Kayaking Nature Tour of Lake Biwa and Sugaura Village, Shiga
Overview
Take a kayaking tour of northern Lake Biwa, and discover its majesty from up close. Your local guide will introduce the beautiful nature, the fishing industry, and the isolated village that make “Deep Biwa” unique. All you have to do is paddle along!
Highlights
- Enjoy the majesty of Lake Biwa from up close on a kayak
- Learn about the fishing culture so essential to the people of the lake
- Have lunch on the beach and taste a local specialty
- Tour an isolated village almost cut off from the mainland
- Take home the memories with photos by your guide taken on the way
Key Information
Important Information
• If we have to cancel the tour due to weather, we will inform you by 17:00 the day before to refund or reschedule • COVID-19 prevention measures are in place, including disinfection of equipment, mask-wearing requirements for staff and guests, and temperature checks - Participants must be aged 10 or older - The following will not be allowed to participate: - Pregnant women - People with tattoos - People weighing more than 105 kg (due to limitations of the kayak) - People with health conditions (e.g. chronic illnesses) that would make participation unsafe - This tour requires at least two participants; if we don't reach the minimum we will inform you by 17:00 the day before to refund or reschedule
Description
On the outskirts of Nagahama City, you’ll find the perfect way to explore Lake Biwa’s beauty: a cultural kayaking tour! Lake Biwa is not just the largest freshwater lake in Japan, it’s one of the oldest in the world — formed more than four million years ago. This fun half-day kayaking tour takes full advantage of that. As well as cruising up and down the shoreline and out into the lake with you, your local guide will introduce you to the unique wonders of this ancient lake. The culture born of Lake Biwa is just as unique, and after lunch on the beach you’ll visit the hidden village of Sugaura to learn about that too. This tour is available every day at 09:00 from April through November, lasts for about 4 hours and 40 minutes, and roughly follows this example itinerary: 08:50 — Pickup from Nagahara Station (optional). 09:00 — Gather at the guesthouse, and take a quick kayaking lesson on the beach. 09:10 — Paddle out onto Lake Biwa for a kayaking tour of discovery! You guide will talk about the natural ecosystems and organisms of the lake, and share the local history of the area. Depending on the day, you can pay a visit to a fishery cooperative along the shore, and see how the locals live in harmony with the lake. 12:00 — Land at Sugaura Village and have lunch on the beach. Your guide will prepare ‘koayu tsukudani,’ a local dish of young sweetfish simmered in soy sauce, served with ‘onigiri’ rice balls. 12:40 — Tour Sugaura Village with your guide. Almost inaccessible by land, Sugaura remained self-governing for centuries and has some truly unique sights and stories awaiting discovery. 13:40 — End your tour at Sugaura Village if you’d like to keep exploring, or have your guide drop you off back at the guesthouse.