Japan snow season: Make your transit from Kansai to Hakuba worth it
Looking to travel to Japan during the colder months? It is likely you may also be looking to visit snow resorts as a part of your trip as well. These snow resorts offer a fun experience as well as stunning Japanese landscapes to all travellers. However, getting to them can often require a long and tiring transit.
If you’re planning on travelling from the Kansai region (most often Osaka or Kyoto) to Hakuba for snow season, booking with a private transportation company is the best way to go to ensure a safe, comfortable journey for all. At TokudAw, we combine our travel agency expertise with our in-house private transit to offer you a special, authentic journey filled with rich local experiences you can’t get on a regular trip.
For guests travelling through this route, the Shiga Prefecture holds a world of special sights ready to be experienced.
Iconic Shirahige Shrine Torii gate in Lake Biwa. Image source: Pixaby
Lake Biwa
Located in the middle of the Shiga Prefecture, Lake Biwa is the country’s biggest and one of the world’s oldest freshwater lakes, at least four million years old. The lake has a shoreline over 230 kilometres long and is the perfect spot to see a piece of Japan’s natural landscape that is often overlooked by visitors. It’s also home to a number of beautiful towns filled with local and authentic Japanese charm, waiting to be explored.
Otsu
Otsu is a town on the southwestern shoreline of Lake Biwa and was once Japan’s capital city around 1350 years ago. Home to a variety of historical sights, Otsu houses Enryaku-ji Temple, a listed World Heritage Site and one of the most iconic monasteries in Japan. Filled with opportunities to visit onsen (hot springs – perfect to defrost during the cold weather) and cultural destinations such as the Zezeyaki Pottery Museum and the Minamishiga Abandoned Temple Ruins, Otsu is filled with a variety of unique and outstanding cultural experiences that due to both its beautiful landscape and rich historical background.
We recommend all guests to also try their hand at Otsu-e, a traditional form of Japanese folk paintings dating back to the Edo period. Ichie Wado hold an excellent, immersive Otsu-e workshop for anyone looking to create and experience this symbolic artform, offering tours of the city as well. It can seem intimidating at first, but is such a fun, special opportunity to engage in Japan’s artistic heritage and traditional folk history. Such a fun activity for the whole family, ending with a handmade artwork that you can take home and treasure forever – something you aren’t able to find in a regular souvenir shop!
Traditional otsu-e artwork. Image source: PICRYL
Hikone
Hikone is yet another city infused with traditional Japanese charm, waiting to be explored. The city is overflowing in authentic experiences – from local cuisine to dine on to customary arts.
Take a rickshaw tour around the town with Hikone Kirakusha Rickshaws and learn what sights the city has to offer. Your driver will sow you around important sights, such as Hikone Castle. Experience traditional koto-yaki pottery – a form of ceramic art dating back to the Edo period – at Ichishiro Kiln. They run workshops where you can watch the delicate work of sculpting and painting this historical form of pottery.
And don’t forget to use your trip as an opportunity to dine on cultural dishes! Home to fresh fish from Lake Biwa and luxurious Omi beef, Hikone is the perfect place to try local dishes. Omi beef is the oldest type of cut of the famous Japanese wagyu beef and is known for its famous marbling and melt-in-your-mouth texture. Shatora Charcoal Grill and Hana Kagami Omi Japanese Cuisine are some our highest recommended restaurants to try this delicious cut, and a must-try for any visitor. And for our seafood lovers, Kaisuien Fresh Fish Dining is a welcoming restaurant offering a wide range of seafood dishes (including delicacies such as puffer fish and traditional kaiseki dishes) as well as Omi beef steak.
Shiojiri
Located almost exactly in the centre of Japan, Shiojiri is an old post town established in the Edo period.
For fans of wine and champagnes, Shiojiri is most notably famous for its renowned wineries and grape farms. Farmers have been producing wine in this area since the Meiji period, with the city beig most famous for its traditional Kikyogahara Merlot and Goichi wines. With over a dozen wineries to visit, this is a key destination to learn and taste your way through the region.
Make sure to visit our favourite wineries in the region, Hayashi Farm for their famous Goichi wine and founded in 1911, and Shinano Wine, founded in 1916. Spanning across generations, both wineries are run by experienced and passionate experts who have dedicated their lives to creating and sharing the history of their practice with locals and travellers alike.
Azumino
Following the theme of popular Japanese delicacies, visit the beautiful town of Azumino on your transit and stop into Daio Wasabi Farm. It is one of the nation’s largest wasabi farms, containing multiple fields all connected with an intricate system of streams running with freshwater from the Northern Alps. The farm is not only a great spot for wasabi lovers but is also home to Daio Shrine and various walking tracks for travellers looking for a scenic track. You can also purchase a range of specialty wasabi products including fresh wasabi paste, wasabi beer, and wasabi soft cream.
Make your transport to the snow special
From lesser-known landscapes to local towns, stores, and restaurants, let us make your transit unlike the generic road trip. Make it fulfilling and meaningful by connecting with locals and authentic Japanese culture. Book with TokudAw today to make the most of each part of your trip and travel with comfort and ease.