2-40 Hamamachi, Otsu 520-0041 Shiga Prefecture
Lowest prices for your stay
Get rewarded with One Key
Get rewarded with One Key
US$141
Booking.com
Hotel Website
StayForLong
View all 18 deals
Payments made by partners impact the order of prices displayed. Room types may vary.
Prices are provided by our partners, and reflect nightly room rates, including all taxes and fees known to our partners. Please see our partners for more details.
Full view
View all photos (819)819
Room & Suite (364)
Videos (1)
About
#1 of 75 hotels in Otsu
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Value
大阪・京都から好アクセス!最寄りのJR大津駅までJR京都駅から約10分。JR大津駅からは無料シャトルバスを運行。【全室レイクビュー】雄大な琵琶湖を一望できる【天然温泉「るりの湯」】で非日常の時間を♪
Read more
Suggest edits to improve what we show.Improve this listing
Property amenities
Free parking
Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
Outdoor pool
Sauna
Bar / lounge
Bicycle rental
Shuttle bus service
Meeting rooms
Parking
Wifi
Coffee shop
Restaurant
Breakfast buffet
Kids' meals
Vending machine
Hot spring bath
Massage
Open-air bath
Salon
BBQ facilities
Baggage storage
Currency exchange
Gift shop
Shops
24-hour front desk
Dry cleaning
Laundry service
Show more
Room features
Blackout curtains
Air purifier
Air conditioning
Housekeeping
Private balcony
Refrigerator
Flatscreen TV
Bath / shower
Safe
Hair dryer
Show more
Room types
Landmark view
Non-smoking rooms
Family rooms
Good to know
HOTEL CLASS
HOTEL STYLE
Great View
Charming
Languages Spoken
English, Japanese
Location
76Somewhat walkable
Grade: 76 out of 100
77Restaurantswithin 0.3 miles
13Attractionswithin 0.3 miles
2-40 Hamamachi, Otsu 520-0041 Shiga Prefecture
Name/address in local language
Getting there
Car HireSee all Otsu car hire
508Reviews18Q+A11Room tips
ReviewsWe perform checks on reviews.Tripadvisor’s approach to reviewsBefore posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
Learn more about our review moderation.
We perform checks on reviews.
Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
Learn more about our review moderation.
Traveller rating
- 203
- 223
- 53
- 14
- 15
Time of year
Traveller type
Language
More
Selected filters
- Filter
- English
Popular mentions
Sort by:
Most Recent
This was our second visit to this hotel and everything was perfect. We had a beautiful (and clean) room on the 4th floor (Club Lounge Access) with an amazing view of Lake Biwa. The food (Teppanyaki restaurant) was excellent and the staff was very friendly and helpful. I would definitely recommend this hotel and I have a strong feeling that we will return again.
Read more
Date of stay: April 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Value
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
Response from 琵琶湖 ホテル, お客様サービス / フロント オフィス at Biwako Hotel
Responded 25 Apr 2023
Thank you for always staying at the Biwako Hotel. The room "VISTA" where I stayed this time is a special room with only 4 rooms, and it is the only room in Japan where you can take a shower while looking at Lake Biwa. You must have had the experience of becoming one with Lake Biwa. Thank you for your satisfaction with our food and staff service. We promise to serve you with sincere gratitude the next time you come back. Biwako Hotel
Read more
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
+1
Hotel's Favourite
Located very close to Kyoto, about half an hour driving, the hotel has all the rooms facing Biwa Lake. It has various pools for summer fun. I stayed here for two days. The room is spacious, with beds facing the lake. When the weather is good, it s a beautiful view. Though the hotel is not far from the train station, it is better to rent a car if you want to explore the city and go to some nice restaurants. There is a public bath located on 4th floor. Though it is not big, the water temperature is just good and outdoor bath is also quite enjoyable. Buffet breakfast restaurant is located on the lobby floor. It is facing the lake with a good view. Not very abundant of food but should provide enough selections. There is also an Italian restaurant next door for different dishes. Do not forget about the light fountain show in front of the hotel in the evening. Depending on the season, it general starts at 7pm. Some nice cafe restaurants located about 10 minutes walk along the lake to the east, if you have time for lunch or a cup of coffee, it is a very nice place to enjoy the lake view. By ten minutes drive you can find a very large shopping mall with quite many shops and restaurants. I did not expect such a nice mall can be found in Otsu. A nice surprise.…
Read more
Date of stay: March 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Value
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
6 Helpful votes1 Repost
Helpful
Response from 琵琶湖 ホテル, お客様サービス / フロント オフィス at Biwako Hotel
Responded 25 Apr 2023
Thank you for staying at the Biwako Hotel. We are very happy that you shared all the memories you made in Shiga Otsu. I am very happy that you enjoyed Ruri Onsen and Lake Biwa Flower Fountain. Shiga is a large area, so if you go around Lake Biwa, you can experience the differences in history and culture. If you come to Japan again, please come back here. Thank you.
Read more
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Our room was somewhat updated but had a bit of a 1970's vibe. However, the view of Lake Biwa more than made up for it. Restaurant (teppanyaki) was good. The hotel website claims they speak Japanese and English but I was not able to find anyone who spoke even a word of English. Housekeeping staff was below average as our toilet had a mildew stain at the water line, proving that it had not been properly cleaned in weeks. Very large pool area. The bed was "extremely firm" (I'm being nice) which did not provide a good nights sleep. Lots to see and do there (in Otsu). I recommend visiting the Lake Biwa Museum if you're ever in this area.
Read more
Date of stay: August 2021
Value
Cleanliness
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Response from 琵琶湖 ホテル, お客様サービス / フロント オフィス at Biwako Hotel
Responded 29 Aug 2021
We really appreciated that you stayed at Biwako Hotel and had a online reviews. Also, we were very sorry for made you feel uncomfortable about the bathroom. But I am very glad as you were able to enjoy scenery of Lake Biwa. If there is the opportunity that can come again, please try Biwako Hotel. We look forward to a next visit. thank you.
Read more
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Good locations and quiet room. I made a reservation before reached there two hours. But the room was prepared for us. The hotel staff teaches the restaurant near the hotel. It took about 5 minutes.nice place . But for breakfast, there is no place about here, so he recommended in the hotel. It is very nice breakfast.
Read more
Date of stay: August 2020
Rooms
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
A specious room right next to the Biwa lake. Excellent views, nice and relaxing - even with two under 5 year olds. Away from all the busy cities of Japan. Yet close enough to Kyoto and Osaka by train.
Read more
Date of stay: December 2019Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Response from Biwakohotel_keihan, フロント オフィス マネージャー at Biwako Hotel
Responded 31 Dec 2019
Nuwan D様 この度はクリスマスのご滞在に琵琶湖ホテルをお選びいただきまして誠にありがとうございます。 琵琶湖の雄大な景色をお愉しみいただけましたようで、大変嬉しく思います。 JRでしたら京都駅から10分、大阪駅から40分で大津駅に到着致します。京都・大阪観光にお越しの際はぜひまた当ホテルをご利用いただければと思います。 Nuwan D様のまたのご来館を心よりお待ち申し上げております。
Read more
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
all rooms face the lake and we had two of them. great view from decent size rooms. free bus from hotel to rail station every 15mins. staff friendly and helpful. good english spoken. good buffet service , nice italian resteraunt
Read more
Date of stay: October 2019
Rooms
Location
Service
Room Tip: the're all good
See more room tips
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Response from Biwakohotel_keihan, フロント オフィス マネージャー at Biwako Hotel
Responded 12 Nov 2019
Steve-J-Goater様 この度は琵琶湖ホテルをご利用賜りまして誠にありがとうございます。 ホテルからの琵琶湖の雄大な景色、天然温泉、お食事をお愉しみいただけましたようで大変嬉しく思います。 また季節により琵琶湖の風景も変わります。四季折々来日いただければと思います。 皆様のまたのご来日を心よりお待ち申し上げております。
Read more
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
The rooms are very spacious with modern decor. The views of the lake by day and night are impressive. Breakfast is the usual buffet style with the addition of an omelette station. The hotel is let down by its public areas which are huge and lack atmosphere. The shuttle bus to the station is very useful.
Read more
Date of stay: October 2019
Value
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Response from Biwakohotel_keihan, フロント オフィス マネージャー at Biwako Hotel
Responded 10 Oct 2019
Caf92 様 この度ははるばるイギリスより当ホテルをご利用賜りまして誠にありがとうございます。 お部屋からの琵琶湖の雄大な景色をお愉しみいただけましたようで大変嬉しく思います。 また「ラグジュアリーフロア」にお泊りいただくと、ご朝食が和食の会席をお選びいただけます。また来日の際にはぜひお試しいただければと思います。 Caf92 様のまたのご来館を心よりお待ち申し上げております。
Read more
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
The hotel is at a nice location by the biggest lake in Japan. It was a wonderful feeling walking or jogging by the tranquil lake. The hotel is probably at the best location in Otsu. The JR station is about 1km away, and there is a shuttle bus every 15 minutes to the JR station. The hotel is also within walking distance to the smaller railway line, which can also take you to Kyto. Kyoto is less than 30 minutes away, so you can stay at this quiet place while having day trip to Kyoto. I think this hotel offers better value of money than staying in Kyoto. It is a resort hotel. There is onsen or public bath overlooking the lake. The hotel room is of good size although a bit dated. Every room has the view of the lake. There are a number of restaurants on site, but otherwise there aren't that many choices outside the hotel. The breakfast could get crowdy at times, so there could be a short wait for entry. Majority of the tourists are local Japanese, so don't expect good English from the staff. However, the staff are very helpful and the stay was wonderful.…
Read more
Date of stay: August 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Large hotel room with a nice lake view, free shuttle bus to Otsu station, very convenient!Staffs all are very attentive! Nice breakfast, Onsen facility also very good....overall, hotel room price is a little expensive but reasonable and its worth for it!
Read more
Date of stay: May 2019Trip type: Travelled with friends
Value
Cleanliness
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
+1
They have shuttle bus to and fm otsu station every 15 mins. The room is in very good size, looks very new and have a nice lake view. We had teppanyaki for dinner and breakfast at the hotel, both are in very high quality. Onsen is nice and there is a big entertainment center right next door. All staff are friendly and helpful. One downside is room temperature is too warm. We already set the temperature to lowest, still doesn’t help. We dare not open the balcony door because there are so many insects outside.
Read more
Date of stay: May 2019Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
PRICE RANGE
US$110 - US$170 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
biwako hotel otsu
LOCATION
JapanKinkiShiga PrefectureOtsu
NUMBER OF ROOMS
175
Is This Your Tripadvisor Listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim Your ListingBIWAKO HOTEL - Updated 2023 Reviews (Otsu, Japan - Shiga)
Frequently Asked Questions about Biwako Hotel
Which popular attractions are close to Biwako Hotel?
Nearby attractions include Otsu Lakeside Nagisa Park (0.08 miles), Otsu Festival Hikiyama Exhibition Pavilion (0.3 miles), and Former Otsu Public Hall (0.1 miles).
What are some of the property amenities at Biwako Hotel?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free wifi, an on-site restaurant, and a lounge.
Which room amenities are available at Biwako Hotel?
Top room amenities include air conditioning, a flat screen TV, and a refrigerator.
What food & drink options are available at Biwako Hotel?
Guests can enjoy an on-site restaurant, a lounge, and barbeque facilities during their stay.
What are some restaurants close to Biwako Hotel?
Conveniently located restaurants include Miiderachikaramochi Honke, Kadoman, and Restaurant the Garden.
Are there opportunities to exercise at Biwako Hotel?
Yes, guests have access to an outdoor pool and a sauna during their stay.
Does Biwako Hotel have an airport shuttle?
Yes, Biwako Hotel offers an airport shuttle for guests. We recommend calling ahead to confirm details.
Is Biwako Hotel located near the city centre?
Yes, it is 0.8 miles away from the centre of Otsu.
Are any cleaning services offered at Biwako Hotel?
Yes, dry cleaning and laundry service are offered to guests.
Which languages are spoken by the staff at Biwako Hotel?
The staff speaks multiple languages, including English and Japanese.