Biwako Hotel
Reference price as of October 9, 2026 (stay 2026-10-31). US$ is an approximate conversion from yen. Check the booking site for actual rates.
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forumWhat families say
Rakuten Travel rating 4.53 out of 5 (2,632 reviews). Families praise their stays with children, describing the handheld sparklers and the ice cream handed out for taking part in the quiz as summer memories in the making. One 1-year-old was thrilled by the view of Lake Biwa from the room, and the sparklers given to elementary school children went down well too. Yukata come only in sizes from 120 cm and up, which is worth keeping in mind if you are traveling with an infant.
Kids Facilities
Crib and bed guard rentals
Crib and bed guard rentals
- paymentsPrice:Free for guests
Cribs and bed guards for use in your room are available to borrow free of charge. Families with young children can relax, but numbers are limited, so please reserve in advance.
- •Numbers are limited, so advance reservation is required.
Nursing room
Nursing room
Biwako Hotel has a fully equipped nursing room on the 3rd floor for guests traveling with young children. It is a calm space for nursing or changing a diaper without worrying about those around you, so a stay with a baby is easy to manage.
Garden Pool
Garden Pool
- calendar_monthSeason:Summer only
- paymentsPrice:Free for guests
This outdoor pool is shaped after the outline of Lake Biwa and is divided into a shallow section (0.6 m) and a deep section (1.2 m), making it easy to use with young children. It is open from July 1 to September 30, 2026, excluding August 6. Staying guests can use it free of charge; co-sleeping children (those sharing a parent's bed) are charged a pool fee of 1,500 yen each for ages 5 through elementary school, while children ages 4 and under are free. An air compressor is also on hand for inflating your own float.
- •Children of elementary school age and under must be accompanied by a guardian.
- •Children who are not yet out of diapers must wear a swim diaper together with a swimsuit.
- •Strollers cannot be brought to the poolside.
Children's meals (Okosama Gozen set meal, kids' plate and more)
Children's meals (Okosama Gozen set meal, kids' plate and more)
Japanese restaurant Omi serves an Okosama Gozen children's set meal with dishes such as karaage fried chicken and french fries, along with a teppanyaki children's course that includes beef fillet. The a la carte menu at Italian dining restaurant Bel Lago includes a kids' plate with french fries and Hamburg steak. Children's chairs are available in every restaurant.
Baby bed in the communal bath changing room
Baby bed in the communal bath changing room
- paymentsPrice:Free for guests
Baby beds are installed in both the men's and women's changing rooms of the communal bath at the natural hot spring Ruri Onsen "Ruri no Yu," making it easy to change your child. Staying guests can use the onsen free of charge.
Summer kids' events (handheld sparklers and quiz rally)
Summer kids' events (handheld sparklers and quiz rally)
- calendar_monthSeason:Summer only
From August 1 to August 31, 2026, staying children of elementary school age and under receive a gift of handheld sparklers, and there is a quiz rally that takes families exploring the hotel and the lakeside area. A summer festival event also offers shooting galleries, ring toss, yo-yo scooping and other games that capture the feel of a Japanese summer. At the festival event, staying children of elementary school age and under receive five game tickets.
Categories
Overview
Biwako Hotel is a 175-room resort on the shore of Lake Biwa, with a lake view from every room. It is easy to reach, about 10 minutes by JR from Kyoto Station to JR Otsu Station, and has the natural hot spring Ruri Onsen "Ruri no Yu" as well as a summer-only outdoor pool. Cribs and bed guards are available to borrow free of charge, there is a baby bed in the communal bath changing room and a nursing room on the 3rd floor, and the restaurants offer a children's set meal and a kids' plate.
Rooms
The superior floor "Natura" offers 40 sq m twin rooms for 1 to 4 guests, with two beds measuring 110 cm wide by 200 cm long. The calm wood-grain interior makes it a good fit for a relaxed family holiday. The deluxe floor "Lumina" also offers 40 sq m twin rooms for up to 4 guests, with an extra bed as the third bed and a sofa bed as the fourth. Because the beds are pushed together in a Hollywood twin arrangement, families co-sleeping with a child can rest easy. For co-sleeping, children who have not yet started elementary school stay free and elementary school children pay 2,200 yen, including consumption tax and service charge, with co-sleeping allowed for up to the same number of children as adults in the room. An additional bed is available for a fee, and children of junior high school age and older are charged the adult rate.
Dining
Breakfast is a buffet at the restaurant The Garden, where large windows look out over Lake Biwa as you eat. The Japanese restaurant Omi serves an Okosama Gozen children's set meal with dishes such as karaage fried chicken and french fries, along with a teppanyaki children's course that includes beef fillet. It also has private rooms where you can dine without worrying about those around you. To celebrate a baby at around 100 days old, there is an Okuizome first-food-ceremony plan featuring a traditional celebratory meal at Japanese restaurant Omi, with a private room guaranteed. The a la carte menu at the Italian dining restaurant Bel Lago includes a kids' plate with french fries and Hamburg steak. Children's chairs are available in every restaurant and in the banquet halls. Guests with food allergies can be accommodated by letting the hotel know in advance; requests made on the day may not be possible to accommodate.
Baths and Onsen
The natural hot spring Ruri Onsen "Ruri no Yu" has a sauna and an open-air bath, and the men's and women's baths are not swapped. The spring water is a simple onsen, and staying guests can use the baths, which look out over Lake Biwa, free of charge. Baby beds are installed in both the men's and women's changing rooms of the communal bath, so changing your child is easy to manage.
Family-Friendly Features
Cribs and bed guards are available to borrow free of charge, but numbers are limited, so advance reservation is required. A nursing room is provided on the 3rd floor. In summer (from July 1 to September 30, 2026, excluding August 6), the outdoor pool is open, and staying guests can use it free of charge. It is divided into a shallow section (0.6 m) and a deep section (1.2 m), making it easy to use with children. Co-sleeping children (those sharing a parent's bed) are charged a pool fee of 1,500 yen each for ages 5 through elementary school, while children ages 4 and under are free. Children who are not yet out of diapers must wear a swim diaper together with a swimsuit. Strollers cannot be brought to the poolside, as it is narrow, and children of elementary school age and under must be accompanied by a guardian. In summer, staying children of elementary school age and under receive a gift of handheld sparklers, and there is a quiz rally that takes families exploring the hotel and the lakeside area, as well as a Japanese summer festival event with shooting galleries, ring toss, yo-yo scooping and other traditional games.
Access
There is parking for 155 cars, free for staying guests. A free shuttle bus runs from the north exit of JR Otsu Station every 20 minutes, daily from 8:05 a.m. to 9:35 p.m. It takes about 10 minutes from JR Kyoto Station to JR Otsu Station.
Access & Information
| location_onAddress | 2-40 Hamamachi, Otsu, Shiga 520-0041 |
|---|---|
| directions_carAccess | About a 5-minute walk from Keihan Biwako Hamaotsu Station, or about a 15-minute walk from JR Otsu Station. By car, about 10 minutes from the Otsu IC on the Meishin Expressway. Otsu is two JR stops and about 10 minutes from Kyoto Station, so the hotel is easy to combine with sightseeing in Kyoto. |
| trainNearest station | Biwako Hamaotsu Station |
| local_parkingParking | Free parking for 155 cars. |
| callPhone | +81-77-524-7111 |
| paymentsCards | VISA, JCB, American Express, Diners Club, UC, DC, NICOS, OMC, UFJ Card, Mastercard, Saison, AEON, Takashimaya, Rakuten Card |
| languageOfficial site | https://www.keihanhotels-resorts.co.jp/biwakohotel/open_in_new |
Map
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Reference price as of October 9, 2026 (stay 2026-10-31). US$ is an approximate conversion from yen. Check the booking site for actual rates.
Check rates & availability
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Frequently Asked Questions
What ages is Biwako Hotel best suited to?
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It has facilities that work especially well for babies and toddlers (ages 0 to 2) and children aged 3 and over. There is no age limit, and families with children of any age can stay.
Does Biwako Hotel have baby beds?
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Baby beds are available to rent. See the Kids Facilities section on this page for details.
Is there parking at Biwako Hotel?
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Parking: Free parking for 155 cars.
How do you get to Biwako Hotel?
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About a 5-minute walk from Keihan Biwako Hamaotsu Station, or about a 15-minute walk from JR Otsu Station. By car, about 10 minutes from the Otsu IC on the Meishin Expressway. Otsu is two JR stops and about 10 minutes from Kyoto Station, so the hotel is easy to combine with sightseeing in Kyoto.
Can children who are not yet out of diapers use the pool?
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Swimming in a regular diaper is not permitted. Children need to wear a swim diaper together with a swimsuit to use the pool.
Is the outdoor pool safe for young children?
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The outdoor pool is divided into a shallow section (0.6 m) and a deep section (1.2 m), so families with children can use it. However, it is dangerous for young children to swim on their own, so a guardian must always accompany them.
Are there meals for children?
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There is an Okosama Gozen children's set meal bringing together dishes children love, such as karaage fried chicken and french fries, as well as a kids' plate with french fries and Hamburg steak.
Can we bring a stroller to the pool?
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Guests are asked to refrain from bringing strollers, as the poolside is narrow and this would be dangerous.
Is there a charge for an elementary school child to co-sleep?
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On the deluxe floor "Lumina," children who have not yet started elementary school stay free and elementary school children pay 2,200 yen, including consumption tax and service charge. Co-sleeping is allowed for up to the same number of children as adults in the room.
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Information on this page was compiled by directly consulting Official website, Rakuten Travel, Ikyu.com (English), Jalan (last verified: August 2026). Prices, availability and seasonal operations change. Please check each booking site for the latest information.
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