Biwako Valley: A Relaxing Day Trip from Kyoto! ⛰️🌳

#summervacay My visit to Biwako Valley was easily the most relaxing day of my trip – so incredibly peaceful! It’s the perfect place to just lie back on the grass and unwind. Plus, it's dog-friendly, so you can bring your furry friends along! Keep in mind that the park closes at 5 PM, so don't start your trip too late. I highly recommend going on a clear, sunny day. Even a little cloud cover can completely obscure the views from the summit, and it gets incredibly windy up there! You can check the real-time weather conditions at the summit on their official website. Getting There: From Kyoto Station: Take the train to Shiga Station (¥590). From Shiga Station: Catch a bus to the cable car station (¥410). Cable Car: Ride the cable car up the mountain (the ¥4,000 entrance ticket includes the cable car fare). Important Notes for Your Return: The last cable car down from Biwako Valley is just before 5 PM (though it's 5:35 PM from July 21st to August 31st), so make sure to plan your descent carefully as train and bus services aren't frequent. I actually just missed a bus after getting off the cable car, and the next one was 40 minutes away. So, I ended up walking all the way down the mountain – quite an unexpected hike! Also, I just found out that this place transforms into a ski resort in winter! How cool is that? #biwakovalley #shiga #kyotodaytrip #biwako #relaxinggetaway #dogfriendly #japantravel