Biwako Valley and Keisoku-ji Temple Autumn Tour from Kyoto

Gather at Kyoto AVANTI at 08:00 for the journey to Shiga Prefecture to begin your day trip.

The first destination is Biwako Valley in Otsu city which is reached by ropeway. Enjoy the ascent on the fastest cable car in Japan climbing 12 meters per second. The cars on all sides are made from glass giving passengers a sensation of floating in the air and provides magnificent 360 degree views of the fiery autumn colors on either side of the valley. Once at the top, take in the epic panoramic views of Lake Biwa, the largest freshwater lake in Japan, from Biwako Terrace.

After an hour at Biwako Valley, the bus takes a scenic route via a road lined on both sides with metasequoia trees also known as Dawn Redwood Avenue. The 500 or so trees form a gorgeous crimson colored avenue over 2.4km which you can enjoy as the bus passes through. The bus then stops at Kita Omi resort for an all-you-can-eat lunch.

The afternoon is spent at Keisokuji Temple, known in the autumn for its beautiful 'red carpet' approach created by the falling crimson maple leaves resting on the stone paved path. This is one of the most magical sights in Japan yet is often unfairly overlooked by tourists who are next door in Kyoto. Immerse yourself in the wonderful surroundings for an ample 90 minutes before boarding the bus to return to Osaka.

Expect to arrive back in Kyoto between 19:30~21:00 depending on traffic.