Hotels With Pool in Shiga Prefecture, Japan

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.

I'd been eyeing this hotel since my first trip to Japan in '24, knowing it was a lake-view property under the prestigious Prince Hotel brand, so my expectations were quite high. Overall, there were a few disappointments. The hotel's amenities felt a bit lacking; there was no laundry room, I couldn't find a microwave, and ice had to be purchased separately. It felt like a big-brand hotel's way of encouraging more in-hotel spending. However, some details really stood out. The hotel shuttle service was excellent, the room was spacious, and the bed was comfortable. The most impressive feature was the three-part bathroom separation: the bathtub and shower were separate systems, allowing you to run a bath while showering. You could then hop straight into the tub after your shower, even using the hotel's bath salts. Prince Hotels consistently do this well. There were three restaurants for breakfast, with beautiful lake views, but the food lacked any innovation or special flair. The variety was limited, and it wasn't even as extensive as breakfast at hotels in the Hakone mountains. Also, breakfast was crowded, requiring you to queue for a number. All in all, if you're paying upwards of a four-figure sum for this hotel, it might not be the best value. But at around 650 per night, it's acceptable.

Nice lake view and a decent environment. The service was alright too. However, what I couldn't understand was the overwhelming number of towels and other amenities in the room, contrasting sharply with the completely empty minibar. Overall, it didn't meet the Marriott standards I've experienced domestically, more like a lower-end Four Points by Sheraton. The price was acceptable, I guess. The hotel dinner tasted good but wasn't very good value for money. Staying a few more days would be good, the scenery here is quite nice.

This hotel is located near Lake Biwa, offering absolutely stunning views. Inside, there are two large public bath areas for both men and women, each featuring both an outdoor and an indoor bath. Private onsens are also available for guests to rent. The breakfast buffet offers a fantastic variety of dishes, and the taste is excellent. The hotel is exceptionally clean and tidy, and there's a large Lawson convenience store right inside, which is incredibly convenient for guests. They also provide a thoughtful complimentary shuttle bus service to and from the JR station. This hotel offers great value for money and is definitely highly recommended.

The views are absolutely stunning, but this hotel has quite a few downsides. First, the good points: The scenery is incredibly beautiful, and you can see Lake Biwa right from your window. The public bath isn't crowded, and the views from there are also lovely during the day. This was the hotel with the best views during our entire trip to Japan. The room itself is huge, with plenty of space for multiple suitcases. Now for the cons: 1. It's an 8-minute shuttle bus ride from Otsu Station. However, the shuttle bus is a mid-sized vehicle, and I always felt bad for the driver struggling with luggage, especially when it was full during peak hours (packed, with just enough seats for everyone). The bus's air conditioning wasn't very strong, so it got quite hot when there were a lot of people in summer. It would be great if they had a larger bus, similar to the Biwako Hotel. 2. The hotel has a very strong, unpleasant odor, almost like body odor. It lingered for several days and was really off-putting. I'm not sure if all rooms have this issue. 3. You absolutely cannot open the window at night. They should really put up a warning sign, because if you do, a swarm of small, light-seeking insects will fly in, and you won't be able to get rid of them all. On our first night, we didn't realize and didn't close the window tightly, and we were incredibly bothered by bugs all night. Even though it's an older hotel, I really hope they can address these issues.

The location of the hotel is particularly special. In the village, there is dinner and breakfast by the lake of Wuhu. The dinner is a famous local suxi pot. The breakfast is a traditional diet. The hotel is very clean. The facilities are outdated. The public bathroom and outdoor hot spring can look up at the starry sky. The whole floor is our family. There are few people for the location, the bathroom is a bit inconvenient outside the house, the service is very Japanese and very polite.