Grand Duke Hotel

This must be the best kept secret hotel in Hikone as it is misspelled on Trip Advisor. The correct name is GRAND DUKE HOTEL and it is very very good. You can't miss it, just a couple of blocks from the Hikone station, it is a distinctive red-coloured brick building with its name in big white japanese characters on one side and english on the other. It is so close to everything: just a couple of blocks down from the main street where all the restaurants are and about 10 minute walk to the base of Hikone Castle (note that the castle is actually on top of a hill). Friendly staff at reception, basic English but top marks for trying! We booked a twin room and it was quite spacious (we were pleasantly surprised by the space as we have stayed in other japanese hotels half the size of our room here). Ours was a corner room on the 3rd floor facing the road so we had windows on 2 sides. The beds were big and comfortable and best of all, there's a choice of pillows on a shelf in the hall of each floor in case you weren't happy with the japanese straw-filled ones. What luxury! I had a bamboo and charcoal filled pillow one night (oh so comfy!) and a memory foam one the next (heaven!). My husband loved his bamboo/charcoal pillows so much he wants us to get some for our bedroom at home. We had japanese style breakfast each morning with smoked fish, pickles, tofu, boiled vegies (there's a small boiling pan right on your table), miso soup and tea or coffee - just perfect! We really liked this hotel and will stay here again if we are in the area. For us, it is a refreshing change from big city hotels and a lovely example of Japanese hospitality in a regional context.