# Hotel Koo Otsu Hyakucho

> The seven buildings that form the hotel are traditional Japanese machiya townhouses, each with its own unique history and each with an interior courtyard.

Breakfast at the hotel centers around unagi chazuke (eel), a well-loved ingredient in this region, served over rice with tea or broth. To rejuvenate the local community, the hotel runs an initiative called “Stay-Funding,” donating revenue to the nearby shopping district; it also offers a daily tour of the neighborhood.

## Key facts

- **Location:** Otsu, Japan
- **Rooms:** 13

## Highlights

- Machiya townhouse stay
- Shopping street hotel
- Scandinavian-Japanese design
- Historic post-town setting
- Danish designer furniture
- Community revitalization concept

## Design and architecture

Architecture Yoshiji Takehara/Moo Architect Workshop Architecture Yoshiji Takehara/Moo Architect Workshop While preserving as much of the original craftsmanship as possible—such as the latticework that showcases the skills of artisans of the time—new elements have been carefully added to the hotel’s seven structures, recreating design details commonly found in historic machiya. The buildings all blend seamlessly into the timeless townscape, but also include a playful, modern Scandinavian design and unexpected features like a catwalk. Though the design varies from structure to structure, all original elements, such as transoms, handrails, doors, and tokonoma alcoves, have been carefully restored. The entire facility feels like an homage to Scandinavian design. Still variety abounds. While one of the hotel’s buildings features dark-colored interiors accented with vividly colored furniture, creating an atmosphere of dignified poise, another is designed with bright pops of color to welcome families with young children.

## Rooms and suites

- **Standard Twin Chaya 102** (30sqm (322sqft); 2 semi-double beds (120cm)): Set in the historic Chaya building along the old Tōkaidō road, these street-facing rooms offer compact yet thoughtfully designed rooms. A generously sized desk with Arne Jacobsen’s iconic Series 7 Chair provides a comfortable workspace, blending functionality with classic design. Each room includes a generous shower with an overhead rain shower, offering a refreshing and invigorating bathing experience. The minibar includes local teas, the hotel’s coffee blend, Namagashi sweets, and Shiga wine (availability varies by room rate). Sleeps 2.
- **Standard Twin Chaya 202** (30sqm (322sqft); 2 semi-double beds (120cm)): Located on the second floor of the Chaya Wing, this room offers a prime view of the Otsu Festival floats in October, passing right in front of the building. Featuring wooden floors and a spacious, minimalist open-shower bathroom, it combines comfort with a sense of openness. A large desk with Arne Jacobsen’s iconic Series 7 Chair makes it ideal for work or study, blending functionality with thoughtful design. The minibar includes local teas, the hotel’s coffee blend, Namagashi sweets, and Shiga wine (availability varies by room rate). Sleeps 2.
- **Standard Twin Chaya 203** (29sqm (312sqft); 2 semi-double beds (120cm)): Chaya 203 is a compact tatami-style room on the second floor, featuring a decorative ranma transom above the door for light and air, and a traditional tokonoma alcove. A Jaime Hayon “Sammen” chair by the window adds a modern accent to the classic setting. The room features a spacious shower with an overhead rain shower for a refreshing bathing experience. In October, guests can enjoy a direct view of the magnificent Otsu Festival floats passing right in front of the building. The minibar includes local teas, the hotel’s coffee blend, Namagashi sweets, and Shiga wine (availability varies by room rate). Sleeps 2.
- **Superior Twin Ohmiya 201** (42sqm (452sqft); 2 semi-double beds (120cm)): Ohmiya 201 is the largest of the three guest rooms in the Ohmiya building, featuring two adjoining tatami rooms and views of the historic Tōkaidō Road. Designed with comfort and style, it is furnished with Fritz Hansen “Join” table and Yamakawa Rattan low chairs, while LE KLINT “Snow Drop” lighting adds a soft, elegant glow. The spacious, independent bathroom includes a bathtub long enough to stretch out and relax. Conveniently located in the same building as the reception, the room allows easy access to the first-floor lounge exclusively for overnight guests, serving complimentary coffee, tea, and handmade sweets, with Japanese sake and wine available during happy hour. Please note the kitchen is located on the floor below, so the room may not be ideal for those highly sensitive to noise. Sleeps 2.
- **Superior Twin Ohmiya 202** (41sqm (441sqft); 2 semi-double beds (120cm)): Ohmiya 202 is a charming room with tatami and wooden floors, high ceilings with exposed beams, and views of the historic Tōkaidō Road, offering both character and a sense of openness. Furnishings include Carl Hansen & Son “Elbow Chair” and “CH22,” while lighting features LE KLINT “Snow Drop” and Fritz Hansen “Kaiser Idell.” The room also includes a separate bathroom with a bathtub for relaxing. Conveniently located in the same building as the reception, the room allows easy access to the first-floor lounge exclusively for overnight guests, serving complimentary coffee, tea, and handmade sweets, with Japanese sake and wine available during happy hour. Sleeps 2.
- **Superior Twin Ohmiya 203** (32sqm (344sqft); 2 semi-double beds (120cm)): Ohmiya 203 is the most compact room in the building, yet its high ceilings and view of a quiet alley create a surprisingly spacious and serene atmosphere. It features wooden floors, a large desk ideal for work, and furnishings including Carl Hansen & Son “CH88” and Louis Poulsen lights, ABOVE and Panthella Mini. Conveniently located in the same building as the reception, the room allows easy access to the first-floor lounge exclusively for overnight guests, serving complimentary coffee, tea, and handmade sweets, with Japanese sake and wine available during happy hour. Sleeps 2.
- **Junior Suite Chaya 201** (47sqm (506sqft); 120cm semi-double bed): Elegant second-floor suite with elevated views of a tranquil Japanese garden by Toshiya Ogino, featuring a unique second living area overlooking a dramatic double-height doma space. Furnished with iconic pieces such as Jaime Hayon’s Fri Chair and Arne Jacobsen’s Swan Chair, the lounge invites moments of quiet relaxation. From here, guests can admire the sculptural PH Artichoke pendant lamp suspended below—an eye-catching centerpiece that enhances the suite’s distinctive atmosphere. The layout includes a combined toilet and washbasin area, with a separate bathroom featuring a bathtub. Located just 50 meters from the main Ohmiya reception, guests also have access to the Chaya lounge, offering complimentary coffee, tea, handmade sweets, and evening drinks during happy hour. Sleeps 2.
- **Villa Suzuya** (75sqm (807sqft); 102cm bed): Nestled in the heart of the shopping street, Suzuya offers a charming base for exploring the neighborhood. Inside, playful details abound: a small second-floor window peeks onto the narrow lane behind the building, and a former outdoor laundry has been transformed into a cozy study. The interiors feature iconic design pieces, including Eve Conford Larsen’s IL‑10, Finn Juhl’s FJ‑01 No.53, Fritz Hansen’s Join, and Fredericia’s Piloti Coffee Table. Unlike the other villas, Suzuya does not have a full dining area, and the kitchen is a mini kitchen, making it ideal for guests who prefer to savor the many nearby restaurants rather than cook. Steps from the villa, Tanimume Suisan serves exceptional grilled eel, while a long-established pickle shop and a convenient supermarket are just a short stroll away. Sleeps 2.
- **Villa Koujiya** (88sqm (947sqft); Twin beds): Nestled in what was once a lively geisha district, Kōjiya sits amid narrow lanes lined with traditional row houses that still whisper of the neighborhood’s storied past. Just a street away, Nagara Shopping Street—once the approach to Nagata Shrine and Miidera Temple—adds a contrasting sense of energy, giving the area a layered, fascinating character. The interiors are a sophisticated blend of history and design, featuring iconic pieces such as Nana Ditchell’s ND‑01 and Ring Chair, Finn Juhl’s No.45, 46 Sofa, and Eye Table, and Hans Wegner’s PP701, combining timeless elegance with modern comfort. The minibar includes local teas, the hotel’s coffee blend, Namagashi sweets, and Shiga wine (availability varies by room rate). Sleeps 4.
- **Villa Yorozuya** (91sqm (979sqft); Twin beds): Nestled in the serene Nagara Shopping Street—the quietest of the three connected arcades, Maruyamachi, Hishiyamachi, and Nagara—Villa Yorozuya offers a tranquil escape steeped in nostalgia. Housed in a Taisho-era row house, the building exudes a timeless charm, reflecting the refined taste of its former owner. Delicate details such as the coffered ceiling and the tokobashira evoke the elegance of a traditional tea room. The recent renovation honors this heritage, featuring earthen plaster walls and a polished doma floor that preserve the building’s authentic character. Carefully curated furniture complements the space, including Finn Juhl’s "Pelican Chair," Hans Wegner’s “Y Chair,” and Ib Komford Larsen’s “Elizabeth Chair,” blending modern design with historic charm. Though slightly removed from the main reception area “Omiya,” the surrounding neighborhood offers a genuine taste of a “Lake Biwa town,” with local gems like a river-fish delicatessen. Cultural and natural landmarks such as Miidera Temple—with its wealth of national treasures—Lake Biwa Canal, and Nagara Shrine are all within easy reach, making Villa Yorozuya an ideal starting point for leisurely strolls and immersive e
- **Villa Kagiya** (93sqm (1,005sqft); Twin beds): Tucked quietly in the alley behind Omiya, Kagiya offers a serene retreat amid traditional machiya row houses. Though modest in scale, its location along the historic Tōkaidō Road and thoughtful design touches—such as the elegant tokonoma alcove—imbue the space with understated refinement. A recent renovation added a study on the second floor and a catwalk overlooking the atrium, creating a playful, airy atmosphere. Iconic furnishings, including Finn Juhl’s Japan Sofa and Chair, Ole Wanscher’s Colonial Coffee Table, Overgaard & Dilmenn Wire Dining Chair, and Fritz Hansen B603, complement the imaginative interior. With Chaya and Omiya’s guest-only lounges just a minute’s walk away, Kagiya combines intimate private quarters with easy access to inviting communal spaces. Sleeps 4.
- **Villa Maruya** (100sqm (1,076sqft); Twin and futon beds): The largest of the villa, this home boasts a spacious atrium and skylight, making the interiors feel even more expansive. The second-floor master bedroom features wooden floors and two beds, while futons can be laid out in the adjoining tatami room for groups of three or more. Located within a shopping arcade just a two-minute walk from the reception building, Omiya, the villa is also close to JR Otsu Station and Keihan Biwako-Hamaotsu Station, offering easy access to both the hotel surroundings and nearby destinations. The space is a dream for design enthusiasts, furnished with iconic pieces by Finn Juhl—including the Baker Sofa, Card Table, and Eye Table—Yamawaka rattan Zaisu Chairs, Fredericia Piloti Coffee Table, and illuminated by Louis Poulsen lighting, blending modern elegance with traditional Japanese elements. Sleeps 5.

## Frequently asked questions

### Where is Hotel Koo Otsu Hyakucho located?

Hotel Koo Otsu Hyakucho is in Otsu, Japan.

### How many rooms does Hotel Koo Otsu Hyakucho have?

Hotel Koo Otsu Hyakucho has 13 rooms.

### What makes Hotel Koo Otsu Hyakucho distinctive?

Highlights of Hotel Koo Otsu Hyakucho include Machiya townhouse stay, Shopping street hotel, Scandinavian-Japanese design and Historic post-town setting.

## Source

- Page: https://www.newluxuryguide.com/hotels/hotel-koo-otsu-hyakucho
- Last updated: 2026-10-17
- Published by New Luxury Guide from its hotel database.