I went to a random Japanese town I picked out on Google Maps

Most people plan the stops on their vacation months ahead of time, but I’m not that type of traveler. It feels too confining and takes all the adventure out of the experience for me. 

That’s why during my recent solo trip to Japan, I picked a town off Google Maps called Otsu and embarked on a spontaneous day trip. Otsu was accessible by train from where I stayed in Kyoto, next to Lake Biwa, and small enough to explore on foot. That’s all I needed.  

I wasn’t necessarily expecting much except a peaceful little excursion. However, I thoroughly enjoyed my time in the town and there was more to do than I anticipated. 

Here’s how I spent my day in Otsu, Japan:

Train from Kyoto Station

The first step of spending the day in Otsu was getting there on Japan’s public transportation. My train left from Kyoto Station, which is admittedly quite hectic and it was a lot to handle as a newbie. 

I had to ask two different people for help before I eventually found the right platform and still, I almost got on the wrong train. Thankfully, I caught the mistake and soon I was on my way to Otsu. 

Walk along Lake Biwa

After a 40-minute train ride from Kyoto, I reached Otsu and I was immediately struck by the beautiful landscapes surrounding the area. There were mountains in the backdrop everywhere I turned. 

The first thing I wanted to do was take a stroll around Lake Biwa, the largest lake in Japan. Otsu’s proximity to the body of water was one of the big reasons I decided to visit the town in the first place. 

There wasn’t too much going on around the lake, but it was pretty and made for an easygoing start to my day trip.  

Breakfast at ii·cafe×da·bar

I was feeling peckish following my walk along the water and turned to my trusty friend Google Maps for some assistance. After searching around, I discovered a tiny cafe called ii·cafe×da·bar that had just opened for the day about a 10-minute walk away. Off I went. 

Being the first guest that day, I got my breakfast platter quickly and it was incredible. I ordered the omurice, which is a Japanese omelet stuffed with fried rice and smothered in sauce. It also came with miso soup and a salad.

The enormous breakfast smorgasbord gave me plenty of energy to reach the next stop of my day, Omi Jingu Shrine. 

My GPS took me on a 15-minute walk that I assumed would end at the shrine itself. Instead, it finished by the edge of a large park and I had to figure out the rest of the way myself. After a bit of confusion, I found my way and it was a really pretty walk through the forest. 

Omi Jingu Shrine

The bright red colors of Omi Jingu shrine cut through the woods and led me right to it. 

By this point in my Japan trip, I’d already visited quite a few gorgeous shrines. Omi Jingu was no exception. It was much less crowded than the more famous religious sites, but still just as beautiful. 

Pulling a fortune at Omi Jingu

I was absent-mindedly wandering around the shrine when I saw a cute family dressed in intricate kimonos. They walked to another section of the site and I decided to follow behind. We ended up in an area with Torii gates and fortunes. 

At temples in Japan, visitors can buy a fortune for a bit of change. If it’s good, you keep it. If you get a negative one, you tie it up at the shrine to rid yourself of the bad luck. 

As I did at most of the temples I went to, I put a 100-yen coin into a box and pulled a fortune out for myself. While I can’t remember the details of this particular fortune, I do recall sliding it into my pocket as a goodie. 

Onjo-ji (Mii-dera) Temple

My next stop was Onjo-Ji  Temple, which was a 40-minute walk away. I’m one of those people who insists on walking everywhere when I’m visiting a new country, so that distance was a pretty standard travel trek for me. 

I didn’t know anything about Onjo-Ji and I was a bit taken aback to see just how large the grounds were. The man at the front gate even gave me a map to help me find my way. 

I ended up spending upwards of two hours aimlessly walking around and appreciating all the aspects of the temple. It was a fantastic place to take photos in Japan because there were aesthetic buildings around every corner. 

Matcha mochi and tea from Honke Rikiken

Inside the grounds of the temple, I stumbled upon an adorable shop called Honke Rikken (English translation) selling tea and sweets. 

I ordered their specialty matcha mochi dessert with green tea. It was a unique treat unlike anything I’d tried before and the people working there were super friendly. 

A short walk around the town 

I’d hit everything on my tentative list of things to do in Otsu and the afternoon was coming to a close. I spent the last hour or two of my day trip just walking around the town’s lovely little streets and taking photos that caught my eye. 

The thing I really appreciated about Otsu is that it felt like experiencing a real slice of life in Japan. It wasn’t filled with major attractions or catering to tourists, which made it all the more fun for me to explore as a photographer. 

Eventually, I wondered my way back to the train station. 

Train back to Kyoto 

The train back to Kyoto cost me less than $3 and there was practically nobody else on the ride. By the time I got back to Kyoto, it was still light outside and I had plenty of time to go grab dinner after a fun day out. 

👉 Read Next: The Perfect 7 Day Itinerary for Japan

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That was everything I did on my day trip to Otsu! I would say that my Google Maps day trip was a success. Otsu was such a simple, pleasant getaway from Kyoto and I’d definitely recommend it as a less touristy place to visit in Japan. 

If you’re not feeling as spontaneous as I was, a guided day trip might be more your speed. To learn more, read about my experience on a day trip to the Mount Fuji region.