This tour is exclusively designed for our guests. In the Kawashima brewery, you will enjoy Japanese traditional cultures in their special room, the inner room or the room apart from the main building, which is only opened for exclusive guests. Notice We use public transportation. Enjoy breathtaking landscapes from the bus and train window and relish the tranquil countryside on foot. However, please note that it is subject to availability and change. A taxi may be an alternative for transfer. Have a wonderful time in Japan!

Lake Biwa, or Biwako, is Japan’s biggest lake closely located at just about 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) from Kyoto. It is recognized as one of the most ancient lakes in the world, and the only lake of its kind in Japan. Biwako has been designated as a UNESCO Ramsar Wetland since 1993 boasting a rich ecosystem with approximately 1,000 different species of plant and animal life. Our sailing experience takes place in the splendor of such a magnificent atmosphere. This activity is conducted with our company-owned 30ft private sailboat. All amidst a pleasant breeze experienced most of the year by cruising over the mirror-like calm water as you hear the gentle sound of wind and birdsong. The sailing adventure is a refreshingly promising choice for breaking away from the hustle and bustle of the city center in Kyoto. The activity starts at 2PM with two options such as 3 hour cruising with or without BBQ after sailing (the options with BBQ consists of 3-hour sailing and 2-hour BBQ, TTL 5 hours).

In our virtual tour, we provide several topics to know more about the Japanese countryside and its life, beliefs, rituals, and respect for nature. We also make some demonstrations of Japanese traditional music, song, and/or dance. After this virtual tour, you might want to visit our beautiful countryside, Takashima.

The 150 years-old Kawashima is located at Takashima in Shiga prefecture, which is about one hour from Kyoto. The owner, Mr Kawashima, hosts the brewery tour, in which you will have a chance to taste the local sake, “Matsuno Hana” and experience Takashima’s traditional culture and nature. Takashima is well-known for its unique water culture called “Kabata” which is an ancient method to use the natural spring water for daily life. This tour is exclusively designed for our guests. In the Kawashima brewery, you will enjoy Japanese traditional cultures in their special room, the inner room or the room apart from the main building, which is only opened for exclusive guests. Notice We use public transportation. Enjoy breathtaking landscapes from the bus and train window and relish the tranquil countryside on foot. However, please note that it is subject to availability and change. A taxi may be an alternative for transfer. The fare is approximately 4,000-5,000 yen for one way.

Your host Hisako learned to cook from her mother and sister and is passionate about sharing Japanese home cooking with travelers using fresh and seasonal ingredients. Her other passion is music - Hisako studied classical music at the Guild Hall School of Music in London for two years. Her husband Atsuo has a tech consulting office in Kyoto and is a match maker between high tech companies in USA and Japan.  Your cooking class will begin with a short introduction to miso, a fundamental element of Japanese cooking. There are many kinds of miso and Hisako's introduction will help to demystify the varieties and their usage. You will learn to make 2-3 authentic Japanese dishes with Hisako in her kitchen that you will later share at the dining table in their modern Japanese home.  Your experience will end on a musical note, with Hisako playing and singing one of her favorite songs.