Ōtsu, Biwako (Lake Biwa)

We have been staying at the Prince Hotel, overlooking Lake Biwa. You cannot possibly complain about the view from our room, nor the size of our room, nor the comfort of the beds. We can't complain about the practically perfect weather, nor of the helpfulness of most of the staff.

There are somethings we might want to mutter about, though. The paperwork says that our room rate includes half board, which to us means that it includes breakfast and dinner. Apparently, though, it only includes breakfast. Dinner is ¥10,000 per person for a buffet selection. For the five of us, assuming they charge the full rate for a 9 year old, that's well in excess of $A1,000. We might have stumped up for that, for one night, but when we tried to book a table yesterday, we were told that the restaurants were all full. I know they have lots of tour groups in, but had they mentioned it when we checked in, we would have looked into it then.

Anyway. Not to worry. We went out for a morning on the lake, aboard a paddle steamer. It was a glorious day for paddle steaming around a large lake. Peaceful and tranquil. Until I suddenly slipped through a space-time continuum into a Butlins Holiday Camp in the 1960s, as two people started yelling and bouncing and and bellowing through a loud speaker, exhorting us to have a great time and to take full advantage of the facilities aboard the boat. In Japanese. It was all a bit disconcerting. And surprising. Fortunately, they stopped after a bit and serenity returned to the ship. People who wanted to party could do so on the lower deck.

Our hotel from the boat

We had lunch in another shopping mall and had a bit of a potter around.

We had dinner in a little German restaurant, a five or six minute walk from the hotel, which we only knew about because Austin and Kaori had been there before on the recommendation of one of their friends. From the street it isn't obvious that it is a German restaurant and many of the online reviews of the hotel  comment on how expensive the food is in the hotel and how there aren't any eateries close by. Which is a pity, because the German restaurant had lovely food and happy, attentive staff. And instead of costing  well over $A1000 for the five of us, cost probably around $A250. Tatsuki's child's plate had a bit of sausage, a bit of burger, some salad and chips, a bread roll, a bit of cake and some fruit plus a drink. I would have been very happy with a selection like that. Although I was also very happy with my grilled chicken, potatoes and vegetables.

You have to wonder why the hotel has its Christmas decorations not only still up but lit up at night. Very pretty, but slightly unseasonal.

Oh - and no complaints about the breakfast buffet, either. There is a huge selection to choose from and it was all very delicious. I was particularly delighted to find mackerel on the buffet. I love mackerel and haven't eaten it since leaving the UK. I am told that you can get a species of mackerel in Australia but I haven't seen it. (Not that I have gone hunting, it must be said)

 I saw a review on one of the online review pages, complaining that they were very disappointed not to find European style cold cuts, cheeses, toast and other things you find in European breakfast buffets. In fact, all these things were available, if you went exploring the buffet. But really, if you want European style breakfast foods, might you not be better off in Europe?

Lobby