Lake Biwa Otsu Prince Hotel

This hotel offers a free shuttle bus from the north exit of Otsu Station, which is a short walk away. The staff are attentive and provide excellent service, and the rooms are comfortable, cozy, and clean. Located on the shores of Lake Biwa, it's wonderful to stroll along the path to watch the sunrise and sunset over the lake; the scenery is picturesque. The lake-view rooms offer stunning vistas of Lake Biwa. Both the breakfast and dinner buffets, as well as the afternoon tea, are superb.

This hotel made our whole family very happy. After exiting JR Otsu Station from the North Exit, cross the road and look to your left, there's a free shuttle bus every half hour. Be careful not to get on the wrong bus, as two hotels have similar-looking buses: Biwako Hotel and Otsu Prince Hotel. My room on the 23rd floor offered breathtaking lake views. This was even better than the hotel in Maiko. We'll definitely come back next time; it's only a 9-minute ride to JR Kyoto Station. There's also a large supermarket and a drugstore about 70 meters away, and a yakiniku restaurant and Kura Sushi within 300 meters.

After a scenic journey over a mountain, we arrived at Lake Biwa Otsu and checked into the Prince Hotel. I was pleasantly surprised and delighted to be upgraded to a lake-view suite – huge thanks to Trip.com and Prince Hotel customer service! The room was incredibly spacious and comfortable, and even had a Refa hairdryer. Although the hotel is a bit older, the overall experience was still quite good. Breakfast was fantastic, and the freshly made omelets were delicious. A hearty breakfast definitely gave us the energy we needed to walk back to Kyoto! 🤗

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.

The hotel's service began right from JR Otsu Station. There's a shuttle bus service running from 8:30 AM to 9:00 PM, departing every hour on the hour and half-hour (only from Otsu Station, not Zeze), taking you directly to the hotel entrance. The hotel staff are excellent and always responsive if you reach out. I had an Amazon package delivered but wasn't sure where to send it, so I called the hotel and they kindly accepted it for me a few days before my check-in, then handed it to me upon arrival. The front desk offers service in both Chinese and English, so you don't need to worry if you don't speak Japanese; they'll enthusiastically use translation software to assist you. One slight inconvenience is that bicycle rentals aren't directly managed by the hotel; they partner with Charichari. Apparently, mainland Chinese phone numbers can't receive their SMS verification codes, which meant we ultimately had to find another place to rent bikes.

This hotel offers incredible value for money! It's located right by Lake Biwa in Otsu City, boasting stunning views and an affordable price. Getting here is easy: from Otsu Station's North Exit, cross the road directly and walk about 20 meters to your left. You'll spot a small platform – I've included the train schedule in the photos for reference. There's a convenient mini-mart on the first floor for snacks, drinks, and souvenirs. For breakfast, you have a choice of two floors. The 36th floor offers Japanese-style breakfast, but by 8 AM, it was full. The 37th floor, however, has plenty of Western and Japanese options, so you won't have to wait. Near the hotel, you'll find a large supermarket and a fantastic, highly recommended BBQ restaurant – delicious and budget-friendly. Taking a stroll along the lakeside is incredibly relaxing. You'll see many eagles 🦅, people fishing, and dog walkers – it's wonderful to experience the laid-back town life. Staying here makes it easy to visit the Lake Biwa observation deck and Kyoto.

The high-floor views are stunning, and the side suite is spacious, quiet, and comfortable. Breakfast and dinner are plentiful, primarily Western-style dishes. Transportation is convenient, with a shuttle every half hour. It's an older hotel, but very well-maintained.