Hotels near Biwako Otsukan, Otsu

The first time I lived in the orthodox squatter house, I was pleasantly surprised. The house is very distinctive. The sister of the hotel will not communicate with the translator because of the text but has been communicating with the translator. The breakfast is delicious. Everyone must order breakfast in advance. There is also a vinyl dish machine in the living room. It is very nostalgic and sentimental. Otsu is really a very quiet town, and on the last day of 2024 I spent a very peaceful day here.

The location is very quiet and calm. For those who want a break from the main cities this place is highly recommended. The hotel picked us up from the nearby station and the communication was very active and accommodating (I emailed them when we were in Kyoto station in advanced and once we reached the local station, their shuttle was already waiting for us 🥹). Biwako Valley is near so it was our only planned big activity in the area aside from walking along the quiet road and trying convenience store food and using the 24 hour laundry place nearby. The food is very healthy and you will experience traditional Japanese service (they prepared colorful Yukatas for us and we wore them for bfast and dinner in their restaurant) . The private onsen was great and you can also use the public bath in the hotel itself. I cannot list everything but our experience here was truly amazing!

I would have said that we had a wonderful stay: loved the peaceful environment, the food, the morning service…. But then they started the morning with a team of workers going through the temple grounds with deafening leaf blowing machines! Why do they disturb the peace like this? The temple claims to be environmentally conscious, but these machines are noisy, irritating, wasteful and bad for the environment. It made me leave the place in a bed mood.

Gosh, where do I even begin? This stay was frankly perfect. The view was amazing, the open-air private bath was amazing, the service was amazing, the food provided was amazing. There’s even a shuttle bus from the nearby station. I loved it. My friends loved it. The staff even ran across the whole lobby lounge from the check-in counter, and did a full dive into the souvenir store counter for us. Most memorable icecream buying experience.

The hotel services and facilities (if you want to use the soup in Yu Yuan Pavilion, you need to add 700 yen) are great; as soon as you park the car, the service staff will come to guide you to check in. After changing your indoor shoes, you will go to the lounge and watch the whole hotel ”Introduction video” is clear at a glance. It is an old but renovated hot spring resort. There is no elevator, but you can go up to the third floor. The CP value is very high! The breakfast is very rich and carefully prepared, and you can enjoy authentic and creative kaiseki cuisine. The only regret is that the meat in the shabu-shabu dinner is not Omi beef! But all the ingredients, colors, flavors and flavors are all present and every dish is worth savoring! *The nearby Lake Biwa is a must-see attraction. Depending on your time, you can search for interesting attractions on your own.

The hotel is on the second floor, and you have to walk through the restaurant to get in and out, which is a little inconvenient, although the restaurant itself is quite nice. Upon check-in, they provide a check-in guide in Chinese, which is generally very clear. The hotel is clean and tidy. There are many comics in the common areas, and you can eat there; it's very quiet. Other toiletries, including combs, toothbrushes, and toothpaste, are provided. Facilities are complete, and you can ask the front desk for locks for large luggage; there's a place to store it. Security is ensured by swiping a card each time you enter and exit. Just a heads-up: they don't clean for consecutive stays. The only downside is that the pillows are too hard, and the upper bunk is a bit stuffy; otherwise, I'm quite satisfied.

Booked this stay to explore the areas around Lake Biwa. Reception was warm and friendly with an English-speaking host who provided us with the information for the stay. We booked the western style room as we preferred an attached bathroom, however the room condition was outdated and needs refurbishment, like peeling surfaces. The Japanese style room looked better when we caught a glimpse during check-out time. Nevertheless, location and amenities were great. Location is near major eateries and commercial centres by a short drive.

The room was compact and clean, typical of a standard Japanese hotel in terms of layout and hygiene, though a bit dated. The peeling wallpaper didn't affect our stay. It was my first time using a key for both opening the door and activating the electricity. Toiletries, a fridge, a coin-operated washer/dryer, and breakfast were all provided, which was very convenient for my cycling trip. The hotel staff could communicate in simple English, and even if they didn't understand, they used a translator; their attitude was friendly and welcoming. The location is definitely its biggest advantage, being very close to JR Seta Station and bus stops. It only takes 5 minutes from the room to the platform, so bringing my bicycle wasn't an issue. There are convenience stores, ramen shops, yakiniku restaurants, and even a Torikizoku that stays open late nearby. If I come back to Kansai for another cycling trip, I'd definitely consider staying here again.

The hotel is not too close to the station, it takes about 20 minutes to walk, but there is a Shuttle bus to pick up and drop off, the staff is very kind, will stay again next time!

Ok. First of all leave your expectations at home expecting hotel level service. Once you've done that if you want a cheap but clean place to stay this is it. This is a seinenkan - a facility for youth and youth-related organizations to conduct independent study and recreational activities, many of which have basic accommodation facilities but higher grade facilities than youth hostels. They are located all over Japan. I stayed in a tatami mat room on a floor with shared toilet facilities. The ground floor has a large communal bath - obviously separate for male and females. They have lights out at 11 p.m. and guests must return by the same time. There is a very modern cafe onsite serving cheap breakfasts (see photos) but the cafe closes by 6 p.m. There is a convenience store 10 minutes walk away so I suggest you buy snacks and beverages en route from JR Ishiyama station. For dinner, there is a family restaurant - good value and okay food - about 6 minutes walk away. The seinenkan is located on a small island by a historic bridge. The views of the river inlet flowing into the main Lake Biwa is relaxing, lots of bird wildlife, and lots of rowers (the seinenkan is a water sports facility too). and the sunrise and sunset views are lovely. The staff are very kind. It cost me ¥5,500 for one night and I will stay there again if I have the opportunity.