Biwako Hanakaido

My fiancé and I came in December 2025, and I wish we’d booked more than one night. The food was a real treat, both dinner and breakfast left us full and happy. Our room had a private open-air bath with an amazing view, though the parking lot was in the picture too, haha. The staff were professional and very accommodating. They have a designated driver, so if you’re coming by public transport, you can call the hotel from the dedicated flip phone at Ogoto-onsen Station and they’ll pick you up. They’ll take you back to the station after checkout as well. There’s always next time.

The private open-air onsen in the room looked out over Lake Biwa, and watching the sunrise from there was lovely. The room felt muggy, though, so I had to leave the heat pump on dry mode all the time. I also wished I’d paid a little extra for the junior suite, since I wanted more space. I stayed two nights at Biwako Hanakaido, an onsen ryokan just outside Kyoto. With breakfast and dinner included, the room was good value compared with other popular onsen ryokans I’ve tried around Japan. The staff were nice and accommodating, and dinner was a highlight. The portions were just right, everything tasted delicious, and among the many onsens I’ve visited in Japan, this was probably one of my best meals. A great place for a relaxing getaway.

We’d still recommend biwako HANAKAIDO if you’re looking to get away from Kyoto. It’s an older hotel, with friendly service, big but somewhat outdated rooms, and both public and private onsen options. Dinner was nice, with lots of local dishes. Given the price, though, the stay as a whole didn’t feel quite balanced.

We arrived very late after a flat tyre, but the staff waited for us out in the chilly weather so we could still have dinner. They were incredibly kind, and the hospitality, food, onsen, and service were all fantastic. It was absolutely worth staying here, and I highly recommend it.