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.
24 km · about 30 min drive
AsiaJapanShiga
Youkaichi
Shiga, Japan · Asia
About Youkaichi
Youkaichi is worth a stop: 10 minutes from Echigawa, 38km from Philosopher's Path.
Youkaichi is in Shiga, Japan, with about 110,000 people. You drive on the left here. The nearest town is Echigawa, about 6 km away.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Youkaichi?
Within an hour or so of Youkaichi: Shirahige Shrine (24 km), Philosopher's Path (38 km), Gion District (40 km), Kiyomizu-dera (40 km).
Are there any good drives near Youkaichi?
The nearest famous roads are Philosopher's Path and Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage Trail.
Where is Youkaichi?
Youkaichi is in Shiga, Japan, about 6 km from Echigawa.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 112,819
- Continent
- Asia
- Country
- Japan
- Region
- Shiga
- Timezone
- Asia/Tokyo
- Coordinates
- 35.1163, 136.1977
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 Youkaichi
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.
38 km · about 45 min drive
landmark
Gion District
Kyoto's most famous geisha district with preserved wooden machiya townhouses, traditional teahouses, and cobblestone streets.
40 km · about 45 min drive
landmark
Kiyomizu-dera
A historic Buddhist temple perched on a hillside with a massive wooden stage offering sweeping views over Kyoto.
40 km · about 45 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.
41 km · about 50 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.
41 km · about 45 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.
42 km · about 50 min drive
landmark
Fushimi Inari Shrine (Fushimi Inari-taisha)
An iconic Shinto shrine famous for its thousands of vermillion torii gates that wind through the forested slopes of Mount Inari.
42 km · about 50 min drive
Driving roads near Youkaichi
2 named roads, passes and coastal drives within 150km.
- 38 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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