Koke Musu inn

Right by Lake Biwa, the inn is in a great spot, with a kombini down the road and Yurel coffee just a few meters away. Nishiki and Zeze-Hommachi stations are also close, and I enjoyed the walks through the quiet Japanese neighborhood each time. We had a Demon Slayer themed room, and all the work put into making it feel so distinctive was obvious. It was small, as the photos showed, but we slept together in the loft. The owner still apologized and set up a futon for us, which was really kind. The whole inn has an anime and pop culture feel, with collectibles all over the building. I kept spotting new things in the corners. The owner was friendly and spoke great English, which helped a lot. We stayed three nights, and they brought fresh towels each day, tidied the room, and emptied the bin. Great service for such budget friendly accommodation. We had a lovely stay, thanks for having us 🙏

The room worked really well for two, with a thoughtful layout and smart use of space. The inn was spotless and peaceful, and it looked even better than the photos. Myyu kindly drove us to Zeze Station on the day we checked out. We liked walking the roughly 15 minutes to Zeze Station, since the route gave us a feel for everyday Japanese life away from tourist areas. From there, Kyoto Station is 11 minutes by train, three stops. Lake Biwa is only a two-minute walk for a calm morning stroll, and Valor Otsu store is five minutes away. We found lots of fresh and prepared food there, which let us put more of our budget toward special sweets after trying plenty of Japanese dishes in Tokyo and Osaka. The design was what made Koke-Musu Inn the highlight of our trip. Its Japanese-style modern room mixes traditional details with a contemporary look, and the miniature sculptures and unusual decorations kept revealing new little details even after three nights. The warriors hanging from the ceiling were especially striking. The designer, and probably the owner, Mr. Takayama Takusuy, has shaped the place around Japanese aesthetics in a fresh way. Highly recommended for a memorable, authentic stay.

I arrived on short notice for a trip to Shiga Prefecture, and the owner, Miyu (Miyu), and the staff made me feel very welcome. They were warm and attentive. The room was exceptionally clean and thoughtfully set up, with a comfortable bed, another sitting area, a foldable work table, TV, convertible bed, and even a surprise lounge or child's bedroom. It also had a kitchen with appliances, a stove, coffee machine, rice cooker, and a bathroom with shower, tub, and bidet. The inn is a short walk from Zeze station if you're coming from Osaka, and Lake Biwa is two minutes away. A 7/11, a tax free shop, and a 100 yen store are three minutes away, with plenty of tasty, affordable restaurants nearby. It's quiet and good for resting, then there's a communal lounge with pool, darts, cool decorations, and soft music. They were planning to open a restaurant and bar downstairs in a few months. I got to try the food early, and it was delicious. This place has lots of high quality, distinctive touches I haven't seen elsewhere, and I'd stay again.

This was a last minute booking, and we were really happy with our stay. The house is adorable, full of interesting decorations, almost like a huge playroom but still tasteful. A very friendly couple helped us in English and Mandarin, and patiently used phone translation for our more complicated questions. There's also a tidy little bar downstairs where we got a complimentary drink when we arrived.