Biwako Hotel in Otsu, Shiga Prefecture, is releasing two new drinks as part of its ongoing Hyakunin Isshu Cocktails series. The 27th edition — one cocktail and one mocktail — will be available at "Café Bellago" and "Italian Dining Bellago" on the hotel's second floor from April 1 (Wednesday) through June 30 (Tuesday), 2026.
Now in its 9th year, the project aims to cover all 100 poems of the Ogura Hyakunin Isshu, and this latest edition brings the running total to 56 poems. This round features a cocktail evoking the twilight sky that heralds the arrival of summer, and a mocktail capturing the bittersweet ache of uncertain love. Both drinks invite guests to reflect on the poets' emotions against the backdrop of Lake Biwa and the mountain silhouettes of Hiei and Hira.
Hyakunin Isshu Cocktails & Mocktails — 27th Edition Details
Venue: Café Bellago / Italian Dining Bellago (2nd floor, Biwako Hotel)
Period: April 1 (Wednesday) – June 30 (Tuesday), 2026
Hours: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM (last order 9:30 PM)
Prices: "Shirushi" (cocktail) ¥1,800 / "Koi no Michi" (mocktail) ¥1,200
"Shirushi" (Cocktail) — ¥1,800
~ Kaze soyogu / Nara no ogawa no / Yūgure wa / Misogi zo natsu no / Shirushi narikeru ~
[Poem No. 98 — Jūnii Ietaka (1158–1237)]
Inspired by an evening scene in which the lingering scent of summer is felt during the purification ritual known as misogi, this cocktail uses rum as its base. Parfait Amour recreates the hazy violet tone of the deepening twilight sky, while lemon juice adds a refreshing summery brightness. A lemon garnish placed on the rim of the glass evokes a full moon glowing in the dusk.
"Shirushi" contains alcohol and is not available to guests under 20 years of age.
"Koi no Michi" (Mocktail) — ¥1,200
~ Yura no to wo / Wataru funabito / Kaji wo tae / Yukuhe mo shiranu / Koi no michi kana ~
[Poem No. 46 — Soné no Yoshitada (dates unknown)]
Drawing from the image of a boat drifting helplessly through tidal currents with a lost rudder, this mocktail expresses the anxious, wistful feeling of not knowing where love will lead. Rich strawberry syrup represents a deepening longing, orange juice conveys the swaying of the heart, and silver flakes that shimmer inside the glass suggest both sparkling water droplets and the refined world of classical poetry.
The Ogura Hyakunin Isshu Initiative at Biwako Hotel
Biwako Hotel launched its Hyakunin Isshu Cocktails series in 2017 to commemorate the 1,350th anniversary of the relocation of the capital to Otsu. Over the years, the hotel has expanded its poetry-inspired food offerings to include a Hyakunin Isshu Sweets Buffet (2019), a Hyakunin Isshu-themed Afternoon Tea (2021), and a seasonally rotating Hyakunin Isshu Lunch menu (from 2022) — a range of culinary experiences that reflect Otsu's long-standing identity as the "Home of Karuta."
Prices include consumption tax and a 15% service charge. Food images are for illustrative purposes. Menu items are subject to change depending on ingredient availability.
