Take some good solid socks if you have to wear orthotics, and put the orthotics in the socks. No shoes in the private dining room, nor in the rooms. If you like being barefoot this place is heaven. But if you’re older like me, and must wear your orthotics, you will need a bit of ingenuity. Also, the pillows are truly Japanese, beans in the under-side and soft on the top side. One per twin bed, although the twin beds were like two queen size. I asked for more pillow cases for the extra pillows in the cupboard and of course they were available immediately. There’s not much close by, but the staff will drive you to the station and pick you up if they can when you go on day trips.

We stayed in a room with a private mineral bath. The room was as large as an apartment, with its own foyer, and areas that could be contained by beautiful screen doors. We loved the space, the views and the wonderful service, but especially the food and the ritual of having our own private dining space, which evidently goes with the ‘special’ rooms. This is a great place to unwind, leaving the rest of the world behind! Staff were beyond excellent! If the canal boat is running its a great excursion to take. Food was just superb.

Stayed in May 2024

- service can be a bit more attentive to details

- onsen - room design - shuttle arrangement

Stayed in April 2024

Food - amazing spread of meals. Staff - attentive and polite. The service exceeds expectations. We were treated like VVIP Location - beautiful landscape and close to convenience shops and Daiso Room - very clean and spacious. The pillows were so comfortable. Our neck pain from the previous hotel's poor bedding went away after our first night stay. They use the maruhachi pipe and feather pillows. The massage service is very reasonably priced and great masseuse. I had sprained ankle for a week and after the massage it almost gone away. Not sure what he did but quite different to remedial massage. Soothing, relaxing, minimal pain with maximal gain. The most relaxing massage I had. Onsen - great. Private onsen available at a cost. Our toddler was a bit upset when we were checking out. The staff gave him a little soft toy. Very nice touch though we don't expect anything from them after the amazing stay . Great souvenir shop featuring local crafts.

Stayed in April 2024

The western style beds were a bit hard. The curtains couldn’t completely close, which was a bit of a shame.

Lovely food, staff, baths, own private dining room, meticulous service and very clean area. I think it’s almost impossible to top in those regards. The room with its own hotspring was divine. The massage was excellent. Would recommend.

Stayed in April 2024

We thought the beds were a little too firm for our liking.

Our favorite part was the kaiseki meal. It exposed us to many different foods that we normally wouldn’t have back home in the US.

Stayed in April 2024

The beds are too hard for me and my husband.

The location is beautiful! The property is also very pretty. The room was so inviting and comfortable. I didn’t want to leave. The amenities are amazing. Loved the cafe and private bath option. The private onsen was delightful. Everyone is so friendly and willing to help.

Stayed in March 2024

Friendly polite staff. In room onsen.

Stayed in April 2024

Didn't know that the hotel actually has shuttle bus. Nobody informed us. We walked 30 mins from the station, including climbing up the hill, pulling our luggage's. Normally it wouldn't be a big deal, but my Dad is 82, it's a bit difficult for him.

Food is exceptional.

Stayed in March 2024

Nothing to see in the area. Would have enjoyed a walk outside through a park or something like that. Waterfront is not really charming.

The onsen and food was great!

Stayed in March 2024

Bathroom is a tad dated but not unexpected given its a traditional ryokan

Amenities, friendly and helpful staff, free shuttle service

Stayed in March 2024

Nil

Dinner and Onsen

Stayed in March 2024

Food was excellent and staff were very kind and thoughtful!!

Stayed in March 2024

Not really a dislike but just a fyi. Location is a bit far from the train station but a shuttle service is available for free to transfer you from the train station to the hotel and back. You can call the hotel once your in the station and they came in about 10mins. * I really recommed to use the shuttle service and do not attempt to go to the hotel by foot from the train station especially if you have lots/heavy luggage.

We booked for a private room with an open air hotspring bath and its just wonderful. It's a bit japanese style room with a japanese style entrance, toilet and washroom separate from the main bathroom area and hotspring. Overall room is cozy. Open air bath has a wash area similar to what you expect from a proper onsen but with privacy because its all yours and a huge area for hotspring that can probably fit up to 3-4 people, plus a view of lake Biwa. I didn't really expected the dinner to be that extravagant because we are send to a private dining room separate from other guess and served a half course meal to the delight and surprise of both of us. Also the view from the window which is a garden is reall beautiful. Service from the staff is just top notch. Price is just amazing for the servce and facility offered, it is a private room with an open air hotspring with dinner and breakfast already included.

Stayed in March 2024

Explanation in English regards to the customs of what to do before going in to the hot bath.,seems different to other onsens I've been to....its always proper to take a full shower being entering the hot bath.....but their signage says..take the hot dip then get out and take a shower..Don't sound right.

Service very good. Everything was explained to us in English (as we don't speak Japanese). And very detailed. Dinner and breakfast were really good..They took the effort to serve us different menus as we stayed 2 nights. Very organised.

Stayed in March 2024

Nothing really sometimes it’s too warm only because the outside is too cold in the winter

Beautiful place great location by Biwa lake

Stayed in March 2024

Nothing- everything was amazing.

Easy to get to. Amazing facilities especially the private onsen in the room. Room was very comfortable and food was also amazing.

Stayed in February 2024

None

Everything. Staff room. Dining hot spring.

Stayed in January 2024

Nil

Great staff and food. Relaxing onsen. Kaiseki meal with grilled Kobe beef and beef Shabu is enjoyable. One of the best beef we tasted.

Stayed in January 2024

I wish it had been easier to acquire appropriate sized Obi and Shoes I am 6'2 240 # and have a US size 12 foot. This was all indicated at check in, but it took several attempts for proper sizing. There is literally NOTHING else around this facility. So be prepared to simply stay on site.

Breakfast lacked any real identifiers for non Japanese, who might understand the food because of their culture I was largely guessing what was what Dinner had a menu

Stayed in January 2024

love the natural hot spring and the staff. our keiseki and breakfast were awesome. Complete vanity sets including skin care sets. Having washer/dryer is very useful for us.

Stayed in December 2023

Nothing! Everything was great :)

We had arrived late to the hotel, due to being lost in the Japan metro stations. Thankfully, the hotel were very accommodating, keeping the dinner, which was included in the price, for us. We were really looking forward to the dinner, and the restaurant was kind enough to house us until their closing time. The staff tried their best to explain everything to us, despite the language barrier, and were extremely patient. The onsen was great, as we went at a late hour, so the public onsen was basically a private onsen. The room was also made for us already, as we had five in our party. They laid out the futons for us, and were very comfy.

Stayed in January 2024

We arrived to the town via train, but there is not much to do around hotel. Would recommend just staying on property if you come. All of the rooms look at the lake, but if you had a lower floor it might be hard to see much. On the Men's public Onsen, there is one larger indoor bath and one smaller outdoor bath. More options might be nice.

This was our first experience with an Onsen (and first trip to Japan). We paid extra for the deluxe room with an en-suite Onsen bath and it was AWESOME! The room comes with dinner and breakfast, both were excellent and it was fun to get dressed up in the traditional Japanese clothing (provided by hotel). Everything was better than expected/pictured online, very happy to have selected this property.

Stayed in December 2023

The shuttle bus experience for getting to the hotel was not great. "Just call us" is a great idea in theory but I had to use a payphone for the first time in about 15 years because I had switched my phone to a data sim card to travel around Japan. Something to keep in mind. Also considering what we paid for the room, I was surprised to then have to pay such a high premium for extra drinks and what not. Felt a little nickel-and-dime-y to me.

Spectacular service. Made us feel welcomed and wanted while also accomodating our every request. The room was amazing. Huge, great features, spectacular view and a very traditional authentic style. Exactly what we were looking for. The dinner was similarly appointed. It felt super authentic and it was presented in a manner that really wowed us.

Stayed in December 2023

It will be good if there is view in the onsen.

Cozy, clean and the arrangements of train station pick up. Staff are friendly and food was nice too.

Stayed in December 2023