With a stay at Biwako Hotel, you'll be centrally located in Otsu, within a 10-minute walk of Otsu Port and Biwako Flower Fountain. This hotel is 0.8 mi (1.2 km) from Lake Biwa Canal and 1.2 mi (2 km) from Mii-dera.
Don't miss out on the many recreational opportunities, including hot springs, a seasonal outdoor pool, and bicycles to rent. Additional amenities at this hotel include complimentary wireless internet access, concierge services, and gift shops/newsstands.
Grab a bite to eat at one of the hotel's many dining establishments, which include 4 restaurants and a coffee shop/cafe. Quench your thirst with your favorite drink at the bar/lounge. Buffet breakfasts are available daily from 7 AM to 10 AM for a fee.
Featured amenities include a 24-hour front desk, luggage storage, and an elevator. A train station pick-up service is provided at no charge, and free self parking is available onsite.
Make yourself at home in one of the 175 guestrooms. Complimentary wireless internet access is available to keep you connected. Bathrooms feature shower/tub combinations, hair dryers, and toilets with an electronic bidet. Conveniences include safes and desks, and housekeeping is provided daily.
"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."