A Hidden Cherry Blossom Spot Near Kyoto! Enjoy the Stunning Sakura Views Along Lake Biwa

• Table of Contents
• Easy Access from Kyoto! Where is Lake Biwa?
• 1. Miidera Temple: Sakura Spot to Enjoy Both Day and Night
• 2. Breathtaking Cherry Blossoms Views from a Boat Along the Biwako Canal
• 3. Sakamoto: A Town Lined with Temple Lodgings of Mt. Hiei's Enryakuji Temple
• 4. Ukimido, a Floating Shrine on Lake Biwa
• Cherry Blossoms to Yourself! Beautiful View from Yumotokan
• Stay at Ogoto Onsen Yumotokan and Enjoy Sakura at Its Fullest

Easy Access from Kyoto! Where is Lake Biwa?

Lake Biwa is the largest lake in Japan and is located in Shiga Prefecture. Its beautiful scenery and rich nature attract many travelers. It is about a 10-minute train ride from Kyoto and is very convenient to access. There are many famous cherry blossom viewing spots and tourist spots along the lake, so you can enjoy the scenery of the four seasons. The photo shows the cherry blossoms at Ishiyama-dera Temple, where Murasaki Shikibu is said to have written "The Tale of Genji," and was also the setting for last year's NHK Taiga drama.

Ogoto Onsen Yumotokan has a hot spring with a panoramic view of Lake Biwa. We, who are experts on the local sightseeing spots, will introduce you to some recommended cherry blossom spots nearby. It's cherry blossom season, so it can get crowded, but why not escape the hustle and bustle and enjoy the scenery that can only be seen in spring?

Yumotokan Official Website

1. Miidera Temple: Sakura Spot to Enjoy Both Day and Night

Miidera Temple has been loved as a famous cherry blossom spot since the Manyo period. Its beauty never fades, and the "daytime cherry blossoms" that paint the large grounds pink and the "night cherry blossoms" that are lit up at night give the grounds a colorful glow with different expressions during the day and at night.

Sonojoji Temple (Mii-dera Temple)

246 Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture, Otsu City, 520-0036

Sonojoji Temple (Mii-dera) is a historic temple located in Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture, and is also known as a famous cherry blossom spot. Approximately 1,000 cherry trees are planted in the grounds, and in spring you will find a beautiful landscape surrounded by pale pink colours. In particular, the contrast between the golden hall, bell tower and cherry blossoms is charming, allowing you to enjoy a view that harmonizes history and nature. The best time to see cherry blossoms at Mii-dera is from early to mid-April each year. The lit up is done at night, allowing you to enjoy the cherry blossoms at night in a fantastic atmosphere. One of the highlights is the combination of the "Mitsui no Ban Bell," which is one of Japan's three great bells, and the cherry blossoms. The grounds are spacious and relaxing, making them popular not only with tourists but also with locals. This is a recommended spot for those who want to enjoy the cherry blossoms quietly while feeling the history.

2. Breathtaking Cherry Blossoms Views from a Boat Along the Biwako Canal

The Lake Biwa Canal is an artificial waterway that brings the water of Lake Biwa to Kyoto. The scenery that exudes a different atmosphere in each season has come to play a role as a place of relaxation for the citizens, and the area around Wakaoji on the canal branch has been developed as the "Philosopher's Path" and is famous as a cherry blossom viewing spot. There is also a course that takes you on a boat trip from Otsu on Lake Biwa to Keage in Kyoto, which is full of atmosphere.

Lake Biwa Canal Boat Official Website

3. Sakamoto: A Town Lined with Temple Lodgings of Mt. Hiei's Enryakuji Temple

A temple town that is home to the World Heritage Site of Enryaku-ji Temple on Mount Hiei, as well as Hiyoshi Taisha Shrine and Saiko-ji Temple.

The area is lined with village temples belonging to Enryaku-ji Temple monks, and you can also enjoy the stonework of the "An'no-shu" monks who built the stone walls of the castles of Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Oda Nobunaga during the Sengoku period.

4. Ukimido, a Floating Shrine on Lake Biwa

The floating temple on Lake Biwa, the largest lake in Japan, is called "Katada no Rakugan" (Rice Crackers of Katada), one of the Eight Views of Omi, and the temple is called Kaimonzan Mangetsuji. It was built by Eshin Sozu during the Heian period to pray for safety on the lake and for the salvation of all living beings, and you can still feel the atmosphere of that time.

Cherry Blossoms to Yourself! Beautiful View from Yumotokan

In fact, there is a famous cherry blossom spot at Ogoto Onsen Yumotokan as well!

It is located right next to the "Hanare Karoi" guest room with an open-air hot spring bath, which will be renovated and reopened in December 2024. How about enjoying the cherry blossoms all to yourself from the open-air hot spring bath in your room?

Ogoto Onsen Yumotokan "Hanare Karoi"

Stay at Ogoto Onsen Yumotokan and Enjoy Sakura at Its Fullest

Ogoto Onsen Yumotokan is a ryokan located along Lake Biwa. The ryokan offers a variety of hot springs with different atmospheres, including an open-air bath where you can have the magnificent view of Lake Biwa all to yourself. During your stay, you can enjoy Kyoto-style kaiseki cuisine made with fresh local ingredients and the famous high-quality brand beef "Omi beef". Although it is easily accessible to Kyoto and close to the city center, you can enjoy a special stay at Yumotokan, a ryokan surrounded by nature.

Ogoto Onsen Yumotokan

5520102 2-30-7 Naeka, Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture

Ogoto Onsen is said to have been opened about 1,200 years ago by Dengyo Daishi Saicho to reward the work of the craftsmen who built Enryakuji Temple on Mount Hiei, a World Heritage Site. Among them, Yumotokan is a long-established inn with a history of 96 years. The secret to its popularity is its four different hot springs, including an open-air bath overlooking Lake Biwa from the 11th floor and an open-air bath that gives the illusion of being a hot spring in the forest, as well as its Kyoto-style kaiseki meals made with carefully selected seasonal ingredients, including "certified Omi beef," one of Japan's three great wagyu beef brands. Although it is only 20 minutes by train from Kyoto, this inn allows you to feel the warmth of nature and Japan, such as Lake Biwa and the Hira mountain range.