Hamakogetsu

Great dining experience with excellent English and Japanese service. Onsen is very large and room too. Can refurbish a bit for room bathing and private onsen area.

I cannot recommend this ryokan highly enough. From being picked up from Nagahama train station, to being shuttled back to the station the next day (at the insistence of the manager), the experience was above and beyond any expectations I had about our stay here. As a family of four travelling, we were very comfortable with our stay here, albeit for one night, which was a welcome relief from the hustle and bustle of Tokyo and even Hakone in comparison. Our stay was for the night of 29 December 2023. The walk along Lake Biwa and a visit to Nagahama Castle in the early hours of a winter's morning were refreshing and very convenient to the accommodation. The staff were very welcoming and it seemed they couldn't do enough for you to ensure your wellbeing and comfort. Dinner and breakfast were Japanese style, very tasty and filling. If you're after somewhere to stay off the beaten track and a little different, I strongly suggest a stay at Hamakogetsu, Nagahama.