Lake Biwa Otsu Prince Hotel

We chose a Japanese restaurant for the breakfast venue. It used to be a set-meal style, but it is now a Japanese and Western buffet with a wide variety of side dishes. The bread was also delicious. The guest room had a great view, and the amenities provided were high quality.

The view of Lake Biwa was outstanding—at this height it’s something you won’t find at other Hotels. Even from the restaurant, we could enjoy the same view, and it was wonderful throughout our stay.There is no Onsen, but the bathroom was a clean unit bath with a washing area like at home, so I could relax and soak in the tub. The hot water filled up quickly as well. It was also nice that the toilet was separate. A stylish Hotel Room can be nice too, but this one was practical and easy to use.It was comfortable to sleep in pajamas instead of a yukata.Dinner had a 90-minute time limit, but it was more than enough. I wanted to try local dishes, so I chose the buffet instead of French cuisine. There were so many options that it was fun. The salad selection included lots of beautiful fresh vegetables and high-quality olive oil, which made me happy. The Shiga specialties were delicious as well. Both morning and evening offered all-you-can-eat soft-serve ice cream in three flavors; I had it with espresso as an affogato. The fresh milk soft serve was especially delicious. I’d never seen a machine at any other Hotel that bakes pancakes right in front of you and serves them fresh.Lately, even when there is an Onsen, I’ve found it stressful due to guests without proper manners (regardless of nationality) or people with tattoos despite posted notices—so having a spacious in-room bath with a washing area may actually be better.All staff members were very pleasant. In particular, the housekeeping team greeted us with cheerful “Good morning” and “Welcome back” in louder voices than at other Hotels, which felt great.In the lobby, luxurious fresh flowers were displayed among flowing water, and the large space carried the fragrance of lilies—something you don’t see at other Hotels. Spring-like fresh flowers were also arranged in the restaurant; with artificial flowers being so common elsewhere, this felt special.We also took walks along Lake Biwa outside the Hotel both at night and in the morning—the scenery truly is amazing.My family loved it too, and we felt refreshed. I would love to stay here again.