Hotel berhampiran Stesen Karasaki, Otsu

The location is very quiet and calm. For those who want a break from the main cities this place is highly recommended. The hotel picked us up from the nearby station and the communication was very active and accommodating (I emailed them when we were in Kyoto station in advanced and once we reached the local station, their shuttle was already waiting for us 🥹). Biwako Valley is near so it was our only planned big activity in the area aside from walking along the quiet road and trying convenience store food and using the 24 hour laundry place nearby. The food is very healthy and you will experience traditional Japanese service (they prepared colorful Yukatas for us and we wore them for bfast and dinner in their restaurant) . The private onsen was great and you can also use the public bath in the hotel itself. I cannot list everything but our experience here was truly amazing!

I would have said that we had a wonderful stay: loved the peaceful environment, the food, the morning service…. But then they started the morning with a team of workers going through the temple grounds with deafening leaf blowing machines! Why do they disturb the peace like this? The temple claims to be environmentally conscious, but these machines are noisy, irritating, wasteful and bad for the environment. It made me leave the place in a bed mood.

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.

Very pleasant stay with generous supply of amenities and convenient location for you to explore Shiga. Just 10 minutes train from Kyoto and 40 minutes from Osaka, which also make this accommodation highly recommendable!

well, i mistakenly choose the smoking room which made me feel very uncomfortable whole night. It's my fault, I don't blame, but the ventilation is sooooo bad that I could always smell the smoking from my next-door neighbor. Others were ok. If you don't mind it's a bit old and you would just stay for a night, this is a good choice.

Great location, close to convenients store, train stations, taxi park, and foods.. The staffs are friendly and helpful.. I love the coined laundry machines.. very convenients.. room a bit small so I asked the staffs to upgrade to a bigger room and pay the difference, the assistance is immediate and we got the new room within same day.. We also enjoy the free welcome unlimited drink choice of coffee, apple juice up until 11pm..

Booked this stay to explore the areas around Lake Biwa. Reception was warm and friendly with an English-speaking host who provided us with the information for the stay. We booked the western style room as we preferred an attached bathroom, however the room condition was outdated and needs refurbishment, like peeling surfaces. The Japanese style room looked better when we caught a glimpse during check-out time. Nevertheless, location and amenities were great. Location is near major eateries and commercial centres by a short drive.

本來以為帶衞生間就可以洗澡了。但衞生間不能洗澡。三樓可以。有温泉洗浴。我是騎自行車旅行的，所以自行車收到口袋裡後就衹能步行了。周圍可以吃飯的地方不多。這天氣一走一身汗。 榻榻米房間挺好。

This was not the best capsule room I booked. But this guesthouse has their own kitchen so you can cook and barbecue and washing machine. Good view from the lake.It also have a hot bath. Mr. H**aru is so approachable. As a solo traveler, I felt I had left a friend there. From my 4-day solo trip I am glad I went there on my last day. I will come back there. 👍

Ok. First of all leave your expectations at home expecting hotel level service. Once you've done that if you want a cheap but clean place to stay this is it. This is a seinenkan - a facility for youth and youth-related organizations to conduct independent study and recreational activities, many of which have basic accommodation facilities but higher grade facilities than youth hostels. They are located all over Japan. I stayed in a tatami mat room on a floor with shared toilet facilities. The ground floor has a large communal bath - obviously separate for male and females. They have lights out at 11 p.m. and guests must return by the same time. There is a very modern cafe onsite serving cheap breakfasts (see photos) but the cafe closes by 6 p.m. There is a convenience store 10 minutes walk away so I suggest you buy snacks and beverages en route from JR Ishiyama station. For dinner, there is a family restaurant - good value and okay food - about 6 minutes walk away. The seinenkan is located on a small island by a historic bridge. The views of the river inlet flowing into the main Lake Biwa is relaxing, lots of bird wildlife, and lots of rowers (the seinenkan is a water sports facility too). and the sunrise and sunset views are lovely. The staff are very kind. It cost me ¥5,500 for one night and I will stay there again if I have the opportunity.