Hotel Blue Lake Otsu

The price was higher than other hotels in the area (like Toyoko Inn). The wifi connection was bad and it was absolutely freezng but mostly just cold in my room. Paid 2000 yen for breakfast which was pretty bad.

Stayed in this hotel for a week expending a standard business style Japanese hotel and was happy with the accomodations. As expected, the room is very simple. We had a double room, which meant we got an American-style bathroom (at least some of the single rooms have the traditional japanese bathroom with the small square tub). Unfortunately only rooms with two twin beds were available, which wasn't too great if you are travelling with your significant other! I'm not sure if they have other rooms with large beds, but it didn't seem like it. Rooms did not have wireless, but they did have complementary plug in internet (so make sure you have an ethernet adapter). The internet was very spotty and at certain times of the day and night it would just not work (in the whole building it seemed). It would always start working again eventually, but somewhat annoying. We never used the restaurant, as meals were not included, so can't comment on that. Staff at the front counter were helpful and could speak enough English to help us with any of our questions. The hotel itself is located close to a shopping center (attached to the much larger Biwako Hotel) and there are some unremarkable restaurants along the lake shore. The train station is walkable if you don't have a lot of luggage and there are lots of authentic izakaya and yakitoris along the many side streets between the hotel and the train station. Overall we were happy with the hotel, as it was what we expected from the relatively low cost.

We stayed for 4 nights and were not particularly pleased about it. The hotel is located just next to a rail road, and the rooms are quite dated. When opening the drawers a distinct smell of mould appeared. Having said that, it was clean and beds comfortable. Stay here only if you are in need of a budget accommodation and speak Japanese.