Three days in Shiga: where will you go on day two?
Stay two nights in Hikone for the castle and garden on day one and Hachiman-bori's canal and old streets on day two, then return. Alternatively, stay two nights in Kusatsu and give Ishiyamadera and Lake Biwa Museum a day each. Take a final-day walk near your accommodation only if there is time before your train.
Choose an itinerary for 3 days / 2 nights
Hikone Castle, Hachiman-bori and a final-day castle-town walk
Stay two nights in Hikone. Visit the keep and garden on day one, then walk Hachiman-bori's canal and old streets on day two before returning. The canal trip involves JR and a local bus, so check both directions together. On the final day, explore the streets below the castle only if there is time before your train.
Hikone Castle, Hachiman-bori and a final-day castle-town walk →3 days / 2 nights BKusatsu base for Ishiyamadera and Lake Biwa Museum
Stay two nights in Kusatsu to visit Ishiyamadera and Lake Biwa Museum, keeping long journeys off departure day. This plan assumes you are in the area from the first morning: visit the temple on day one and the museum exhibitions on day two.
Kusatsu base for Ishiyamadera and Lake Biwa Museum →Hikone Castle, Hachiman-bori and a final-day castle-town walk
Stay two nights in Hikone. Visit the keep and garden on day one, then walk Hachiman-bori's canal and old streets on day two before returning. The canal trip involves JR and a local bus, so check both directions together. On the final day, explore the streets below the castle only if there is time before your train.
Day 1: castle and garden
Start the first day at Hikone Station.
- Hikone Station → Hikone Castle ticket office
Official guidance gives a walk of about 15 minutes from Hikone Station to the castle. Leave through the west exit, walk towards the castle and use the on-site map to find your entrance and ticket office. Allow extra time for ticket queues and the climb to the keep.
- Hikone Castle ticket office → Castle and Genkyuen Garden
Visit the keep and garden with the JPY 1,000 castle and Genkyuen ticket. Hikone Castle opens from 8:30 am to 5 pm, with last entry at 4:30 pm. There are slopes and stone steps up to the keep; choose a route that suits your walking ability. To add the museum on the same day, check its hours, closures and availability of the JPY 1,500 combined ticket.
Official Hikone Castle guidanceHikone Castle visitor guidanceOfficial museum guidance
- Castle and Genkyuen Garden → Your starting station and the same accommodation
After a meal near the castle, return to the same Hikone accommodation. The keep involves slopes and stone steps, and castle entry ends at 4:30 pm. If you arrive late, avoid squeezing in the keep. Today's admission is JPY 1,000 per adult.
Return to the same Hikone accommodation after the castle and garden. If arriving late, first check that there is enough visiting time before last entry.
Day 2: Omihachiman's canal
- Hikone Station → Omihachiman Station
Take a Kyoto-bound JR Biwako Line train from Hikone Station to Omihachiman Station.
JR West Sagano/Biwako Line station map (revised 16 March 2024)
- Omihachiman Station → Hachiman-bori bus stop
Use the correct stand, 6 or 7, at Omihachiman Station's north exit for a bus stopping at Hachiman-bori (Osugicho) Hachimanyama Ropeway-guchi. Check both the outward bus and return to the station in the official timetable for your date.
- Hachiman-bori bus stop → Canal and old streets
Walk from the stop to the canal, explore the old streets and have a meal nearby. The canal is a short walk from the stop. This itinerary covers a walk; boat rides and paid attractions are optional extras. For a boat ride, check the boarding point, operating dates and fare, then shorten your other sightseeing to fit the return bus.
- Canal and old streets → Omihachiman Station
After your walk and meal, take an Omihachiman Station-bound bus from the Hachiman-bori stop. Adult fares between station and canal are JPY 260 one way or JPY 520 return. Boat fares are excluded. Check the official timetable for the correct direction and date.
- Omihachiman Station → Hikone Station and the same accommodation
Take a JR Biwako Line train towards Maibara or Nagahama that stops at Hikone, then return to the same accommodation. JR return fares are extra; allow time after the bus to reach the platform and wait for the train.
JR West Sagano/Biwako Line station map (revised 16 March 2024)JR journey search
Check the return trains between Hikone and Omihachiman together with buses to the canal and back. A boat ride is optional and separate from the walk; check its boarding point, dates and fare too.
Day 3: streets within reach of the station
- Accommodation near Hikone Station → Streets and shops that are open
Walk about 20 minutes from Hikone Station to explore the shops and streets of Yumekyobashi Castle Road. Shop hours vary and meals are extra.
- Streets and shops that are open → Station for your booked departure
After your walk and meal, return to Hikone Station for your booked departure. Leave time for the walk back and access to the platform. Omit the final-day walk if your train leaves early.
Only add a final-day visit or walk if there is time before your train. Allow separately for the return to the station and the walk to your platform.
Included: Hikone Castle and Genkyuen Garden JPY 1,000 + Hachiman-bori return bus JPY 520
Additional costs: Hikone–Omihachiman JR, return trips to accommodation, luggage storage, accommodation, meals, boat rides, paid activities, an extra museum visit and final departure transport cost extra.
Confirmed admission and bus costs for the basic visits total JPY 1,520 per adult: castle and Genkyuen Garden JPY 1,000 + Hachiman-bori return bus JPY 520. Return JR between the cities, an optional boat ride, meals, accommodation and departure transport are extra.
Hikone Castle visitor guidanceHachiman-bori bus fares and return timetables
Kusatsu base for Ishiyamadera and Lake Biwa Museum
Stay two nights in Kusatsu to visit Ishiyamadera and Lake Biwa Museum, keeping long journeys off departure day. This plan assumes you are in the area from the first morning: visit the temple on day one and the museum exhibitions on day two.
Day 1: Ishiyamadera Temple
Start the first day at Kusatsu Station.
- Kusatsu Station → JR Ishiyama Station
At Kusatsu Station, take a Kyoto-bound JR Biwako Line train stopping at Ishiyama. Use JR journey search and station signs to check departure time, fare and platform for your date. JR is excluded from this itinerary's JPY 2,900 subtotal.
JR journey searchJR West Sagano/Biwako Line station map (revised 16 March 2024)
- JR Ishiyama Station → Sanmon-mae bus stop
At JR Ishiyama Station stand 1, take a bus stopping at Sanmon-mae and get off at Ishiyamadera Sanmon-mae. The roughly 10-minute ride excludes waiting and the walk from JR to the bus stand. Check services for your day of the week.
- Sanmon-mae bus stop → Temple visit and lunch
Enter through the temple gate with JPY 600 general grounds admission, then have lunch nearby. Hours are 8 am–4:30 pm, with last entry at 4 pm. The inner hall and Hozoden cost extra.
- Temple grounds → JR Ishiyama Station
After your temple visit and meal, take an Ishiyama Station-bound bus from Sanmon-mae stop 2. This is different from an Otsu Station-bound bus. Leave time to change to JR after reaching Ishiyama Station.
- JR Ishiyama Station → Kusatsu Station and the same accommodation
Take a JR Biwako Line train towards Maibara or Yasu that stops at Kusatsu and return to the same accommodation. Allow time from the bus stop to the JR platform, and look up your date's train and fare. If arriving late in the afternoon, swap the temple with another visit day or omit one attraction.
JR West Sagano/Biwako Line station map (revised 16 March 2024)JR journey search
The return bus leaves from Sanmon-mae stop 2 for Ishiyama Station. Check that it is not bound for Otsu, and allow time after alighting to reach the JR platform. Look up both directions for your date.
Day 2: Lake Biwa Museum
- Kusatsu Station west-exit stand 2 → Lake Biwa Museum bus stop
Take an Ohmi bus to Lake Biwa Museum from Kusatsu Station's west-exit stand 2. Get off at the museum stop after about 25 minutes. Check both directions in the official timetable for your date and allow extra waiting time.
- Lake Biwa Museum bus stop → Lake Biwa Museum permanent exhibitions
Walk to the museum for the permanent exhibitions, a meal and a break. General permanent-exhibition admission is JPY 840; special exhibitions cost extra. The museum opens from 9:30 am to 5 pm, with last entry at 4 pm. Check the calendar for Monday closures, public-holiday openings and temporary closures.
Museum accessLake Biwa Museum feesLake Biwa Museum opening calendar
- Lake Biwa Museum permanent exhibitions → Kusatsu Station and the same accommodation
After the exhibitions and a meal, take a bus from the museum stop to Kusatsu Station's west exit. Finish sightseeing in time for your bus, then return to the same Kusatsu accommodation from the station.
Check the museum's opening calendar and return bus to Kusatsu for your date. Leave time to walk from the exhibition rooms to the bus stop.
Day 3: park walk and departure
- Accommodation near Kusatsu Station → Walking paths
Walk about six minutes from Kusatsu Station to Deai Hiroba (de愛ひろば) for a short stroll. The office's 9 am–5 pm hours are not the opening hours of the whole park.
- Walking paths → Station for your booked departure
After your walk and meal, return to Kusatsu Station for your booked departure. Allow time to walk back and reach your platform. Omit the final-day walk if your train leaves early.
Only add a final-day visit or walk if there is time before your train. Allow separately for the return to the station and the walk to your platform.
Included: Ishiyamadera grounds JPY 600 + Lake Biwa Museum permanent exhibitions JPY 840 + temple return bus JPY 500 + museum return bus JPY 960
Additional costs: Kusatsu–Ishiyama return JR, extra travel to accommodation, luggage storage, inner hall, Hozoden, special exhibitions, accommodation, meals, final departure transport and park events cost extra.
JPY 2,900 is the subtotal for basic temple and museum admission and both return bus journeys. Return JR between Kusatsu and Ishiyama is excluded. Look up trains and fares for your date, allowing time to change from the temple bus to JR and to return from the museum to your Kusatsu accommodation.
Current fees and exceptionsLake Biwa Museum feesKojak bus fare table revised 1 March 2026Official Ohmi bus guidance
Frequently asked questions
How do I get from Hikone to Hachiman-bori?
Take a Kyoto-bound JR Biwako Line train from Hikone to Omihachiman. At north-exit stand 6 or 7, use the appropriate bus stopping at Hachiman-bori (Osugicho) Hachimanyama Ropeway-guchi. Adult Omihachiman–canal bus fares are JPY 260 one way or JPY 520 return. Check Hikone–Omihachiman JR fares and train and bus times for your date separately.
JR West Sagano/Biwako Line station map (revised 16 March 2024)Hachiman-bori bus fares and return timetables
What are the admission and bus subtotals for three days in Shiga?
Hikone itinerary A totals JPY 1,520: castle and Genkyuen JPY 1,000 + Hachiman-bori return bus JPY 520. Kusatsu itinerary B totals JPY 2,900: Ishiyamadera grounds JPY 600 + Lake Biwa Museum permanent exhibitions JPY 840 + temple return bus JPY 500 + museum return bus JPY 960. JR, accommodation, meals, luggage storage, departure transport, extra visits and boat rides are excluded. The itineraries visit different attractions, and neither figure is a full trip budget.
Hikone Castle visitor guidanceHachiman-bori bus fares and return timetablesCurrent fees and exceptionsLake Biwa Museum feesKojak bus fare table revised 1 March 2026Official Ohmi bus guidance
Official sources and check dates
- Museum access ·
- Hachiman-bori access ·
- Hikone Castle access ·
- Kojak bus fare table revised 1 March 2026 ·
- Ishiyama Station-bound timetable from Sanmon-mae stop 2 ·
- Hachiman-bori bus fares and return timetables ·
- Hikone Castle visitor guidance ·
- Bus departure timetable ·
- JR journey search ·
- Official museum guidance ·
- Current fees and exceptions ·
- Official bus guidance ·
- Official Ohmi bus guidance ·
- Lake Biwa Museum fees ·
- Lake Biwa Museum opening calendar ·
- Outward services ·
- Return services ·
- Kusatsu City access and facility guidance ·
- Official Shiga access guidance ·
- Shopping-street directory ·
- Official Hikone Castle guidance ·
- JR West Sagano/Biwako Line station map (revised 16 March 2024) ·