Otsu

Our driver, Xiao Yan, was fantastic—attentive and professional. He drove smoothly and comfortably in a clean, spacious car with exceptionally comfortable seats. Although the journey from Osaka to Amanohashidate and Ine was quite long, Xiao Yan managed the time exceptionally well, allowing ample time at each stop, ensuring we had a fantastic time! This trip was definitely worthwhile.

I participated in this tour yesterday (October 2nd), and I felt lucky because everyone in the group was punctual, and our guide, Lai, was gentle, attentive, and humorous 👍. Regarding the trip itself, I think it was very worthwhile: First, I wouldn't normally go to Shirahige Shrine because of its inconvenient location; second, the Biwako Valley is breathtakingly beautiful, my favorite viewpoint ever; the ticket normally costs 5000 yen, but the group ticket was slightly cheaper (4300 yen); third, because the day's itinerary mainly focused on taking photos and riding the cable car, there was plenty of time (Biwako Valley actually has a suspension bridge and zipline, but I'm afraid of heights, so I didn't do them). Finally, remember to bring a jacket, as Biwako Valley is at a high altitude and quite windy, so it can be quite cold. Also, although I'm a little afraid of heights, the chairlifts in Biwako Valley aren't very high off the ground, and I thoroughly enjoyed riding them 👍

This time, I traveled to Osaka alone. On the second day, I was robbed of all my cash and credit cards. On the third day, I figured out how to withdraw money internationally so I wouldn't go hungry. Making good use of everything, I booked a day trip to Shiga that evening. Everything there was incredibly therapeutic; the mountains cleansed my soul. Our driver, Brother Wang, was very professional and friendly. At the art museum, he reminded us that restaurants using natural farming methods required taking a number (thankfully, we did, as the museum was packed). He provided helpful tips at every location, and having him around made me feel very safe. On the return trip, the journey was longer and there was some traffic. I suddenly needed to use the restroom, and Brother Wang, who knew the area very well, immediately drove to a nearby rest stop so I could relieve myself. I'm very grateful for his hard work driving. Our tour guide, Brother Wenqing, was a cheerful person who took good care of everyone, allowing us to leisurely enjoy the beautiful scenery and manage our time perfectly. It was truly a blessing to be able to leisurely enjoy so many beautiful places and places we hadn't been to on our own. The tour guide was a very kind person. When he heard that I had been robbed but was having trouble getting to the Japanese police station because of the language barrier, he actually chose to accompany me to the police station after the tour and act as my translator. I felt extremely grateful that I could meet such a good person despite my miserable trip.

I traveled from Sakamoto in Shiga Prefecture to Enryaku-ji Temple. It was raining, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Shirahime Shrine is a must-see. A day trip is very time-saving and energy-efficient, saving a lot of effort on transportation alone. The shrine itself isn't large; you can see everything in 15 minutes. This was the first stop, so when I went, they weren't selling amulets yet, so I didn't buy any. However, the torii gate standing in the water is worth seeing; take plenty of photos. There's a cafe nearby where you can buy a hot drink. There's plenty of time for this one spot. The Baumkuchen (Baumkuchen) factory is also worth visiting. If you go in season, the rooftop decorations are even more beautiful, and the freshly baked Baumkuchen is delicious. You can also buy souvenirs to take home. The prices are slightly on the higher side, but they're very tasty. I regretted not buying more after returning home. There are two sections for souvenirs; you can take your time to browse and buy some. My phone was a little rushed at this one spot, but with proper planning, it's enough. Mangetsuji Temple is also small, but the pine trees are very historic and make for great photos. The tour guide gave us enough time for taking pictures.

Biwako Valley is heavily dependent on the weather, so I was grateful that they allowed us to reconfirm the weather forecast the day before before purchasing tickets. Thanks to that, we were able to enjoy the wonderful views, pleasant breeze, and delicious food. It's expensive in many ways, but considering that it's used for safety management, the price is justifiable, and I thought the food and drinks on the premises were of high quality and reasonably priced. There are two things to note: the Sky Bridge is one-way and can only be accessed from the intermediate station of the Uchimi Lift. The other is the Horai Lift; those with a fear of heights should be prepared. The Sky Bridge isn't scary if you look straight ahead while walking, but the Horai Lift is scary even if you look straight ahead because you feel the height.