Scenic Hotels in Kyoto

"The hotel boasts a charming Japanese style, creating a very cozy and welcoming atmosphere. Even the old-fashioned keys for the room doors were a delightful touch. The hotel offers both private onsen baths and a large public bathhouse. I tried both and actually found the public bathhouse to be cleaner. While the private baths provided good privacy, the pools themselves were somewhat small. Being surrounded by plants, I noticed some small insects and hair floating on the water. You're meant to use a net provided nearby to scoop these out yourself. It was quite dimly lit, and I worried I wouldn't be able to clean it thoroughly, especially since the net itself had holes. Ultimately, this was a bit off-putting, so I ended up preferring the public bath. But that's just my personal take. The hotel's meals were plentiful, but the taste was just average. Overall, I still really appreciated the hotel's aesthetic and found my stay very comfortable."

"**Breathtaking Views** The hotel offers stunning views of Lake Biwa, Japan’s largest freshwater lake. My room featured panoramic vistas of the tranquil waters and surrounding mountains, especially beautiful at sunrise and sunset. **Comfortable Accommodations** The spacious accommodations blended traditional Japanese aesthetics with modern comforts. The cozy futon bedding ensured a restful night’s sleep, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. **Delicious Dining Options** Dining was a highlight, with a breakfast buffet that included a delightful mix of Japanese and Western dishes, emphasizing local ingredients. Fresh seafood and seasonal fruits made each meal enjoyable. **Excellent Location and Amenities** Located in Otsu, the hotel is perfectly situated for exploring the area. It offers free parking for guests and complimentary bike rentals, making it easy to explore the scenic lakeside paths and nearby attractions. The staff were incredibly helpful, providing recommendations for local sights, such as the historic Enryaku-ji Temple. Lake Biwa Hotel is a fantastic choice for a peaceful getaway. With stunning views, comfortable accommodations, and great amenities, I highly recommend it for a relaxing escape."

"Facilities: The facilities were excellent; my wife was so impressed with the bathroom design that she wants to replicate it at home. Cleanliness: Housekeeping service was superb. Ambiance: The hotel features its own garden, though it's not very large. Service: Very good. When my wife needed assistance during her period, they provided it promptly with just one phone call. And when we stained the sheets, they replaced them all immediately. Natural Hot Spring: Excellent! No photography is allowed inside. The facilities are separate for men and women, with modern soaking pools. Realistically, you'd only soak for about half an hour, and it's free! Personal care products are provided. For several days afterwards, we actually just went to the hot spring to shower because it was so convenient and well-equipped. Overall, because we extended our stay for another two nights, the additional room we booked wasn't as good as our initial one in terms of size and facilities (it was peak season, and better rooms were unavailable due to our poor initial planning)."

"Located right in the heart of the Shijo commercial district! The front desk staff on the first floor were genuinely handsome and incredibly patient! It's quite rare to see such handsome Japanese men! And then there's the hotel's rooftop bar! It's truly fantastic and has an incredible 'wow' factor. Imagine sitting there with a drink, soaking your feet, and gazing out at the Kyoto cityscape – you can even spot Kiyomizu Temple, Ninen-zaka, and overlook the Kamo River. It's absolutely wonderful. The hotel's onsen bath is also incredibly relaxing! I wholeheartedly recommend it – you absolutely won't be disappointed! However, the rooms are a bit on the small side."

"This summer, the Lake Biwa Hotel was by far the most satisfying part of our Kansai trip. We booked it through a Ctrip group deal for just over 500 RMB, which even included two tickets for the Michigan cruise – an absolutely incredible value! We booked the 90-minute cruise for 11 AM, and after enjoying dining, sightseeing, and a show on board, we had just enough time to head back, collect our luggage, and check into our Osaka hotel. **Transportation:** Getting there was quite convenient. It's a short ride from Kyoto Station to Otsu Station, and once you exit the station, there's a hotel shuttle bus waiting. While it's not a long walk, having the shuttle was much appreciated, especially with luggage. I'd recommend having dinner around Otsu Station, as there aren't many dining options close to the hotel. **Service:** The hotel service was outstanding. As soon as we entered, someone immediately offered to help with our bags. We'd bought a lot of groceries from the supermarket at Otsu Station, and a staff member proactively offered to carry them for us. After taking our name, she even delivered them directly to our room – truly thoughtful service! The check-in staff were also very welcoming and enthusiastic; we felt like we were receiving five-star service. A tip: if you want to book the Michigan cruise, it's best to inform the front desk during check-in. They can help arrange all available time slots. In August, during the summer holidays, they even provided fireworks, which guests could set off at a designated platform in the evening, with staff on-site for assistance. **Facilities:** The hotel rooms are very spacious, and all rooms offer beautiful Lake Biwa views. We were assigned a corner room with a huge balcony and a truly expansive vista. The bed was also very large. Although the hotel shows a bit of age, it's very well-maintained, and the cleanliness was excellent, making for a very comfortable stay. The hotel also boasts hot springs (onsen), with both outdoor and indoor options, which was a fantastic bonus! **Environment:** The hotel is directly adjacent to Lake Biwa. From the second-floor platform, you can directly access the lakeshore. The next day, after checking out and heading to the Michigan cruise, we simply walked along the lake. It was very close, and the scenery was absolutely stunning. **In summary,** our stay at the Lake Biwa Hotel was an exceptionally great value experience. Next time, if I get the chance, I'd love to stay for a couple more days, rent a bicycle, and cycle around the lake. This hotel comes highly recommended!"

"In the cherry blossom season, the hotel is difficult to set, although the location is not quiet in the scenic area. It is the signal that does not work, using the Kyoto Tourism official website network. The complimentary breakfast and dinner are good and the taste is good."

"Best services & hospitality Free luggage transfer from guest svc to hotel. Walking distance 8-10mins to train station. We walk slowly. Clean room. Free coffee and tea"

"As a noble among hotels, this price certainly makes us expect a lot. The selling point of Aman Kyoto is the garden. I think this is also very good in the hotel environment all over the world. The environment is very beautiful and the air is fresh. It is very comfortable to stay in the hotel without going anywhere. It is suitable for vacation. It would be a pity to visit tourist attractions. But compared to the garden, what impressed me most was the service. I used to think that the services of five-star hotels were similar, but when I saw the staff here, I really felt that they put the service awareness into their hearts. They didn't say no to any of our requests throughout the whole process. For our living habits, they would remember and prepare what we needed every day. The staff's English is much better overall, and they can communicate in English without any obstacles. We didn't want to waste the breakfast bread, so we asked the staff if we could pack it up and waited for a long time. What we got was a bag of bread that was sealed in plastic and put in a paper bag. What shocked me most was that after we arrived at the next hotel, the staff of this hotel told us that Aman contacted them and asked them to prepare to receive us. We thought about it carefully, and the only possibility was that they asked them to call a taxi, and they knew we were coming here to stay. This detail really touched us. The disadvantage is that the transportation is very inconvenient. After all, it is in the mountains, so there is such a good view. The room facilities are just ordinary five-star standards. There is no private hot spring and no gym in the whole hotel. In general, the price is very expensive, but my family said that they are still willing to experience it if they have the opportunity. Staying in the hotel and enjoying the meticulous, home-like service and beautiful scenery is luxury enough."

"The advantages are that the surrounding environment is relatively quiet, there are relatively few guests, and there will not be too many problems with the service process; the disadvantages are average cost performance, the landscaping is very rough and does not meet the quality of this price range, especially the hotel restaurant is not recommended, the price is expensive and the taste is very average, the breakfast is also very ordinary, and other means of transportation except taking a taxi are basically walking, and the air conditioner is a bit noisy."

"Location is not great but luckily the host offer free connecting transportation; staff service is great and kind to offer us a tour of the hotel"