Shiga Biwa Lake Shanshui House

My friends and I stayed for two nights and had a great experience. It feels more like staying at a guesthouse than a hotel, but the towels, bathrooms, kitchen, and shared space were all clean and in good shape. The town is quite rural, though the place is less than three minutes from the station, so getting around wasn't a problem. A good option if you're interested in skiing nearby or cycling around biwako lake.

We came from Hong Kong, and the staff were so helpful. They showed us where to shop and gave us free round trips between the house and market. We cooked at the house and washed our clothes there too. The rooms were clean and tidy, and the staff could speak mandarin.

I stayed one night after cycling halfway around Lake Biwa. The female staff member was very polite. Her English was limited, but I could understand her, and she explained the facilities well. I liked the room, and the bed was comfortable. The downside was the group of young Japanese guests, probably around 10 people, who were noisy. I guessed their number from how many keys they put on the table at checkout. They were on vacation and probably enjoying a rare chance to be loud and close with their friends. What youthful days to remember. Still, they were noisy.

The old house has thin walls, so I could hear doors opening and people talking loudly. Luckily, my neighbors were quiet and I slept well. The bedroom was adequate, and the living room was a nice place to relax. The owner was very friendly and seemed to live on site, so he was easy to reach. There aren't many facilities nearby, which makes having Coco restaurant right across the street especially handy. It's newly opened and has good food at reasonable prices.