Grand Mercure Lake Biwa Resort & Spa

We’ve got three more days here, and I’m already thinking of cancelling a day out to enjoy more of the facilities, food, and service from Mr Satosan and his enthusiastic team. This was our first stay with Accor in Japan, and as Platinum members we’re 1000% satisfied and feel thoroughly pampered so far. We booked the simplest room at Grand Mercure Lake Biwa Resort & Spa in Nagahama and were upgraded to a high floor with a scenic view of Biwa lake and Nagahama castle. The sunrise over the golden lake was fabulous. Breakfast was complimentary each day. We also booked the first-night buffet at 30% off, and even though the restaurant was nearly full, they arranged a special table for us as a surprise. The buffet was wonderful and delicious, and the manageress and staff made us feel well cared for and recognized. There was a special table for members at breakfast too. Mr Satosan welcomed us with great hospitality and enthusiasm. He’s a kind, fun, comical hotel manager. Members had a dedicated check-in table, and they explained the facilities and benefits in detail, including breakfast, dinner if needed, and late checkout. The staff showed real care, ownership, and responsibility, and deserve our thanks. One thing to know: the lobby lounge is open to all hotel guests, with plenty of liquor and tibits. It’s nice to have, though it isn’t the usual executive lounge service.

For the price, this is a good option even on weekends, with spacious rooms, lake views, a nice hot spring, and a decent base for exploring Nagahama. Maibara is a short train ride away and connects to the Tokaido Shinkansen network. It also has a solid bike rental shop with quality road bikes, and Hikone makes a good day trip. I stayed four nights. The hotel seemed busy with tour groups, so lifts got congested at peak times and it took a while to get around. The hot springs could be crowded as well. My corner room was spacious, with panoramic views of the lake and Nagahama Castle. The bathing area has a large indoor bath, an outdoor bath beside a landscaped garden, and a relaxation lounge where amazake is served late at night. There’s a social hour and evening drinks session where guests can help themselves to snacks, alcohol, soft drinks, coffee, and tea. The hotel has just one main restaurant, serving buffet breakfast and dinner. There aren’t other dining choices inside, so you’ll need to go into town for meals. A microwave is available near the front desk. Nagahama Old Town has several restaurants, and a couple of places nearby serve Italian food, yakitori, and sushi. There’s a supermarket by the station, though it isn’t open every day. Coin laundry is near the bath entrance, and vending machines sell drinks and ice cream. There’s a marked bicycle parking area with racks at the hotel entrance, shared with motorcycle parking. Bikes can only go into the rooms if they’re inside a bike bag. The hotel is right by the main Lake Biwa Cycling Route, with clearly marked lanes, and near Nagahama Port, where ferries go to the island on the lake and other parts of Lake Biwa with connections. The complimentary shuttle to and from Nagahama Station doesn’t run all day, and evening service ends around 5-6 pm. The station is a fairly short walk away, but some parts of the park along the way can be a little dark.

The lakefront location at the edge of Biwa Lake was perfect, and the view helped make up for the room feeling old for what we paid. The service was okay, and the shuttle between the station and hotel was a plus. Otherwise, it felt pretty average. There was some renovation between 2023-2025, making things more modern and adding another hot spring. They also have a nightly event called "wine tasting".

Mr. Koji Ito (Koji Ito) made the lead-up to my stay easy with his kind help and clear communication, so check-in went smoothly and without worry. The high-floor corner room had a lovely lake view, was quiet, spotlessly clean, and well maintained. Accor members were recognized very well. I happened to be there during the three-day Fireworks Festival, and seeing the display right from my room was unforgettable. Breakfast is available to almost all guests, with time slots that need to be reserved ahead. It can get busy, but it was well organized, with a wide selection and prompt replenishing. My only small suggestion is to vary the menu from day to day, since it was almost the same each morning. There’s also a lounge, somewhat like an executive lounge, but open to nearly everyone. It runs from afternoon until late evening, closing only during dinner hours. There were plenty of drinks and beverages, and even though it was popular, seats were always available, so I didn’t have to wait in line. I highly recommend Grand Mercure Lake Biwa Resort & Spa for business or leisure.