4/10 Poor
Callum
Travelled with family, Travelled with partner
29 Sept 2024
Disliked: Staff & service
We stayed at Biwako Ryokusuitei for two nights, and it was one of the most disappointing onsen hotel experiences we've had in Japan. Having visited over a dozen times, we had high expectations, especially for the kaiseki dinner. Unfortunately, the food and service were big letdowns.
The omi beef, which was heavily advertised, was a huge disappointment. The shabu shabu was overly fatty and oily, and the steak was a poor cut. Many dishes seemed pre-prepared due to the hotel’s size—sashimi was served frozen, hot dishes arrived cold, and the tempura was soggy.
Breakfast was also subpar. The "grill your own fish/seafood" experience sounded fun, but the seafood didn’t taste fresh. We suspected that leftovers from breakfast were reused in the kaiseki dinner, leading to repetitive meals, which was very disappointing.
Service, particularly during the first night’s dinner, was also problematic. Our server was clearly sick, coughing behind his mask throughout the meal, which made us uncomfortable. The meal felt rushed, and he even served rice with his thumb in the bowl, which was off-putting and unhygienic.
Additionally, roadworks in front of the hotel created a noisy and dusty environment, making it hard to relax.
While the views of Lake Biwa were beautiful, the food, rushed service, and disturbance from the roadworks ruined the experience. We would not recommend this place to anyone.
Callum
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2024