Day Excursion to Miho Museum and Lake Biwa's Iconic Floating Torii Gate

A private day trip in your own Toyota Alphard with driver: hotel pickup in Osaka or Kyoto, then Miho Museum, Kyoku-Chikurin-in Temple / Hieisan Hiyoshi Taisha Shrine and Shirahige Shrine. About 11 hours on this route, priced per car for up to 6 guests. You enter your hotel (or a station) and the pickup time in the booking form. The car price does not include a guide, entry tickets, rides, experiences, meals, tolls or parking. Miho Museum I.M. Pei designed this architectural masterpiece, drawing inspiration from the legend of Peach Blossom Spring. Tucked deep within mountainous terrain, the museum showcases exceptional beauty across all seasons. Summer brings verdant forests and extended walking routes, though winter snowfall forces seasonal closures. The permanent collection spans multiple civilizations: ancient Japan, China, South and Central Asia, West Asia, Egypt, Greece, and Rome. Former Chikurin-in Temple This nationally protected garden captures the essence of all four seasons with breathtaking scenic views. Originally a secluded mountain dwelling for an eminent Buddhist monk, it now draws serious photographers who prize its architectural layout—identical to Rurikoin Temple—for capturing pristine mirror reflections. The setting offers genuine solitude without crowds or time constraints, giving visitors unlimited opportunity to compose their perfect shot. Hiyoshi Taisha Shrine (alternative when Former Chikurin-in Temple is closed; worship fee separate) Japan's premier shrine presides over approximately 3,800 Hiyoshi, Hie, and Sanno shrines throughout the country. Historical records in the Kojiki mention this ancient complex, which features nearly 40 individual shrines across expansive grounds. Both the East and West Main Shrine buildings hold National Treasure status and Important Cultural Property designations. Lake Biwa Shirasu Shrine Water Torii Lake Biwa stands as Japan's largest freshwater lake, situated in mountainous terrain west-central to Kyoto. Both Japanese citizens and international designations honor it as a national treasure: it qualifies as a national park, falls under Japan's Law on Special Measures for Lake and Marsh Water Quality Conservation, and holds Ramsar Convention status as a Wetland of International Importance. Alongside Mount Fuji, Lake Biwa embodies Japanese national identity and carries the poetic nickname "Lake of Life."