BIWAKO OTSUKAN

Biwako Otsukan is a cultural facility in Otsu City, renovated from the former main building of the Biwako Hotel. Originally constructed in 1934 (Showa 9) as the prefecture's first international tourist hotel to attract foreign visitors, it has been revitalized for new use.
During its time as the former Biwako Hotel, it served as the ‘Lake Country's Guest House,’ welcoming numerous members of the Imperial Family, including Emperor Showa, as well as many celebrities such as Helen Keller, John Wayne, and Yasunari Kawabata. It operated as the prefecture's only hotel of true distinction, both in name and reality.
The building was designed by the renowned Okada Architects (founded by Shinichiro Okada), known for projects like the Tokyo Kabukiza Theatre and the Meiji Seimei Building. Its distinctive exterior, featuring the Momoyama style of Japanese architecture, and its Western-style interior harmonize beautifully with the scenery of Lake Biwa and the atmosphere of the ancient capital of Otsu.
In 1998 (Heisei 10), when the Lake Biwa Hotel relocated to HamaOtsu, Otsu City responded to widespread public sentiment lamenting the building's demolition. The city undertook seismic retrofitting and preservation renovations, reopening it in April 2002 (Heisei 14) as the Yanagasaki Lakeside Park Biwako Otsukan.
Today, the three-story building houses restaurants, shops, rental meeting rooms, a rental hall, and a citizen's gallery. It serves as a gathering place fostering creativity and interaction.
Yanagasaki Lakeside Park, in addition to Biwako Otsukan, features an English Garden spanning approximately 5,900 square meters and Yanagasaki Lakeside Park Port, where visitors can enjoy Lake Biwa sightseeing cruises. It is a tourist spot where people can easily enjoy flowers and the lake.