Ayaha Lakeside Hotel

Enjoyed the classical music in the lounge.

BBQ.

The dining staff were lovely, and I liked the clean room and bath as well as the retro feel. But the futon was too thin, and my whole body hurt. Maybe two mattresses would help. I could feel the tatami through it so much that I couldn't sleep or relax. The view was nice, but the sliding doors let in light very early. It started getting bright around 4 AM, and by 5 the sun was too strong for me to sleep. I wish there had been something to block the light. I was also bothered by the front desk staff's attitude toward different guests. This was a solo trip, and I won't be coming back.

The fireworks were nearly straight ahead, filling my whole view with every launch. It felt like they were bursting right in front of us, a really immersive and spectacular sight. We'd booked because we heard we could watch the Lake Biwa fireworks from the rooftop. It poured that day, but the hotel handed out raincoats and towels for free, and even offered complimentary drinks, including alcohol. The staff impressed me most: they were soaked from the rain but kept serving us with smiles. Dinner was a kaiseki meal, carefully prepared and far better than I expected in both taste and selection. The guest rooms felt a bit dated, like a traditional hotel, but the food and service made the stay good value overall. It cost 55,000 yen per adult per night, including two meals.