5-Star Hotels in Shiga Prefecture, Japan

The hotel is about 800 meters from JR Nagahama Station. As I missed the last shuttle bus on arrival, I ended up dragging my luggage and navigating for at least 15 minutes. On the way back, I was familiar with the route and it took less than 10 minutes with luggage. The next day, I took the Chikubushima ferry, and Nagahama Port is also not far from the hotel, reachable within a 10-minute walk. It's very close to Lake Biwa, just seconds away, and the sunsets are absolutely stunning. Due to my early-to-bed, early-to-rise itinerary, I didn't book breakfast or dinner. From 3-6 PM, there are complimentary drinks and snacks, and from 9-11 PM, various alcoholic beverages and snacks are offered. Recreational facilities include table tennis. The public bath was also quite clean. The ventilation in the room's toilet wasn't great, and the drain smell was tolerable. It seemed there were many families with children staying over the weekend, so the soundproofing might not be ideal; I could clearly hear children making noise in the hallway from my room. On the first night, I was knocked on the door twice in the middle of the night... After reporting it to the front desk, the hotel stated it wasn't done by staff. It made me feel a bit uneasy, especially traveling alone.

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.

This hotel is a renovated old building, but the refurbishment was very thorough. The room was clean and new, with a great view. The staff were enthusiastic and helpful. The hotel also offers a shuttle bus service. Besides the dinner being a bit pricey, there's really nothing to complain about. By the way, I'd love to know what brand the lobby's air freshener is, it smelled wonderful!

We stayed one night at Biwako Grand Hotel Kyoomi and had a generally relaxing experience. The traditional tatami room was comfortable and suitable for staying with a young child. The hotel has a classic Japanese ryokan atmosphere, and the area near Lake Biwa is very peaceful. Staff were polite and helpful, and the shuttle service was convenient. Breakfast was simple but acceptable. One suggestion is that it would be appreciated if room arrangements could better match the photos shown on the booking page, as this would help set clearer expectations. Overall, a calm stay for travelers seeking a traditional experience.

First time staying at this hotel! It's not super close to the JR station, but they do have a shuttle bus. It's about a 15-minute walk otherwise. The hotel itself is very large and impressive, and the front desk staff were incredibly warm and professional. The room was spacious with a beautiful view, all facing the lake. It was also very clean and the facilities felt relatively new. The large public bath on the fourth floor was very convenient to use, well-equipped, and also offered a nice view. Breakfast was abundant, with both Japanese and Western options, and the service staff were very friendly. All in all, if I visit Lake Biwa again, I'll definitely stay here!