Hotel Otsu Biwako was absolutely superb in terms of both facilities and service. It was the most satisfying hotel stay during my entire trip to Japan. We were given a high-floor room with a delightful view. There's a large VALU supermarket just a 5-minute walk from the hotel, and the drugstore next to it offers tax-free shopping. About a ten-minute walk away, there's also a sushi restaurant with excellent value for money and incredibly fresh ingredients.
The service was excellent, and the rooms were remarkably clean and spacious. The windows were spotless, offering a pleasant view of Lake Biwa. Guests can also enjoy a complimentary indoor hot spring bath and an indoor sports facility equipped for basketball, badminton, table tennis, and tennis.
The hotel's shuttle bus stop is right across the street from JR Station, with departures every half hour. It only takes a few minutes to reach the hotel. The hotel restaurant is lovely, and lunch is a semi-buffet. Breakfast is served in a dedicated breakfast room with a wide variety of delicious food. There's also a hot spring bath available at the hotel.
We didn't know that this is a love hotel and only realised it the day before checking in, as the check in is only from 6pm. The room is very spacious and we didn't mind the ****, condoms and lots of beauty products it came with. :D However, I didn't know that hotel rooms in Japan can allow smoking, so the strong cigarette smell in the room was very off putting.
We put up a 'do not disturb' sign because we don't need cleaning daily. The second day I noticed some of the **** from the hotel were gone in our room but the room wasn't made (bed wasn't made, trash not emptied). I asked the staff and they said they removed it because they thought it bothered us. This was a bit weird to me, I'm not sure where they got the idea from and I don't know why they entered the room. It's also important to note that the train only runs once per hour most of the day (during some hours twice).
The front desk is located on the second floor of the Lawson convenience store in the west exit rotary, right next to Kusatsu Station. The three staff members at the small front desk were efficient and helpful. The contracted parking lot is in the building immediately to the left as you enter the rotary, and the signs were easy to find. The overnight parking fee of 500 yen was a welcome bonus. The amenities were also of high quality. The water, tea, and snacks in the refrigerator were all free, which was a nice touch.
Love the overall experience, sunrise view is a bonus, staff are super friendly.
However, we booked through trip.com, the price shows online does not include the kid, even we selected the kid at the begining, so we had to pay additional at check out. This is agent's issue, not the resort.
The Western-style room was spacious, with a large, comfortable bed. The onsen (hot springs) were excellent, with several to choose from, and the area wasn't crowded. The water was excellent, leaving my skin feeling smooth and refreshed. The hotel requires a meal plan; adding dinner upon arrival costs 10,000 yen per person. There are few restaurants nearby, but there's a yakiniku restaurant with excellent beef.
We stayed here during the winter ski season.
The lobby and restaurant were nice, but the twin room we stayed in felt a bit old-fashioned. The view of Lake Biwa from the room was amazing.
Dinner was a bit pricey for what it was. The taste was average. The rice cooked in a pot and raw meat* for breakfast were delicious, but the children's breakfast menu was a huge pile of hamburger steak, fried chicken, bacon, and potatoes, so we didn't feel like eating in the morning.
There were several shuttle buses to Hakodateyama Ski Resort in the morning, which seemed convenient. We went to Makino Kogen Ski Resort, which is about 20 minutes away from the hotel.
I thought it was convenient because it was close to both ski resorts.
Very Good
39 reviews
8.6/10
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9.3/10
Great
AAnonymous UserIt was a great stay at this ryokan! The hotel is able to arrange a car to fetch you from the JR station. You can call them using a dedicated phone at the station which is used to contact the different ryokans. The car arrived in 10mins or so. The ride to the ryokan was also less than 10mins. The hotel also fetched us to the station on the last day of our stay.
The ryokan itself is homely and cozy. We were greeted by an english speaking staff who introduced us to the amenities of the ryokan. There was also a nice welcome tea and matcha chocolate. Our bags were brought to our room as well during this time.
The room is spacious and cozy. The hotel prepared 2 welcome biscuits in the room which was a nice personal touch. The room has a nice living room and a great view of Lake Biwa. Recommend to catch the sunrise over the lake! There are 2 normal beds as well as futon beds (need to set up yourself). Both are comfortable. The hotel also prepared pretty yukata for both female and male guests which you can wear during the stay. There are 4 different designs for ladies, and one design for the guys. You can request for different size if the one in the room doesn’t fit you. There is also a full length mirror and a mini dressing area at the side of the living room. It was fun dressing up in the yukata!
The toilet, basin, shower and hot tub areas are all separate. The toilet is a little small, but the basin and mirror area is very spacious. The shower area is quite small as well and the shower head is rather low so you need to hold the shower head if you wish to wash up while standing. There is a small stool given for you to sit down though. The hot tub area is semi-outdoor and you can see Lake Biwa. But it is quite small (only good for one person). It was too cold so we didn’t use the hot tub.
Instead, we booked the private onsen for 50mins. The private onsen has a private toilet and dressing area which is equipped with hairdryer, body lotion etc. There is a water dispenser as well if you need to hydrate yourself. The onsen area has a washing area, and the hot tub area is spacious for 2 person. There are privacy screens around the onsen area but there is a small gap to let in cold air for ventilation. Wish there is a good view from the private onsen but it was still enjoyable!
Dinner and breakfast was Kaiseki style, and the meals were one of the highlights for my husband and I. We really enjoyed the courses which are clean tasting yet wholesome, fresh and flavourful. It was such a sumptuous treat!
The ryokan also has a souvenir shop if you wish to buy anything back.
Overall, my husband and I really enjoyed the stay here and we agreed this was one of the main highlights of our 12 days trip in Japan. Highly recommend!
GGuest UserLove the overall experience, sunrise view is a bonus, staff are super friendly.
However, we booked through trip.com, the price shows online does not include the kid, even we selected the kid at the begining, so we had to pay additional at check out. This is agent's issue, not the resort.
__wfo1****Hotel Otsu Biwako was absolutely superb in terms of both facilities and service. It was the most satisfying hotel stay during my entire trip to Japan. We were given a high-floor room with a delightful view. There's a large VALU supermarket just a 5-minute walk from the hotel, and the drugstore next to it offers tax-free shopping. About a ten-minute walk away, there's also a sushi restaurant with excellent value for money and incredibly fresh ingredients.
GGuest UserEvery time I go to Hikone, I will definitely choose this hotel. Facing Hikone Castle and Hikone Moat, the environment is elegant. The old street nearby is filled with a strong Edo atmosphere, I like it very much!
PPingxinjiejieThe Western-style room was spacious, with a large, comfortable bed. The onsen (hot springs) were excellent, with several to choose from, and the area wasn't crowded. The water was excellent, leaving my skin feeling smooth and refreshed. The hotel requires a meal plan; adding dinner upon arrival costs 10,000 yen per person. There are few restaurants nearby, but there's a yakiniku restaurant with excellent beef.
AAnonymous UserThe service was excellent, and the rooms were remarkably clean and spacious. The windows were spotless, offering a pleasant view of Lake Biwa. Guests can also enjoy a complimentary indoor hot spring bath and an indoor sports facility equipped for basketball, badminton, table tennis, and tennis.
TTimentoDiverI recently stayed at AB Hotel Hikone and had an exceptional experience. The location deserves a solid 5 stars—it's conveniently situated at 5-9 Daitocho, Hikone, Shiga, offering easy access to key attractions. The cleanliness of the hotel is commendable, earning another 5-star rating. The staff was friendly and accommodating, though a slightly higher rating for friendliness would enhance the overall experience. The value for money is excellent, with top-notch facilities that deserve a full 5 stars. The breakfast exceeded expectations, earning a perfect score. Overall, AB Hotel Hikone provides a fantastic stay with its prime location, cleanliness, value for money, and outstanding facilities. I highly recommend it to fellow travelers seeking a delightful and comfortable accommodation experience in Hikone, Japan.
SshirleywangsjA very satisfying stay. First of all, the location is convenient. Buses, shopping, and restaurants are all within a one or two minute walk. Secondly, the facilities are complete, with a full range of toiletries. Thirdly, the sanitation is well maintained and clean. Except for the sound of trains passing by at night, everything is great. Super cost-effective.
MMelonimoniWe didn't know that this is a love hotel and only realised it the day before checking in, as the check in is only from 6pm. The room is very spacious and we didn't mind the ****, condoms and lots of beauty products it came with. :D However, I didn't know that hotel rooms in Japan can allow smoking, so the strong cigarette smell in the room was very off putting.
We put up a 'do not disturb' sign because we don't need cleaning daily. The second day I noticed some of the **** from the hotel were gone in our room but the room wasn't made (bed wasn't made, trash not emptied). I asked the staff and they said they removed it because they thought it bothered us. This was a bit weird to me, I'm not sure where they got the idea from and I don't know why they entered the room. It's also important to note that the train only runs once per hour most of the day (during some hours twice).
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