I recently stayed at the Lake Biwa Marriott Hotel in Shiga with my 2 and 4-year-old sons. This time, we decided to splurge a bit and chose a room with a private in-room hot spring (Onsen). Located just 30 minutes from Kyoto, this resort is perfect for those who want to escape the crowds and enjoy Japanese culture in a relaxed, family-oriented setting. I’ll be sharing lots of photos along with details about the luxurious breakfast buffet and all the kid-friendly facilities!
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Access
The hotel is located near the Lake Biwa Bridge. While it’s a convenient spot to visit by car, it’s also easy to reach by train, as a complimentary shuttle bus runs from JR Katata Station.
Parking Information
Parking is free for both hotel guests and restaurant visitors. With space for about 170 vehicles, there seemed to be plenty of room to park.
Arriving at the Lobby
We arrived at the spacious and airy lobby. The sofas are large and lovely.
This Marriott hotel was renovated from the former “Laforet Biwako” in July 2017. Because of this, while the exterior shows its age, the interior was very modern and beautiful.
Unique Welcome Drink
We had detox water and Dashi (Japanese savory broth).
It was my first time seeing Dashi served as a welcome drink, but it was absolutely delicious.
In Japan, Dashi is the fundamental savory stock that forms the heart of Japanese cuisine (Washoku). It’s usually made by simmering ingredients like Kelp (Konbu) and dried Bonito flakes (Katsuobushi) to extract “Umami”—the savory fifth taste. While typically used as a base for miso soup or noodle dishes, drinking it plain is a wonderful way to warm up and experience the pure, comforting essence of Japanese flavor.
The broth is very hot, so I recommend pouring it into your cup a little at a time.
There was also a foreign currency exchange machine available. Now, let’s head straight to our room.
A Room with a Panoramic View of Lake Biwa
Our room offered a panoramic view of Lake Biwa. We arrived in the evening, so it got dark almost immediately.
The next morning, the blue sky and the lake colors were so vivid—it was a truly beautiful sight.
By the way, there is a road running right below, so my kids actually enjoyed watching the cars and trucks more than the scenery! (lol)
The room was very clean and comfortable. There’s a sofa by the window, which allowed us adults to sit back and fully enjoy the view.
Heading Out for Yakiniku! (Dinner)
We were getting hungry, so it was time to think about dinner. While the hotel’s dining options looked incredibly tempting and delicious, we noticed a great-looking Yakiniku (Japanese BBQ) restaurant just a 4-minute drive away and decided to go there instead.
We visited a restaurant called Wagyu Lab Tsujimoto. It is located right along the road, but the exterior looks just like a private house, so you should keep a careful eye out for it when you visit.
There was parking for about 2–3 cars. Two other groups arrived right at the 6:00 PM opening, so if you are coming by car, it might be best to get there early.
Especially the sirloin shabu-shabu dipped in raw egg was unforgettably delicious!
The meat sushi was, needless to say, exquisite.
The restaurant is dedicated to Omi beef, and every cut was so delicious we couldn’t stop eating.
They also had cutlery for children, and the staff were very kind.
There were many international guests, and the staff were fluent in English. It seems to be a very popular spot, as many cuts of meat were already sold out by dinner time. The more budget-friendly items sold out first, but for two adults and two children (ages 2 and 4), the total came to about 15,000 yen ($100).
Nearby, there is also a shopping mall called Pieri Moriyama. I have visited it before with a friend who lives in the area; it features a food court and play areas for children, making it a great option if you want to let the kids burn off some energy or if you are looking for a more affordable meal!
Hotel Gift Shop
After dinner, we stopped by the hotel gift shop. They had some delicious-looking ice cream for sale, so I couldn’t help but pick some up.
It was delicious and packed with plenty of strawberry chunks.
They also had alcohol, snacks, and some small souvenirs for sale.
Heading to the in-room hot spring bath
Since this was a bit of a special trip, I splurged and booked a room with its own private hot spring bath.
Hot Spring Quality and Benefits
The hot spring source is Misaki Onsen, which is known for its recovery properties. Because the water contains iron, it has the unique characteristic of turning a reddish-brown or amber color when it comes into contact with the air.
When I actually got in, the water felt slightly silky and smooth. It is the kind of spring quality where your hands do not get wrinkled even after soaking for a long time.
The salt content in the water is said to act like a facial pack as it clings to the skin. This provides excellent heat retention, helping you stay warm long after getting out of the bath.
The bath was covered with an aluminum lid to keep the hot spring water warm and to prevent humidity from building up in the room. This is what the in-room bath looks like.
Can You Adjust the Temperature?
While the hot spring water flows continuously, you can also run cold water to perfectly adjust the temperature to your liking.
(In the picture, he is standing up.)
Even for my 2-year-old son, the depth was safe enough for his face to be well above the water. I helped the 2-year-old get in and out, but my 4-year-old son was able to move around and enjoy the bath completely on his own.
Since it is a free-flowing hot spring, the bath is always filled to the brim. Because of this, when my husband got in, a large amount of water overflowed. Please be careful to keep the door tightly closed, or the water could flood all the way to the toilet area!
Not all rooms come with a private hot spring bath. I read a blog post from someone else who booked a room thinking it had one, only to find out it didn’t, so please be careful when making your reservation!
