Shiga Prefecture district, Shiga Prefecture, Japan

Places to visit near Ōtsu

Ōtsu is a city in Shiga Prefecture district, Shiga Prefecture, Japan, home to about 298,164 people. Within 50 km by road there are 251 places to visit — 122 buddhist sites, 81 temples, 11 parks and 11 museums. The must-see places are 幻案寺 (1 km), 天孫神社 (1 km) and Gichu-ji (2 km).

Updated · Distances are road estimates · Open Ōtsu on the map

Ōtsu at a glance

Location
Shiga Prefecture district, Shiga Prefecture, Japan
Population
about 298,164
Coordinates
35.0000° N, 135.8667° E
Places within 50 km
251 (251 must-see)
Best time to visit
October to March for buddhist sites; year-round for temples and parks

Top places to visit near Ōtsu

Ranked by how worth the drive they are from Ōtsu: must-see places and the closest well-loved spots first. Open a place for photos, today’s visitor status, timings and directions.

More places near Ōtsu

Things to see near Ōtsu, by type

Buddhist sites near Ōtsu

122 buddhist sites within 100 km of Ōtsu. The closest is 幻案寺 (1 km). Best time: october to march.

All buddhist sites in Shiga Prefecture →

Temples near Ōtsu

81 temples within 100 km of Ōtsu. The closest is 天孫神社 (1 km). Best time: year-round.

  • 天孫神社 · temple · Shiga Prefecture · ~1 km · Must-see
  • 近江神宮 · temple · Shiga Prefecture · ~5 km · Must-see
  • TakebeTaisha · temple · Shiga Prefecture · ~6 km · Must-see
  • 唐崎神社 · temple · Shiga Prefecture · ~7 km · Must-see
  • kayanojinja · temple · Shiga Prefecture · ~7 km · Must-see
  • Togakushi Shrine · temple · Shiga Prefecture · ~8 km · Must-see

All temples in Shiga Prefecture →

Parks near Ōtsu

11 parks within 100 km of Ōtsu. The closest is 大津湖岸なぎさ公園 (2 km). Best time: year-round, evenings.

All parks in Shiga Prefecture →

Museums near Ōtsu

11 museums within 100 km of Ōtsu. The closest is 滋賀県立琵琶湖博物館 (13 km). Best time: year-round.

All museums in Shiga Prefecture →

Forts & heritage near Ōtsu

10 forts & heritage within 100 km of Ōtsu. The closest is 近江国庁跡 (7 km). Best time: october to february.

All forts & heritage in Shiga Prefecture →

Hill stations & viewpoints near Ōtsu

8 hill stations & viewpoints within 100 km of Ōtsu. The closest is Mt. Hiei (10 km). Best time: october to february for cool, clear air.

  • Mt. Hiei · viewpoint · Shiga Prefecture · ~10 km · Must-see
  • 鶏冠山 · viewpoint · Shiga Prefecture · ~16 km · Must-see
  • Mount Kurama · viewpoint · Shiga Prefecture · ~20 km · Must-see
  • Ōeyama · viewpoint · Osaka Prefecture · ~26 km · Must-see
  • 甲賀流忍術屋敷 · viewpoint · Shiga Prefecture · ~36 km · Must-see
  • Buna-gatake · viewpoint · Shiga Prefecture · ~37 km · Must-see

All hill stations & viewpoints in Shiga Prefecture →

A one-day trip from Ōtsu

5 of the best places within 60 km, in driving order so you don’t double back: about 11 km on the road.

  1. Start in Ōtsu
  2. 1 km 幻案寺 · Buddhist site, Shiga Prefecture
  3. 1 km 天孫神社 · temple, Shiga Prefecture
  4. 2 km Gichu-ji · Buddhist site, Shiga Prefecture
  5. 1 km 大津湖岸なぎさ公園 · park, Shiga Prefecture
  6. 2 km 西念寺 · Buddhist site, Shiga Prefecture
  7. 4 km Back to Ōtsu

Plan a longer trip from Ōtsu — the planner adds a place to stay each night and keeps the route to one loop.

How to reach Ōtsu

    All places near Ōtsu by distance

    Within 15 km of Ōtsu

    15–50 km — half-day trips

    Count by type

    Places near Ōtsu by type
    TypePlacesNearest
    Buddhist sites122幻案寺 (1 km)
    Temples81天孫神社 (1 km)
    Parks11大津湖岸なぎさ公園 (2 km)
    Museums11滋賀県立琵琶湖博物館 (13 km)
    Forts & heritage10近江国庁跡 (7 km)
    Hill stations & viewpoints8Mt. Hiei (10 km)
    Wildlife, forests & gardens3草津市立水生植物公園みずの森 (13 km)
    Other attractions2Two-year Slope (10 km)
    Churches2Salvation Army Kyoto Corps (12 km)
    Waterfalls1Minoh Waterfall (49 km)

    Ōtsu: questions travellers ask

    What are the best places to visit near Ōtsu?

    幻案寺 (Buddhist site, about 1 km), 天孫神社 (temple, about 1 km), Gichu-ji (Buddhist site, about 2 km), 大津湖岸なぎさ公園 (park, about 2 km), 西念寺 (Buddhist site, about 4 km), 近江神宮 (temple, about 5 km).

    How many tourist places are there within 50 km of Ōtsu?

    251 places on Spotwander: 122 buddhist sites, 81 temples, 11 parks, 11 museums, 10 forts & heritage.

    Which is the nearest Buddhist site to Ōtsu?

    幻案寺, about 1 km by road; Gichu-ji (2 km) is next.

    Which is the nearest temple to Ōtsu?

    天孫神社, about 1 km by road; 近江神宮 (5 km) is next.

    Which is the nearest park to Ōtsu?

    大津湖岸なぎさ公園, about 2 km by road; TOEI Kyoto Studio Park (18 km) is next.

    What is a good one-day trip from Ōtsu?

    Start in Ōtsu, visit 幻案寺, then 天孫神社, then Gichu-ji, then 大津湖岸なぎさ公園, then 西念寺, and drive back — about 11 km by road in all.

    What is the best time to visit places near Ōtsu?

    October to March for buddhist sites; year-round for temples and parks.

    Towns near Ōtsu

    Sources: places from OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata and GeoNames; Ōtsu’s location and population from GeoNames. Data sources & credits.