le Lac HOTEL OTSU-ISHIYAMA

The shower pressure was very weak compared with other places I’ve stayed. I was on the 7th floor, though I can’t say whether that had anything to do with it. The kettle also seemed less effective than the usual kind. The management should pay attention to these small details in customer care.

The room was clean, as were the bed and toilet, and the hotel was neat with all the basic amenities. It’s a typical Japanese business hotel, so don’t expect much space. Breakfast didn’t have a huge selection, but there was enough to leave me full.

The breakfast buffet was a real plus for me. My room included it, and I found plenty to enjoy, from rice and porridge to juices, stews, and other dishes I couldn’t identify. It was all delicious, though I can see how someone else might find the selection minimal. I stayed four nights and would come back. The room was plain and, like most Japanese hotel rooms, quite small, but the location was good, with the subway about a two-minute walk away and good restaurants and convenience stores nearby. The staff were very polite.

We slept well, and getting to Kyoto by train was easy since trains run there frequently. The hotel itself is basic and the room was tiny, but it did what we needed and cost less than staying somewhere more central.