Biwako Hotel

Amazing, so amazing! The hotel looks like a 5* hotel, and feels like one. The interior is so fancy, I should have booked it for longer duration, considering how easy it is to reach Kyoto from here. It is double the price of a hotel from Kyoto, but the facilities make up for it. I had the Superior Twin Room - Non-Smoking and the view was amazing and I was lucky enough to catch the fountain show at the docks, which can be viewed clearly from the balcony.

The shuttle bus between train station and hotel is a bonus, even though the hotel is only a short distance away. Room was clean and spacious and overlooked the lake which was fantastic. Breakfast was buffet style and variety was good. We enjoyed dinner at both the Italian and Teppanyaki restaurant. The onsen at night is spectacular overlooking the lake. We did not get the opportunity to explore the town in detail, as we spent a whole day at Biwako Valley. and would recommend a stay longer than the 2 nights we were there. The ferry ride around the lake is a must if you have a spare hour and my wife recommends the gift shop.

Nothing. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay.

Huge room size and the bed is just facing towards the lake. The view is magnificent. Breakfast is great with lots of food option. Bike rental available (normal bike & electric bike). The hotel also provide shuttle bus service to Otsu Station (3 bus every hour). The Pier is just few steps from hotel and they offer 20% off for cruise ticket.

nothing

Clean, spacious room with a great view from the terrace. The bathroom was also spacious and clean. Wonderful staffs. It offers great service of a old, traditional hotel(in a good way) with a new, clean room.

Nothing (No amenities which I do not mind at all-good to know in advance for your packing). Minor stuff that no convenience store near the hotel in case you need something after 8pm.

Very friendly staff, always happy to oblige. Beautiful large room with spectacular lake view. We ate in the Italian and Garden buffet restaurants, food in both was fabulous if a little pricey by Japanese standards.

Surrounding town had very little to offer. Outdoor pool does not open until June for summer season which was very disappointing.

Near to Otsu station. Hotel still provides shuttle service regularly to Otsu Station. Kyoto station is only 2 stations away. We were able to visit nearby Unari n Uji. Biwako Lake is beautiful and there were firework on one of the nights. Glad that we stayed in Biwako Hotel with room facing the lake.

Stunning view from the room, spacious room, nice selection of restaurants inside the hotel, free parking, solid bed, comfortable sofa, outdoor public bath with cool breeze

Could have one more chair in the room, the public bath outdoor area can be seen from the pier for both men and women sections (the holes in the fence better be cover up)

Room was spacy with nice view on the lake. Bathroom facilities good. Overall clean and proper, friendly staff.

(Free) Parking was a bit complicated but it could be fixed. The hotel architecture is somewhat 1970ies, but rooms have definitely been modernized since then. We were supposed not to open the window because of an outbreak of some small insects. However, we didn't see any but we did not dare to keep the window open overnight.

The staff there were all very friendly and helpful. The room was clean with a beautiful view of lake biwa and spacious. There is an onsen in the hotel that hotel guests can use for free! We enjoyed the stay.

The hotel is quite a walk from JR Otsu station but there is a free shuttle every 20 mins to and from the hotel.

Very helpful and friendly staff. The size of the room and the view from the balcony was lovely! Very comfortable arm chair. Brilliant check out time, 12pm is a perfect time to still enjoy the morning and not be rushed out like most hotels do. Would definitely come again.

No indoor swimming pool, and no Spa although advertised. If so, it was not clear on how to enjoy such amenities. We found the hotel restaurant closed too early. In terms of the room, the bed & pillows were quite hard. And finally, it was not clear that the bus was not in service, albeit due to covid, this information was new to us upon arrival. Fortunately the walk was enjoyable but had the distance been greater or our luggage heavier it would not have been a great start our stay.