🕓 2025/3/21
#Hotels
Table of Contents
About Shiga Prefecture
Shiga Prefecture is located in the Kinki region of Japan and is a charming area where rich nature, history, and culture harmonize beautifully. Centered around Lake Biwa, Japan’s largest lake, the prefecture has developed beautiful waterside scenery and a food culture that makes the most of the lake’s blessings. Additionally, there are numerous historically significant sites including the National Treasure “Hikone Castle” and Mount Hiei’s Enryakuji Temple, where visitors can feel the heritage of the Sengoku (Warring States) period and Buddhist culture.
In terms of tourism, the prefecture offers diverse spots including “Biwako Valley” where you can enjoy spectacular views of Lake Biwa, the famous autumn foliage destination “Metasequoia Avenue,” and the atmospheric post town “Omi-Hachiman.” Local cuisine using lake fish, Omi beef, and funazushi (fermented crucian carp sushi) are also popular. The Hira Mountain Range and Mount Ibuki offer the beauty of nature across all four seasons.
Here, we introduce three carefully selected luxury hotels that provide an exceptional stay when visiting Shiga Prefecture.
- Top 3 Japanese-Style Ryokan in Shiga Prefecture
- Ryotei Ryokan Yasui
- Ogoto Onsen Yumotokan
- ■ The Appeal of Ogoto Onsen Yumotokan
- ■ Access Information for Ogoto Onsen Yumotokan
Top 3 Japanese-Style Ryokan in Shiga Prefecture
Ryotei Ryokan Yasui
Source: Ryotei Ryokan Yasui Official Website
■The Appeal of Ryotei Ryokan Yasui
“Ryotei Ryokan Yasui,” located in Hikone City, Shiga Prefecture, is a long-established ryokan founded in 1869 (Meiji 2). Named “Yasui” by the Ii clan, lords of the Hikone Domain, this inn has carried on the traditions of Japanese hospitality for over 150 years.
1. Nine Uniquely Designed Guest Rooms and Gardens
The greatest appeal of Yasui is that each of its nine guest rooms offers views of distinctly different gardens. The special room “Irori” is a Japanese-Western room equipped with a hearth room and a cypress wood bath. The new wing rooms “Fuki,” “Yusan,” “Yukari,” and “Kirara” are Japanese-style rooms with cypress baths. The main wing rooms “Sarashime,” “Kibun,” and “Eho” are Japanese-Western rooms with shower booths. All rooms are non-smoking with Wi-Fi, and dinner and breakfast are served in-room or in the dining area.
2. Kaiseki Cuisine Featuring Seasonal Lake Country Ingredients
At Yasui, the focus is on locally sourced ingredients, offering kaiseki cuisine using seasonal ingredients from Lake Biwa and their own Omi beef. The head chef carefully selects ingredients and prepares each dish with delicate skill. Care is taken to ensure that cold dishes are served cold and warm dishes are served warm, allowing guests to savor everything at its best.
3. Interior Spaces Where Tradition Meets Art
Passing through the front gate, a beautifully maintained garden unfolds before you, with atmospheric stone paths leading to the entrance. The entrance is adorned with antique art pieces, and the corridors lined with warm wood and tatami exude a traditional Japanese ambiance. Artworks are displayed throughout the inn, creating a one-of-a-kind space where tradition and art harmonize.
4. Grand Bath with Open-Air Bath
Yasui features a grand bath with an open-air section using soft water drawn from 300 meters underground. The baths alternate between men and women at different times, allowing guests to enjoy different atmospheres. Some guest rooms are also equipped with cypress wood baths, offering a private bathing experience.
5. A Serene Location Near Hikone Castle
Yasui is located close to the National Treasure “Hikone Castle,” yet stepping onto the grounds reveals a tranquil sanctuary. Despite being in the heart of the city, this hidden retreat shields guests from the hustle and bustle, allowing for a leisurely and peaceful stay.
■Access Information for Ryotei Ryokan Yasui
- Official Website: https://www.ryoutei-yasui.jp/
- Access: Approx. 10 minutes by car from “Hikone IC”
- Address: 13-26 Yasukiyo-cho, Hikone City, Shiga Prefecture 522-0082
- Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/9fhwVeyrhLNhP31o8
Ogoto Onsen Yumotokan
Source: Ogoto Onsen Yumotokan Official Website
■ The Appeal of Ogoto Onsen Yumotokan
“Ogoto Onsen Yumotokan,” located in Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture, is a long-established hot spring inn with a diverse array of attractions within the Ogoto Onsen area, which boasts approximately 1,200 years of history. Its prime location overlooking Lake Biwa, diverse hot spring facilities, and Kyo-kaiseki cuisine using seasonal ingredients all captivate visitors.
1. Hot Spring Facilities Offering Diverse Bath-Hopping
Yumotokan features multiple uniquely designed hot spring facilities within the inn, allowing guests to enjoy bath-hopping. The “Gesshin no Yu,” which offers a panoramic view of Lake Biwa, and the elegantly rustic “Yugen Shoyo” provide exquisite bathing experiences that engage all five senses. The inn also offers observation grand baths, open-air baths, saunas, and more, providing visitors with healing and relaxation.
2. Kyo-Kaiseki Cuisine with Seasonal Ingredients
The Kyo-kaiseki cuisine, prepared with seasonal Omi ingredients carefully selected by the head chef, allows guests to experience the changing seasons through sight, taste, and spirit. The richly flavored and delicate dishes bring satisfaction to every visitor. Dishes featuring Omi beef and Lake Biwa’s bounty are also served, letting guests savor the local flavors.
3. Diverse Guest Rooms with Unique Character
Yumotokan offers a variety of room types, including rooms with private open-air baths and the detached “Karoyoshi.” All rooms are non-smoking, and rooms with private hot spring open-air baths allow guests to enjoy the onsen in complete privacy. With options ranging from Japanese-Western rooms to traditional Japanese rooms, the inn caters to the diverse needs of its visitors.
4. A Prime Location Overlooking Lake Biwa
Yumotokan is located on the shores of Lake Biwa, offering stunning views of the lake from throughout the inn. The view from the observation grand bath “Kobo no Yu” is particularly spectacular, providing a space where guests can relax both body and mind. Lake Biwa scenery can also be enjoyed from guest rooms and the restaurant, allowing guests to take in seasonal landscapes throughout their stay.
■ Access Information for Ogoto Onsen Yumotokan
- Official Website: https://www.yumotokan.co.jp/
- Access: Shuttle service available from “Ogoto Onsen Station,” “Hieizan Sakamoto Station,” “Sakamoto Hieizanguchi Station,” and Sakamoto Cable “Sakamoto Station”
- Address: 2-30-7 Naojika, Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture 520-0102
- Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/tMDY9GhsqK2h6fr2A
Ao no Kotei BIWAFRONT HIKONE
Source: Ao no Kotei BIWAFRONT HIKONE Official Website
■ The Appeal of Ao no Kotei BIWAFRONT HIKONE
Ao no Kotei BIWAFRONT HIKONE is a wellness resort nestled on the shores of Lake Biwa, which opened on August 20, 2023. Its appeal lies in its diverse guest rooms, hot spring facilities, dining experiences, and abundant activities.
1. Diverse Room Types
The hotel building is 10 stories tall with 38 rooms total, all offering lake views. Starting from the Moderate Twin with 50 sqm including terrace for the standard type, up to rooms over 125 sqm with private open-air baths fed by the hotel’s own hot spring source, there are 7 room types to choose from. The expansive grounds also feature a glamping area with 12 villa units scattered throughout, each equipped with open decks, living rooms, bedrooms, and private open-air baths using the hotel’s own hot spring source.
2. Hot Spring Facility “Biwako Onsen Isame no Yu” with In-House Source
The resort features a grand hot spring bath using water from its own source, “Biwako Matsubara Onsen,” which flows from approximately 1,500 meters underground. Facilities include a deep open-air bath, an indoor bath with jet baths, a hot sauna with auto loyly system, and a cold plunge pool. Guests can refresh both body and mind while gazing at Lake Biwa and the sunset sinking behind the Hira Mountain Range.
3. Dining at “Shunbo Tanetsu” Featuring Local Ingredients
The restaurant “Shunbo Tanetsu” serves seasonal flavors using Omi local ingredients including Lake Biwa’s freshwater fish, Omi beef, Omi chicken, and local vegetables, complemented by seafood from the Sea of Japan, all prepared using diverse cooking methods. Glamping villas also offer barbecue courses and shabu-shabu courses enjoyed around a portable stove. For breakfast, a Japanese and Western morning buffet is available, with a live cooking corner where chefs and pastry chefs finish dishes right before guests’ eyes.
4. Diverse In-House Facilities and Activities
The approximately 40,000 sqm grounds feature diverse activity areas for adults and children alike, including tennis courts, 3×3 basketball courts, and a kids’ park. The surrounding area also offers cycling and water sports opportunities, along with historic landmarks such as Hikone Castle and Taga Taisha Shrine. By staying at this hotel, guests can rejuvenate their bodies while enriching their minds by exploring the area and connecting with the region’s history and culture.
■ Access Information for Ao no Kotei BIWAFRONT HIKONE
- Official Website: https://www.biwa-front.com/
- Access: Approx. 10 minutes by taxi/shuttle from Hikone Station or Maibara Station
- Address: 1435-91 Matsubara-cho, Hikone City, Shiga Prefecture 522-0002
- Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/P841DJ2ekcuxquZG7