Nagahama Taiko Onsen Hamakogetsu in Nagahama

My wife and I visited Hamakogetsu during our honeymoon. The staff were incredibly friendly, the room was perfect, and the onsen was refreshing. We look forward to returning soon.

We chose this hotel to have a complete Japanese experience. That worked. We had a traditional Japanese room with tatami. In the afternoon tea was served in the room, and during dinner the room was furnished with 'futons' to sleep on. Furthermore, the room was equipped with all Western amenities. A private 'ofuro' outside on the balcony was wonderful to recover from the efforts of the day. Delicious extensive Japanese breakfast and 'kaiseki' dinner. Very helpful and personal service with advice on where to visit. The town of Nagahama has a nice town center and the boat trip across Lake Biwa to the island of Chikubushima is recommended. We were taken to the port by the hotel. This hotel was a fantastic experience for us

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.

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.