Day trip

Omihachiman

Omihachiman, Kyoto

The Hachiman-bori moat in Omihachiman, lined with old storehouses and stone walls under a blue sky
Photo: Big Ben in Japan / Flickr (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Omihachiman grew up below Hachimanyama Castle, built by Toyotomi Hidetsugu, Hideyoshi's nephew, and it did well as a stop on the Lake Biwa shipping routes. Its old moat, Hachiman-bori, is still lined with willows and white-walled storehouses, and the stretch between Hakuun-bashi and Meiji-bashi turns up in a lot of period dramas. The way to see it is a 30-minute ride in a wooden boat.

Nearest station Omi-Hachiman (JR Biwako Line)
Cost ¥¥
Time needed Half day
Best time Spring

Insider tip

The JR Special Rapid from Kyoto takes about 35 minutes to Omi-Hachiman, then the Ohmi Railway bus for Chomeiji takes about 7 minutes to the moat. Two operators run the moat trips, one with engine boats and one rowed by hand. Cherry blossoms line the moat in spring, then irises and willows, with red leaves in autumn.

View on the interactive map Google Maps directions

Nearby

Hikone Castle Day trip · 21.3 km away Hikone Castle's keep is one of five in Japan listed as a National Treasure, with Himeji, Matsumoto, Inuyama and Matsue. Ohara Day trip · 23.1 km away Ohara is a valley in the hills north-east of Kyoto, and the main sight is Sanzen-in, a Tendai temple. Enryaku-ji Day trip · 23.8 km away Enryaku-ji covers the top of Mount Hiei on the border of Kyoto and Shiga, with Lake Biwa below on one side and Kyoto on the other. Shugakuin Imperial Villa Landmark · 27.8 km away Retired Emperor Gomizuno-o built Shugakuin Imperial Villa on the slopes of Mount Hiei between 1656 and 1659. Shisen-do Temple · 28.6 km away The retreat where the poet Ishikawa Jozan (1583 to 1672) spent his last years, now a temple under Eihei-ji of the Soto Zen sect. Daimonji-yama Viewpoint · 28.9 km away The hill above Ginkaku-ji is Nyoigatake, better known as Daimonji-yama, where a giant 大 is lit on the night of 16 August for the Gozan Okuribi.

Good to know

How do I get to Omihachiman?
The nearest station is Omi-Hachiman (JR Biwako Line). Omihachiman is in Omihachiman, Kyoto.
How much does Omihachiman cost?
Omihachiman is mid-range, marked ¥¥ on the site's price scale.
How long do you need at Omihachiman?
Plan for half day.
When is the best time to visit Omihachiman?
Spring.

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