Ohmiya, the reception building, is located on what used to be the busiest street in Otsu when it flourished as a stop along the Old Tokaido Road. The Fudanotsuji district, which lies 100 m to the west, used to bustle with people traveling the Old Tokaido Road and goods bound for Kyoto from Lake Biwa. Old pictures of this area reveal just how lively Otsu used to be, and this busy central district was collectively referred to as Otsu Hyakucho. Ohmiya used to be the residence of the owner of a kimono shop on the Old Tokaido Road. The building was in severe disrepair, but we stripped it to its frame to reinforce the structure and add insulation to make it comfortable even in winter. The first floor houses the reception desk, guest lounge, and the Japanese restaurant where we serve breakfast. Meanwhile, there are three guest rooms on the second floor. Feel free to relax and help yourself to free coffee, tea, and handmade cookies in the lounge.

Located on the Old Tokaido Road, Chaya is a former tea house three doors down—just under 50 meters (and less than a one-minute walk)—from Ohmiya (Reception). It was built at the end of the Edo period. While we kept the old exterior, we stripped the inside down to the frame to reinforce the structure and add insulation. The building houses five guest rooms, two Junior Suites with views of a garden and three Standard Twins that overlook the Old Tokaido Road. Furniture in the Junior Suites includes Egg Chairs by Arne Jacobsen and Fri lounge chairs by Jaime Hayon. Meanwhile, the guest lounge on the first floor features PK22 chairs by Poul Kjærholm. Feel free to relax in luxury on these timeless pieces. Coffee and handmade cookies are available free of charge in the lounge.

Nakamachidori is a merchant street that runs parallel to the Old Tokaido Road. Maruyamachi, Hishiya, and Nagara form one continuous arcade running 550 meters east to west along this avenue. As its name suggests, Maruya is located in the middle of the Maruyamachi Shopping Arcade. Maruya, the largest of the whole-building suites, feels even more spacious because of its open ceiling and skylight. Furniture includes the Baker Sofa and Card Table by Finn Juhl, and the light fixtures are by Louis Poulsen. If you like designer furniture, then you will love Maruya. Maruya is a two-minute (150-m) walk from Ohmiya (Reception) and conveniently located near JR Otsu Station and Keihan Biwako Hamaotsu Station. It is the perfect location for exploring the shopping arcades, which are home to sake brewpubs, Japanese confectioners, and more.

Kagiya is located on the small street that runs next to Ohmiya (Reception). With no through traffic, the area is quiet, and the neighboring buildings are all traditional machiya townhouses. The street was redone when the building was renovated, making it a wonderfully scenic locale. An old townhouse, Kagiya is a modest building on the outside, but its location on the once bustling Old Tokaido Road more than makes up for this. Meanwhile, the alcove and other interior design elements are the height of elegance. With this renovation, we added a study on the second floor and an open catwalk. This playful interior is highlighted with furniture by Finn Juhl and other renowned designers. What’s more, Kagiya is just a one-minute walk from the dedicated guest lounges in Chaya and Ohmiya, where you can enjoy coffee, tea, and handmade cookies at your leisure.

Yorozuya is located in the Nagara Shopping Arcade, the quietest of the three continuous arcades. Although there are not many shops, you can purchase fresh fish caught in Lake Biwa and vegetables. The building is also within walking distance of Miidera Temple, known for its many National Treasures, the Lake Biwa Canal, and Nagara Shrine. Yorozuya is a townhouse dating back to the Taisho period (1912 - 1926). Although it is not the most luxurious building, its original owner was a man of refined taste, as evidenced by the coffered ceiling and alcove posts reminiscent of an old tea house. To maintain this old feeling, we used earthen walls and polished the existing earthen floors. The Pelican Chairs by Finn Juhl fit perfectly within this decor.

Koujiya is a small machiya located in an alley one street away from the Nagara Shopping Arcade. The area from Koujiya towards Lake Biwa once flourished as the central part of town. The small alleys lined with old townhouses and Jizo statues make the area great for walking. One of Koujiya’s previous owners was a voice and shamisen teacher, which lends an ever-so-slight air of dignity to the building. Before renovation, the building had been redone with modern materials, but when we stripped it to its frame, we uncovered beautiful old walls and earthen floors. The architect in charge, Yoshiji Takehara, selected materials that would bring the building’s past glory to light. For the finishing touch, we furnished Koujiya with a colorful yet elegant ND-01 chair by Nanna Ditzel and No. 45 chairs by Finn Juhl.

Together, the connected Maruyamachi, Hishiya, and Nagara Shopping Arcades form the center of Otsu. Located in the Nagara Shopping Arcade, Suzuya was once a tempura shop. This was the building most in need of repair, but the full renovation transformed it into a stunning sight to behold. On the second floor, what was once a laundry room is now a study that overlooks the alley below. The building serves as a showcase for unique design pieces like Ib Kofod-Larsen’s IL-10 Easy Chair and Finn Juhl’s FJ-01 No. 53 Easy Chair. Unlike the other buildings, Suzuya has no dining room and only a small kitchenette. Instead of cooking in, why not try the delectable eel from Tanimume Suisan located right door, the ¥40 coquettes from Gensan, or the pickles from long-standing pickle shop Yaoyo? All of these dishes go great with rice.