photogenic
Shirahige Shrine
A vermilion torii standing in the shallows of Lake Biwa, some 40 metres offshore from the shrine buildings. The gate is best photographed at sunrise; the shore is reached from Route 161.
19 km · about 20 min drive
AsiaJapanShiga
Yasu
Shiga, Japan · Asia
About Yasu
Yasu works well as a base: 10 minutes from Moriyama, 22km from Philosopher's Path.
Yasu is in Shiga, Japan, with about 51,000 people. You drive on the left here. The nearest town is Moriyama, about 5 km away.
Where to Stay in Yasu
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Yasu?
Within an hour or so of Yasu: Shirahige Shrine (19 km), Philosopher's Path (22 km), Kiyomizu-dera (24 km), Gion District (25 km).
Are there any good drives near Yasu?
The nearest famous roads are Philosopher's Path and Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage Trail.
Where is Yasu?
Yasu is in Shiga, Japan, about 5 km from Moriyama.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 50,695
- Continent
- Asia
- Country
- Japan
- Region
- Shiga
- Timezone
- Asia/Tokyo
- Coordinates
- 35.1005, 136.0178
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in Japan
Japan Helpline (24h English assistance): 0570-000-911. An International Driving Permit (1949 convention) is required to drive.
Full driving guide for JapanTags
Worth the detour from Yasu
8 notable places within an hour's drive.
famous road
Philosopher's Path
A peaceful stone-paved canal path lined with hundreds of cherry trees, connecting major temples in Kyoto's eastern hills.
22 km · about 25 min drive
landmark
Kiyomizu-dera
A historic Buddhist temple perched on a hillside with a massive wooden stage offering sweeping views over Kyoto.
24 km · about 30 min drive
landmark
Gion District
Kyoto's most famous geisha district with preserved wooden machiya townhouses, traditional teahouses, and cobblestone streets.
25 km · about 30 min drive
cafe
Inoda Coffee Honten
A Kyoto kissaten founded in 1940, serving its Arabian Pearl blend pre-mixed with sugar and milk by default. The wood-panelled original room off Sakaimachi street is a working institution, not a revival.
25 km · about 30 min drive
cafe
Kissa Soirée
A 1948 Kyoto tearoom lit entirely in blue, its walls hung with paintings by Seiho Takehisa. Famous for jelly punch, a glass of coloured gelatin cubes that glows under the blue light.
25 km · about 30 min drive
castle
Nijō Castle
A flatland castle in Kyoto built by the founder of the Tokugawa shogunate, famous for its nightingale floors and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
26 km · about 30 min drive
restaurant
Honke Daiichi Asahi
A Kyoto ramen shop by the station serving soy-based pork-bone broth with stacked chashu and heaps of leek since 1947. Queues form outside from breakfast onwards, alongside its long-time rival next door.
26 km · about 30 min drive
Driving roads near Yasu
2 named roads, passes and coastal drives within 150km.
- 22 kmPhilosopher's PathA peaceful stone-paved canal path lined with hundreds of cherry trees, connecting major temples in Kyoto's eastern hills.
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