Overview
LOCAL CULTURE WALK
Walk with a local guide through
“Kozoku no Sato Katata.”
Located at the boundary between the North and South basins of Lake Biwa, Katata has long prospered as a key hub for lake transport. In the medieval era, the Katata-shu gained power backed by rights to water transport and fishing, and the town developed with its own self-governance.
On this tour, you’ll walk the town with a local guide who knows Katata’s history and daily life inside out. Visit the museum that preserves the lake people’s history, Izu Shrine, Shorui-ji Temple connected to Ikkyu Sojun and Matsuo Basho, and Ukimido, which seems to float on Lake Biwa. Then follow the fishing port, inner lake, and lakeside scenery as we guide you through Katata’s story of living with the lake.
LOCAL STORY
Katata’s lake people history and present day, connected through your guide’s stories.
The Katata-shu who thrived in the medieval era, stories preserved at temples and shrines, and what the town looked like when it prospered through lake transport and fishing—and even the fishing port and inner-lake scenery that remain today. With background and context, your local guide will show you around. This is a deeper town walk of “Kozoku no Sato Katata,” noticing scenes you might otherwise overlook when visiting on your own.
WALK HIGHLIGHTS
Walk with a local guide | Guided with locally rooted stories, from lake people history and shrine/temple tales to lakeside life
Learn the lake people’s history | At the Kozoku no Sato Museum, explore Katata’s history as a self-governing town in the medieval era
Temples, shrines & culture | Visit Izu Shrine and Shorui-ji Temple, connected to Ikkyu Sojun and Matsuo Basho
Ukimido on Lake Biwa | Head to Katata’s iconic景観, known for the Omi Eight Views “Katata Evening Geese”
A townscape shaped by life with the lake | Walk Izayoi Park, Katata Fishing Port, and Katata Inner Lake, and experience lakeside life that continues today
Walking distance: approx. 4.3 km | About 2 hours 30 min—a leisurely town walk with a local guide
WALKING MAP
Walking route through Kozoku no Sato Katata
Basic Information
- Tour Dates
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Every week: Mon, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun *Excluding year-end/New Year holidays and specific dates (festivals/events)
- Time
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9:30–12:00
13:30–16:00 (except Sundays)
[Duration] Approx. 2 hours 30 min - Meeting Point
- Capacity
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Capacity: 10 (minimum participants: 2)
- Price
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¥3,800 (when joining with 2+ people) / ¥6,000 (when running for 1 person)
[Included] Admission/temple viewing fees, souvenir cost, guide expenses
*The minimum number of participants for this tour is 2. If you would like the tour to run with 1 person, please apply using the 1-person rate. If additional participants join and the tour reaches the minimum (2+ people), we will refund the difference.
Itinerary
JR Katata Station / Meet at Katata Station Tourist Information Center, depart with a local guide → Katata Church → Kozoku no Sato Museum → Izu Shrine → Shorui-ji Temple → Ukimido / temple visit → Izayoi Park → Kintokido / souvenir included → Katata Fishing Port → Katata Inner Lake → JR Katata Station / Tour ends
Additional Details
DISCOVER KATATA
Trace Kozoku no Sato Katata with a local guide
LOCAL GUIDE EXPERIENCE
A town that has lived with the lake—brought to life through your guide’s stories.
The Katata-shu who thrived in the medieval era, stories passed down at temples and shrines, and what the town looked like when it prospered through lake transport and fishing. Walking while listening to a local guide, you’ll see the history of “Kozoku no Sato Katata” not only in Ukimido and historic sites, but also in everyday streetscapes, the fishing port, and inner-lake scenery.
Kozoku no Sato Museum: Discover the history of the “Kozoku”
Backed by Lake Biwa’s water transport and fishing, the Katata-shu held great power in medieval Katata. With the guide’s commentary, you’ll explore Katata’s history and culture as a town that flourished with its own self-governance, viewing materials and old maps.
Admission included
Katata’s guardian shrine: Izu Shrine
Katata’s guardian shrine, which held great influence over Lake Biwa water transport in the medieval era. Visit a shrine deeply connected to the history of the lake people. The grounds feature a sacred stone said to “bring happiness,” which even looks heart-shaped, and it remains an object of local devotion today.
Shorui-ji Temple, where Ikkyu Sojun trained
A temple known for being where Ikkyu Sojun—famous as “Ikkyu-san”—trained in his youth. Matsuo Basho also visited in Genroku 3 (1690). Through the guide’s tour, you’ll also learn about Katata’s connections with cultural figures.
Ukimido, standing on Lake Biwa
Ukimido (Mangetsu-ji Temple) is said to have been built in the Heian period by the monk Genshin (Eshin Sozu), praying for safety on the lake and salvation for all beings. Known as the Omi Eight Views “Katata Evening Geese,” it is Katata’s signature景観, beloved by many including Matsuo Basho.
Temple viewing fee included
Kintokido, a long-established shop preserving “Katata Evening Geese”
A Japanese confectionery shop long loved by the people of Katata. It carries on the method for making the dried sweet “Rakugan,” associated with the Omi Eight Views “Katata Evening Geese,” and the shop still keeps valuable wooden molds once used in confectionery making.
Souvenir included
LAKESIDE KATATA
Fishing port and inner lake: A townscape still shaped by life with the lake
From Ukimido, walk via Izayoi Park to Katata Fishing Port and Katata Inner Lake. Beyond temples, shrines, and historic sites, you’ll explore the lakeside townscape. As you walk and listen to your guide, you’ll start to see Katata’s history of prosperity through water transport and fishing even in everyday scenery.
This course’s unique appeal is that, in a single walk, you can feel both the history of the lake people and the lakeside way of life that continues today.
INFORMATION
Please review before joining
About the guide
A local guide with deep knowledge of Katata’s history and culture, and lakeside life, will accompany you from start to finish.
About walking
This is a walking tour of about 4.3 km. Please join in comfortable clothing and shoes.
About the itinerary
Stops and parts of the itinerary may change due to facility or shop closures.
In Case of Rain
The tour will proceed in the rain. Please bring your own rain gear. However, the tour may be canceled if it is determined that safe operation is difficult due to severe weather.
Information for the day
We do not mail travel documents or the final itinerary for this tour. Please check the day-of information (final itinerary) under “Reservation Details” in your booking confirmation email.
Tour Operator
Registered Travel Agency with the Governor of Shiga Prefecture: No. 2-243
Full Member of All Nippon Travel Agents Association (ANTA)
Biwako Otsu Tourism Association
Civic Cultural Center 2F, 2-3 Goryo-cho, Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture
