Yanagasaki Lakeside Park Biwako Otsukan

Right by Lake Biwa, next to Yanagasaki Lakeside Park Port, you’ll come across this multipurpose cultural facility in Otsu City, Shiga.

The original building was the former main building of the Biwako Hotel, built in 1934 as the prefecture’s first international tourist hotel to attract overseas visitors. Known as the “State Guesthouse of the Lake Country,” it was a prestigious hotel that hosted many notable guests, including Emperor Showa.

When the Biwako Hotel relocated, the building was slated for demolition, but many local residents urged Otsu City to preserve it. It was renovated in 2002 as a multipurpose cultural facility operated by the city.

Its design is a distinctive blend of Japanese and Western styles, with a traditional Japanese exterior known as the Momoyama style and a Western-style interior. From the retro entrance doors to the red carpet laid across the lobby, the building is well worth visiting for its architectural beauty alone.

The three-story building includes a restaurant and shop, along with rental meeting rooms, a rental hall, and a community gallery. Next door, there’s also a spacious English garden spanning Approx. 5,900 square meters, so it tends to be busy with both locals and visitors.