Should you keep the same hotel for four nights in Shiga?
Stay four nights in Kusatsu to visit one of the four attractions each day without changing hotels. To visit Hikone Castle and Hachiman-bori first, then Lake Biwa Museum and Ishiyamadera, stay two nights in Hikone and two in Kusatsu. If the museum visit runs late on the moving day, swap it with the temple the following day.
Choose an itinerary for 5 days, 4 nights
Four attractions from one lodging base in Kusatsu
Stay four nights in Kusatsu, giving Ishiyamadera, Lake Biwa Museum, Hachiman-bori, and Hikone Castle a day each. Keep the same lodging and return there daily. Use JR on days visiting Ishiyamadera, Hachiman-bori, and Hikone Castle; JR fares are separate from the listed admission and bus costs.
Four attractions from one lodging base in Kusatsu →5 days, 4 nights BTwo nights in Hikone, then two nights in Kusatsu
Spend two nights in Hikone for the castle and Hachiman-bori, then move to Kusatsu for two nights to visit Lake Biwa Museum and Ishiyama-dera. Visit the museum after moving on day 3. If the move runs late or the museum is closed, swap it with the temple on day 4 or leave one visit out.
Two nights in Hikone, then two nights in Kusatsu →Four attractions from one lodging base in Kusatsu
Stay four nights in Kusatsu, giving Ishiyamadera, Lake Biwa Museum, Hachiman-bori, and Hikone Castle a day each. Keep the same lodging and return there daily. Use JR on days visiting Ishiyamadera, Hachiman-bori, and Hikone Castle; JR fares are separate from the listed admission and bus costs.
Day 1 · Ishiyamadera
Begin your first day at Kusatsu Station.
- JR Kusatsu Station → JR Ishiyama Station
Take a Kyoto-bound JR Biwako Line service stopping at Ishiyama. Kusatsu and Ishiyama are on the same line, but check trains, fares, and platforms for your date using JR search and station guidance. JR is excluded from this plan's ¥4,420 subtotal.
JR West Sagano and Biwako Line station map, revised March 16, 2024JR journey search
- JR Ishiyama Station bus stop 1 → Ishiyamadera Sanmon-mae bus stop
Take a route 1, 4, 14, 52, 54, or 55 service stopping at Sanmon-mae; the ride takes about 10 minutes. Check the timetable for your date. Allow extra time to walk from JR to the bus stop.
- Ishiyamadera Sanmon-mae bus stop → Ishiyamadera temple visit area
Get off and enter through the gate with a ¥600 regular admission ticket. Hours are 8:00 AM–4:30 PM, last entry 4:00 PM. The inner sanctuary and Hozoden cost extra; nearby meals are also excluded from the subtotal. Move the temple to another day or skip it if you cannot leave enough sightseeing time before last entry.
- Ishiyamadera temple visit area → JR Ishiyama Station
After your visit and meal, take an Ishiyama Station-bound bus from Sanmon-mae stop 2. Distinguish it from Otsu Station-bound route 14. Check the timetable for your date and allow time to transfer to JR at Ishiyama Station.
- JR Ishiyama Station → JR Kusatsu Station
Return on a JR Biwako Line service toward Maibara or Yasu that stops at Kusatsu. Use JR search and station guidance to find a train you can reach after the bus actually arrives. Check return train times, fares, and bus connections for your travel date.
JR West Sagano and Biwako Line station map, revised March 16, 2024JR journey search
Return on an Ishiyama Station-bound bus from Sanmon-mae stop 2, then take a JR service stopping at Kusatsu. Return to the same lodging after arriving. Allow separate time to transfer from the bus to JR.
Day 2 · Lake Biwa Museum
- Kusatsu Station west-exit bus stop 2 → Lake Biwa Museum bus stop
From west-exit stop 2 at Kusatsu Station, take a museum-bound Ohmi bus and get off at the museum stop after about 25 minutes. Look up outbound and return buses together in the official timetable for your date, allowing extra waiting time.
- Lake Biwa Museum bus stop → Lake Biwa Museum permanent exhibition
Get off and head to the museum, leaving time for the permanent exhibition, meals, and breaks. General permanent-exhibition admission is ¥840; special exhibitions cost extra. Hours are 9:30 AM–5:00 PM, last admission 4:00 PM. Check Monday closures, public holiday opening, and temporary closures in the calendar for your date.
Museum accessLake Biwa Museum admissionLake Biwa Museum opening calendar
- Lake Biwa Museum permanent exhibition → Kusatsu Station and same lodging
After exhibits and your meal, take a bus from the museum stop toward Kusatsu Station's west exit. Finish your visit to fit the return bus, then return to the same lodging in Kusatsu after arriving at the station.
Check museum closures and buses toward Kusatsu Station for your date. Allow time to walk from the exhibition rooms to the bus stop.
Day 3 · Omihachiman's canal
- Kusatsu Station → Omihachiman Station
Take a Maibara-bound JR Biwako Line service that stops at Omihachiman. Use the north exit and head to the bus stop. JR fares and bus waits are separate.
JR West Sagano and Biwako Line station map, revised March 16, 2024JR journey search
- Omihachiman Station north exit → Hachiman-bori bus stop
From north-exit stop 6 or 7 at Omihachiman Station, use the stop for your bus and board a service stopping at Hachiman-bori (Osugicho) Hachimanyama Ropeway-guchi. Look up both the outbound bus and the return bus to the station in the official timetable for your date.
- Hachiman-bori bus stop → Canal and historic streets
Get off, walk along the canal and historic streets, and eat nearby. The canal is directly accessible on foot from the stop. The standard plan is a walk; sightseeing boats and paid facilities are optional extras. For a boat ride, check the boarding point, operating dates, and price, then shorten sightseeing to fit your return bus.
- Canal and historic streets → Omihachiman Station
Return to the Hachiman-bori stop and take a bus toward Omihachiman Station. Adult buses between the station and Hachiman-bori cost ¥260 one way or ¥520 round trip. Check your return bus stop and departure time separately in the official timetable for your date.
- Omihachiman Station → Kusatsu Station and same lodging
Take a Kyoto-bound JR Biwako Line service stopping at Kusatsu, then return to the same lodging. Leave time to reach the JR platform after the bus and wait for the train. Check JR round-trip fares and bus connections separately for your date.
JR West Sagano and Biwako Line station map, revised March 16, 2024JR journey search
Return from Omihachiman to your Kusatsu lodging today. Look up the bus from the canal to the station together with Kyoto-bound JR services stopping at Kusatsu. Shorten your walk to fit the return bus if taking a sightseeing boat.
Day 4 · Hikone Castle
- Kusatsu Station → Hikone Station
Take a Maibara-bound JR Biwako Line service that stops at Hikone. Look up outbound services and fares for your date together with return Kyoto-bound services stopping at Kusatsu.
JR West Sagano and Biwako Line station map, revised March 16, 2024JR journey search
- Hikone Station west exit → Hikone Castle ticket office
Official guidance lists about a 15-minute walk from Hikone Station to the castle. Use the west exit, walk toward the castle, and check the on-site map for your entrance and ticket office. Allow extra time for ticket lines and the climb to the keep.
- Hikone Castle ticket office → Castle and Genkyuen Garden
Visit the keep and garden with the ¥1,000 standard castle/Genkyuen Garden ticket. Hours are 8:30 AM–5:00 PM, last admission 4:30 PM. The route to the keep has slopes and stone steps; choose your visit scope to suit your walking ability. To add the museum on the same day, check its opening time, closing days, and availability of the ¥1,500 combination ticket separately.
- Castle and Genkyuen Garden → Hikone Station
After eating near the castle, return to Hikone Station. Allow time to walk from the castle, reach the platform, and wait for your train. Shorten your visit if needed to avoid missing your return service while adding other facilities.
- Hikone Station → Kusatsu Station and same lodging
Take a Kyoto-bound JR Biwako Line service that stops at Kusatsu, then return to the same lodging. JR round-trip fares, train times, and the walk to your lodging are separate from the facility and bus subtotal; check them for your date.
JR West Sagano and Biwako Line station map, revised March 16, 2024JR journey search
Allow sightseeing time before last admission at 4:30 PM. To add the museum, also check its opening time, closing days, and combination-ticket availability. Look up return trains and your route from the station to lodging separately.
Day 5 · Park near the station
- Lodging near Kusatsu Station → Walking path
Walk around Deai Hiroba · de愛ひろば, about 6 minutes from Kusatsu Station. This access time does not cover walking through the whole park; keep to this area rather than extending far into other sections.
- Walking path → Booked departure station
After your walk and meal, return to Kusatsu Station for your booked departure. Leave time to return to the station and reach the platform. Skip the final-day walk if your train leaves early.
Add final-day sightseeing or walking only if you have time before your departure train. Leave separate time to return to the station and reach your platform.
Included: Hikone Castle and Genkyuen Garden ¥1,000 + regular Ishiyamadera admission ¥600 + Lake Biwa Museum permanent exhibition ¥840 + Hachiman-bori bus round trip ¥520 + Ishiyamadera bus round trip ¥500 + Lake Biwa Museum bus round trip ¥960
Extra costs: Intercity JR, transportation to lodging, luggage storage, lodging, meals, sightseeing boats, paid activities, extra visits, and final departure transportation
The ¥4,420 subtotal excludes intercity JR and transportation to your lodging. Replacing the ¥1,000 castle/Genkyuen Garden ticket with the ¥1,500 same-day ticket including the museum adds ¥500, making ¥4,920. Check whether the same-day combination ticket is sold during museum closures or exhibition changes.
Hikone Castle visitor guideCurrent prices and exceptionsLake Biwa Museum admissionHachiman-bori bus fares and round-trip timetablesKojak Bus fares, revised March 1, 2026Official Ohmi Bus guide
Two nights in Hikone, then two nights in Kusatsu
Spend two nights in Hikone for the castle and Hachiman-bori, then move to Kusatsu for two nights to visit Lake Biwa Museum and Ishiyama-dera. Visit the museum after moving on day 3. If the move runs late or the museum is closed, swap it with the temple on day 4 or leave one visit out.
Day 1 · Hikone Castle
Begin your first day at Hikone Station.
- Hikone Station → Hikone Castle ticket office
Official guidance lists about a 15-minute walk from Hikone Station to the castle. Use the west exit, walk toward the castle, and check the on-site map for your entrance and ticket office. Allow extra time for ticket lines and the climb to the keep.
- Hikone Castle ticket office → Castle and Genkyuen Garden
Visit the keep and garden with the ¥1,000 standard castle/Genkyuen Garden ticket. Hours are 8:30 AM–5:00 PM, last admission 4:30 PM. The route to the keep has slopes and stone steps; choose your visit scope to suit your walking ability. To add the museum on the same day, check its opening time, closing days, and availability of the ¥1,500 combination ticket separately.
Official Hikone Castle guideHikone Castle visitor guideOfficial museum guide
- Castle and Genkyuen Garden → Your starting station and same hotel
After a meal near the castle, return to the same hotel in Hikone. If you also visit the castle museum that day, you can choose the ¥1,500 combined ticket. Check the museum's visiting hours and exhibition schedule separately.
Allow sightseeing time before last admission at 4:30 PM. To add the museum, also check its opening time, closing days, and combination-ticket availability. Look up return trains and your route from the station to lodging separately.
Day 2 · Round trip to Hachiman-bori
- Hikone Station → Omihachiman Station
Take a Kyoto-bound JR Biwako Line service that stops at Omihachiman. Use the north exit and head to the bus stop. JR fares and bus waits are separate.
JR West Sagano and Biwako Line station map, revised March 16, 2024JR journey search
- Omihachiman Station north exit → Hachiman-bori bus stop
From north-exit stop 6 or 7 at Omihachiman Station, use the stop for your bus and board a service stopping at Hachiman-bori (Osugicho) Hachimanyama Ropeway-guchi. Look up both the outbound bus and the return bus to the station in the official timetable for your date.
- Hachiman-bori bus stop → Canal and historic streets
Get off, walk along the canal and historic streets, and eat nearby. The canal is directly accessible on foot from the stop. The standard plan is a walk; sightseeing boats and paid facilities are optional extras. For a boat ride, check the boarding point, operating dates, and price, then shorten sightseeing to fit your return bus.
- Canal and historic streets → Omihachiman Station
Return to the Hachiman-bori stop and take a bus toward Omihachiman Station. Adult buses between the station and Hachiman-bori cost ¥260 one way or ¥520 round trip. Check your return bus stop and departure time separately in the official timetable for your date.
- Omihachiman Station → Hikone Station and same lodging
Take a JR Biwako Line service toward Maibara or Nagahama that stops at Hikone, then return to the same lodging. Leave time to reach the JR platform after the bus and wait for the train. Check JR round-trip fares and bus connections separately for your date.
JR West Sagano and Biwako Line station map, revised March 16, 2024JR journey search
The ¥520 round-trip bus fare for Hachiman-bori excludes JR travel from Hikone. Check the return trains and buses for your travel date. If you prefer a separate-day castle museum visit, replace the canal trip with a ¥700 museum ticket. This option does not include both visits on the same day; check the museum's closure dates.
Day 3 · Move hotels, then visit the museum
- Lodging near Hikone Station → JR Kusatsu Station
Check out, collect your bags, and head to Hikone Station. Take a Kyoto-bound JR Biwako Line train that stops at Kusatsu. Check the train and fare for your date, and leave enough time after arrival to reach the museum bus.
JR journey searchJR West Sagano and Biwako Line station map, revised March 16, 2024
- JR Kusatsu Station → Lake Biwa Museum bus stop
If your new hotel accepts bags before check-in, leave them there first. Then take the Lake Biwa Museum bus from stop 2 at Kusatsu Station's west exit. If you run late, move the museum to another day or skip it. Check the official timetable for your date and direction.
- Lake Biwa Museum bus stop → Permanent exhibition
Visit the permanent exhibition and allow time for a meal. General admission to the permanent exhibition is ¥840; special exhibitions cost extra. Hours are 9:30 a.m.–5 p.m., with last admission at 4 p.m. Check the calendar for Monday closures, public holidays, and temporary closures. If travel and bag storage take too long, swap the museum with day 4's temple or leave one attraction out.
- Lake Biwa Museum → Kusatsu Station and check-in at your new hotel
After your visit, take the bus from the museum stop to Kusatsu Station's west exit, then return to your new hotel. Allow time both for the bus and for the trip from the station to your hotel so you can meet its check-in deadline. Check the official timetable for your date and direction.
This is your hotel-moving day. If the museum is closed or the move runs late, swap it with day 4's temple or leave one attraction out. Allow time to reach your new hotel from Kusatsu Station before its check-in deadline.
Day 4 · Round trip to the temple
- Kusatsu Station → JR Ishiyama Station
From Kusatsu Station, take a Kyoto-bound JR train that stops at Ishiyama.
JR West Sagano and Biwako Line station map, revised March 16, 2024JR journey search
- JR Ishiyama Station → Sanmon-mae stop and temple gate
At Ishiyama Station's bus stop 1, take a route 1, 4, 14, 52, 54, or 55 service that stops at Ishiyama-dera Sanmon-mae. The ride takes about 10 minutes; walk from the stop to the temple gate. Bus waiting time and the walk from JR to the bus stop are additional. Check the official timetable for your date and direction.
- Sanmon-mae stop and temple gate → Temple grounds
Visit with a ¥600 general admission ticket and have a meal nearby. Hours are 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m., with last admission at 4 p.m. The inner sanctuary and Hozoden require separate admission.
- Temple visit area → JR Ishiyama Station
Return on an Ishiyama Station-bound bus from Sanmon-mae stop 2. Distinguish it from Otsu Station-bound services, and allow time after the bus ride to reach the JR platform.
- JR Ishiyama Station → Kusatsu Station and same lodging
Take a Maibara- or Yasu-bound JR Biwako Line train that stops at Kusatsu and return to the same hotel. Check train times and fares for your travel date. The bus departure time alone does not guarantee a JR connection.
JR West Sagano and Biwako Line station map, revised March 16, 2024JR journey search
Use an Ishiyama Station-bound return bus from Sanmon-mae stop 2. Distinguish it from Otsu Station-bound services, and leave time to walk from the bus to the JR platform at Ishiyama. Look up round-trip services for your visit date.
Day 5 · Depart from Kusatsu
- Lodging near Kusatsu Station → Walking path
Walk to the Deai Hiroba · de愛ひろば area, about six minutes from Kusatsu Station. This is the one-way walk from the station to the park; allow extra time for your stroll and the walk back.
- Walking path → Booked departure station
After your walk and meal, return to Kusatsu Station for your booked departure. Leave time to return to the station and reach the platform. Skip the final-day walk if your train leaves early.
Add final-day sightseeing or walking only if you have time before your departure train. Leave separate time to return to the station and reach your platform.
Included: Hikone Castle and Genkyuen Garden ¥1,000 + regular Ishiyamadera admission ¥600 + Lake Biwa Museum permanent exhibition ¥840 + Hachiman-bori bus round trip ¥520 + Ishiyamadera bus round trip ¥500 + Lake Biwa Museum bus round trip ¥960
Extra costs: Intercity JR, transportation to lodging, luggage storage, lodging, meals, sightseeing boats, paid activities, extra visits, and final departure transportation
The ¥4,420 subtotal excludes intercity JR trains and transport for the hotel move. Replacing the ¥1,000 Hikone Castle and Genkyuen ticket with the ¥1,500 same-day ticket that also includes the castle museum adds ¥500, bringing the subtotal to ¥4,920. If you replace day 2's Hachiman-bori trip with a separate-day castle museum visit, subtract the ¥520 bus fare and add ¥700 museum admission for a ¥4,600 subtotal. On day 3, move from Hikone to Kusatsu before visiting Lake Biwa Museum. You need time after the move and bag storage to catch the museum bus. If you run late, move the museum to the next day or skip it.
Hikone Castle visitor guideCurrent prices and exceptionsLake Biwa Museum admissionHachiman-bori bus fares and round-trip timetablesKojak Bus fares, revised March 1, 2026Official Ohmi Bus guide
Frequently asked questions
Does the quoted cost include JR travel when moving from Hikone to Kusatsu?
No. The ¥4,420 adult subtotal covers Hikone Castle and Genkyuen Garden, general Ishiyamadera admission, Lake Biwa Museum's permanent exhibition, and round-trip buses for Hachiman-bori, the temple, and the museum. Intercity JR, transport for the hotel move, lodging, meals, bag storage, sightseeing boats, extra visits, and final departure transport cost extra.
Hikone Castle visitor guideCurrent prices and exceptionsLake Biwa Museum admissionHachiman-bori bus fares and round-trip timetablesKojak Bus fares, revised March 1, 2026Official Ohmi Bus guide
Can I visit the museum on the day I move from Hikone to Kusatsu?
Route B takes a Kyoto-bound JR train stopping at Kusatsu, then visits Lake Biwa Museum. After the hotel move, you need time to catch the museum bus, arrive before last admission, and visit. If you run late or the museum is closed, swap it with Ishiyamadera the following day or leave one visit out. You also depart from Kusatsu on the final day.
JR West Sagano and Biwako Line station map, revised March 16, 2024JR journey searchMuseum accessOutbound busLake Biwa Museum admissionLake Biwa Museum opening calendar
Can one WEST QR Kansai Area Pass cover all five days?
The pass is valid for one to four consecutive days. A four-night, five-day trip does not make one pass valid for five days. Choose the first and last days of pass use, and compare ordinary tickets for other JR trips separately. Check official guidance for section coverage, eligibility, and smartphone requirements. Lodging, local buses, and attraction admission are separate from JR costs.
Official WEST QR Kansai Area Pass conditionsHachiman-bori bus fares and round-trip timetablesOfficial Ohmi Bus guideKojak Bus fares, revised March 1, 2026
Official sources and checked dates
- Museum access ·
- Hachiman-bori access ·
- Hikone Castle access ·
- Kojak Bus fares, revised March 1, 2026 ·
- Sanmon-mae stop 2 timetable toward Ishiyama Station ·
- Hachiman-bori bus fares and round-trip timetables ·
- Hikone Castle visitor guide ·
- Bus departures ·
- JR journey search ·
- Official museum guide ·
- Current prices and exceptions ·
- Official bus guide ·
- Official Ohmi Bus guide ·
- Lake Biwa Museum admission ·
- Lake Biwa Museum opening calendar ·
- Outbound bus ·
- Return bus ·
- Kusatsu City access and facilities ·
- Official Hikone Castle guide ·
- Official Hachiman-bori guide ·
- JR West Sagano and Biwako Line station map, revised March 16, 2024 ·
- Official WEST QR Kansai Area Pass conditions ·