Futabaso

We were glad we made this a stop outside the big cities like Tokyo on our first trip to Japan. The experience felt very different. The hospitality we'd had elsewhere was excellent, but the staff here went above and beyond, putting so much effort into making us comfortable. It was a delightful culture shock, and we learned to settle into it. The staff mainly speak Japanese, though they can speak some English. We and the staff used Google Translate for the details, and they were supportive throughout. You should definitely book a stay here.

The owners were so kind when I left my phone in a taxi after we arrived. They called the dispatch and helped get it back for me. We only stayed one night and chose the traditional breakfast because of our schedule. It was delicious, but I really wish we'd had dinner too. Shiga is known for ōmi beef, and when I went to the onsen that evening, I could smell amazing food coming from the dining room. The women's onsen was completely empty when I went, so I had the whole bathhouse to myself. It felt luxurious. The yukata were cute and comfortable, and it's a lovely traditional inn on the lake, with a wonderful view of the water from our room. It's easy to get there from Hikone station: the staff at the Hikone vistors station next to the station can arrange pickup if you coordinate with them. We left our bags at the visitor's station and went sightseeing until check-in. While we were out, the ryokan staff picked up our luggage, so it was waiting when we arrived. This is a more remote part of Hikone, but there's a really cozy diner with good food less than a five-minute walk away, and a 7-11 next to it. Having somewhere to eat and a konbini close by was handy, especially since it was pouring rain when we arrived. I regret not booking two or more nights to enjoy the lake and onsen facilities longer. If you're looking for a traditional ryokan experience, definitely book Futabaso. And thank you for finding my forgotten phone! Thank you for finding my forgotten phone！

The owners were lovely, and after days of tiring sightseeing, this was a really restful night. We were picked up at maibara station, spent the evening by biwa lake, then tried the onsen. I can't compare it with other onsens in Japan, but I enjoyed it. It was our only ryokan stay on a two-week trip, and €150 for the night included a very good Japanese breakfast with plenty of local food. Good value.

The lake Biwa views were lovely, and the station transfer came in handy. Staff were welcoming, the rooms looked well cared for, and breakfast was a tasty traditional one.