This hot spring is in Otsu, on the shores of Lake Biwa. It’s almost a 1-hour ride from Kyoto and we decide to spend the weekend there.
We get off the train at the small station of the same name, and a shuttle takes us to the hotel in the middle of the afternoon. We settle in quickly and head straight to enjoy the various hot baths at the neighboring hotel (accessible for an extra fee). We have dinner there and then go back for another soak. There’s also a sauna and a steam room to finish unwinding.
Another dip the next morning. The sun is still low, and from the top floor the view is unforgettable!
We head back to the station and take the train to Katata Station. From the platform, we can see Mount Hira covered in snow. We grab a hot drink at the nearby convenience store and then take a walk along the lake—first north toward the Lake Biwa Bridge, then south toward Mangetsu-ji Temple, famous for its floating pavilion. In between, we stop for a tasty break at an Italian restaurant on the lakeshore. We end the walk at the charming Izu Shrine.
Shiga and Lake Biwa are just next door, but they feel very different from Kyoto. There are fewer people, the pace is slower, and everything feels calmer. It’s a welcome change!