Hikone and Omi Hachiman day trip from Nagoya: Castles and canals

Two castle towns and their waterways in a single day from the city

This day trip from Nagoya takes you to Hikone Castle (one of Japan's twelve original Edo-era castles), and the canal district of Omi Hachiman, with an English-speaking guide leading you through both towns. The tour includes entry to Hikone Castle and Genkyu-en Garden, a Matcha tasting in a historic teahouse, a boat cruise through Omi Hachiman's waterways, and stops at a local shopping street and a nature-themed confectionary shop. Transportation and the boat tour are included. Lunch is on your own.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Hikone and Omi Hachiman

• Visit Hikone Castle
• Stroll Genkyu-en Garden
• Taste Matcha tea and sweets
• Lunch and shop at Yume Kyobashi
• Boat cruise in Omi Hachiman canals
• Visit La Collina confectionary shop

The experience

Hikone Castle anchors the morning. Your guide walks you through the castle grounds and into the keep itself, pointing out the architectural details that have kept this National Treasure standing since the Edo era: one of only twelve original castles left in Japan. From there, you move into Genkyu-en Garden, designed after a Chinese palace garden, where you sit in a teahouse that once entertained the castle lord's guests and taste Matcha tea with a traditional sweet while the castle rises across the pond.

The afternoon splits between food and scenery. Yume Kyobashi Castle Road, a shopping street lined with black fences and white-washed walls, gives you time to hunt for lunch (the region is famous for premium wagyu beef, sold as croquettes, skewers, and hot pots at shops along the street), and to browse local goods. Then you head to Omi Hachiman's canal district for a boat cruise through the historic waterways, where the castle-town scenery has made the location a favorite for Japanese historical dramas and films. Your guide helps you frame shots for photos before the group returns to the bus.

The last stop is La Collina, a confectionary shop built inside a nature preserve where the owners grow their own seasonal ingredients. The place has drawn comparisons to a Ghibli film set and pulls in photography enthusiasts. The desserts are the draw for everyone else. From there, you head back to your meeting point: either Nagoya Station or Hikone Station, depending on which option you chose at checkout.

What’s included

• Transportation during the tour.
• entry to Hikone Castle and Genkyu-en Garden.
• Matcha tea and a traditional sweet in a historic teahouse.
• a boat cruise through Omi Hachiman's canal district.
• an English-speaking guide for the full 9 hours.

Before you book

Days and timesMonday to FridayDeparts at 09:00

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (6 to 12 years) · Infant (under 6): free

GroupUp to 25

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Snow Monkey Resorts Tours (Machinovate Japan Ltd.)

Is this one for you?Choose the Nagoya departure if you're based in the city and want to avoid an early train. Choose Hikone if you're already in Shiga Prefecture and prefer to minimize travel time. Either way, the fixed itinerary fits both castles, the gardens, the canals, and the confectionary shop into a single day without backtracking.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 12 years); Infant (under 6): free.

What is Hikone Castle like, and how much time do you spend there?

Hikone Castle is one of Japan's twelve surviving original castles from the Edo era and a National Treasure, with several buildings designated as Important Cultural Properties. Your guide leads you through the castle grounds and into the keep itself, explaining the unique features as you go. The castle visit is the centerpiece of the morning portion of the tour.

Can you really take a boat through Omi Hachiman's canals, or is that weather-dependent?

The boat tour through Omi Hachiman's historic waterways is included, but it may be canceled due to weather. If you book less than one week in advance, a seat on the boat cannot be guaranteed, though the tour will still visit the canal district.

Is lunch included, or do I need to find my own food?

Lunch is not included in the tour price. You'll have time to eat at Yume Kyobashi Castle Road, a shopping street famous for premium wagyu beef prepared as croquettes, skewers, and hot pots, and your guide can offer recommendations.

Do I need to choose between starting from Nagoya or Hikone, or can I pick either one?

You choose one meeting point at checkout: round trip from Nagoya Station or round trip from Hikone Station. Transportation to and from your chosen meeting point is included in the tour.

What is La Collina, and why is it on the itinerary?

La Collina is a confectionary shop built inside a nature preserve where the owners grow their own seasonal ingredients on-site. It's known for a distinctive, nature-inspired aesthetic often compared to a Ghibli film and is popular with photography enthusiasts. It's the final stop before returning to your meeting point.