Family-Friendly Hotels in Shiga: Stays Around Lake Biwa

Family stays in Shiga are spread widely along the shores of Lake Biwa, and which side of the lake you choose changes the character of your stay quite a bit. Accommodations in the prefecture fall into Lake Biwa, Ogoto Onsen, Hikone, Nagahama, Omihachiman, Maibara, Kusatsu, and Takashima, and the way you choose differs between the western shore, where hot spring inns cluster, and the eastern and northern shores, where resort hotels and glamping stand out. Across Shiga Prefecture as a whole we list 21 family-friendly properties.

What most families think about when choosing a stay in Shiga is the food. Among the listed properties, 16 state that they accommodate food allergies, 13 offer a toddler meal menu, and 6 provide baby food. If you would rather eat without worrying about the people around you, 12 have private or semi-private dining rooms and 9 serve meals in your room. Some properties, such as Kyukamura Omihachiman and Satoyu Mukashibanashi Yuzanso, cover baby food, a toddler menu, and allergy support all at once, which makes planning easier for families with siblings at different ages.

The sleeping setup is another thing not to overlook. 14 properties have Japanese-style or Japanese-Western rooms. Laying futon mattresses side by side on the floor means there is nothing for a baby who has started rolling over to fall off, and it is the format many families choose. As for baths, 11 properties have rooms with a private bath or open-air bath, and at places like Lake Biwa Marriott Hotel and Ogoto Onsen Dantokan Kikunoya you can pick a room where you bathe whenever you like. Properties with simple springs (tanjun-sen), said to be gentle on baby skin, number 8, and they are found not only on the western shore around Ogoto Onsen but also on the eastern shore in Moriyama and Omihachiman.

If your child is at the age of wanting to move, narrowing by play options works well. 8 properties run kids' programs or hands-on activities, 6 have outdoor playgrounds or adventure courses, and 6 have a shallow kids' pool. For families who want distance from other guests, there are 7 detached buildings, cottages, and whole-house rentals, including glamping sites such as GLAMP ELEMENT in Maibara that even lend baby bathtubs and baby chairs. During the stage when you worry about night crying, a separate building like this is reassuring.

For glamping, some sites such as glanta glamping village in Nagahama let you choose between dome tents and cottages with a mini kitchen. With infants, picking a unit with a shower and toilet inside cuts down on trips outside at night.