I actually wanted to stay at Grand Mercure but ended up at Grazie and I'm glad I did! The hotel is overlooking Biwako and most rooms are treated to a great view. The front desk greets everyone who walks past and there are lots of sofas and seats in the lobby for a sit down. My single bedroom was also super comfortable. The breakfast was also amazing and the dining hall looks out into Biwako like the rooms and there are seats for singles, couples and families alike. The public baths is also situated on the top floor, ensuring a great view. Hotel is also 15 mins walk from Nagahama town centre where there are many restaurants as well as a good sized supermarket.

There is no coin laundry which I guess is part of how they are setting themselves apart from business hotels. not a big issue but people might want to be prepared (especially if you are staying here while on a cycling trip). The fridge in my room is very noisy when the compressor kicked in in the middle of the night.

The location on the edge of the lake is perfect. We ate in the hotel Japanese and Italian restaurants and the food was excellent. The Onsen was very good and the hotel also provided a free shuttle bus service to the train station when we departed.

The carpet had a slight old smell however the windows in the room could be opened which took it away and provided a lovely breeze.

If you plan to visit Chikubu Island. It's the perfect place to stay as the ferry terminal is just across the road. It's close to other attractions in Nagahama as well. The hotel is sprawling and huge. The staff was cheerful and helpful. The room is comfortable and quiet. Breakfast collection was good and I had it in front of a window offering a great, close-up view of Biwako

The long way to the restaurant for breakfast was a bit off putting but the view was excellent.

Everything! It was all amazing! The location is right at Biwako, the view from the room is gorgeous, the cruise next to the hotel, the train station about 10 minutes away, the castle and park close by... The staff is so polite, efficient and friendly. I can't think of anything negative (and I am trying)...

Maybe the fact that you don't get to choose to skip cleaning service? (whatever...right?)

Good: small but comfortable room. Polite and helpful front desk. If you are going to Chikubushima island, the ferry terminal is just in front of the main entrance to the hotel. Minor gripes: air-conditioning/heating is centralized, so if it is too hot or cold for you there is nothing you can do. Hotel uses a physical key that you need to deposit with the front desk whenever you head out.

The hotel was super easy to find and is located in a beautiful area right by the lake. The staff were very friendly and helpful. The breakfast buffet was good with everything required for a wonderful start to the day. It is a short walk to the old part of the town which is worth visiting. We were very happy with the size of our room and it was very quiet and clean. We would definitely stay there again.

Nothing

An amazing 4-star hotel located just next to the shoreline, and all rooms have a view of the beautiful Lake Biwa. Right next to parklands and Nagahama castle, and 5 mins from the city centre and old town market street. Staff is always really helpful and polite, the room was impeccably clean, and there is also free parking. If the hotel would have been located in Europe, a room would probably have costed twice as much as it normally does at Kitabiwako Hotel Grazie, and if you travel during the rainy season or similar, you can get a room for as little as £50, which is astonishing! The hotel also got an Italian restaurant, which I can strongly recommend, because it serves proper Italian cuisine to a reasonable price; normally, when something is advertised as Italian food in Japan it is either something that would make an Italian person cry (and not of joy), or you got yourself a proper but exclusive Italian eating place in Tokyo or Osaka that serves delicious food to a very high price and only to the select few. It is rare to get something that is proper Italian in Japan and 1) outside the big cities, and 2) will not ruin you for a simple meal. You know, if you want to take a short break from all the sushi and ramen...

Nothing really, when considering that this is a pretty damn amazing 4-star hotel by any standards, and especially when considering the price for one of their standard rooms. The only thing that you should be aware of is that the staff has become a bit less English-speaking when compared to before the pandemic (which is admittedly true for all of Japan), but the optimist would only consider that an opportunity to practice his or her Japanese.

Great location on the lakeside with several places of interest within walking distance. Sometimes there is a shuttle to Nagahama Station. Buffet style breakfast is available if you choose that option.

There were not many outlets in the room, so you should bring a splitter if you can. The pillow was pretty hard. The hotel restaurants close a little early, so be careful.

I visited this tourist hotel in the dead of winter, totally out of season. Few guests but welcoming staff. It snowed outside. Nice views of Lake Biwa.

There are no dining options next to the hotel which is on the lakeside. The hotel feels a little forlorn out of season.

I particularly liked the view from my room which included Mt. Ibuki and Lake Biwa. The staff was very friendly and helpful. The breakfast was delicious. There was a nearby lakeside park from which the sunset could be observed.