P G
Stayed 1 night on the way to Akanko-Onsen and was very impressed. Wish we could stay longer. English explanations in writing were plentiful even though we were the only foreigners. Signs in the onsen in English to explain water and food, some in Korean and Chinese.
Meals were fantastic value and delicious - dinner was fine dining, great selection of wine. We chose the set dinner at "Bird Watch Cafe" - highlights were main of Tokachi beef, palate cleanser of sherbet, dessert, entre, cream if carrot soup... Actually all of us was great, it felt like we were in a French restaurant in Tokyo. Very thoughtful use of local ingredients showing pride in their region and fresh produce. Kudos to the chef and kitchen staff!
The bread and pastries are all baked in the hotel kitchen. Best bread and butter I've had in Japan.
Breakfast choice - Western, Japanese or a la carte. We had Japanese & Western. Both fantastic using local ingredients.
And the staff were exemplary.
Thank you to Hayato Tanaka - manager at the dinner and breakfast. He was very warm and still very professional. A wonderful balance of excellent customer service. Thank you to all the staff at dinner service, they were professional, wonderful and helpful.
Onsen water quality is one of the best we've had in Japan. The onsen is also open to locals/ day visitors. With multiple onsen & sauna sessions in the afternoon and morning, I saw familiar faces. Onsen layout is quite similar to traditional sentos. No "booths" - showers are along an open layout, so please wash your hair with your head bowed down in front of you. This is so the shampoo suds and conditioner drains in front of you and doesn't mess up the walking area behind you/ spray on people next to you/ walking by.
Water is "moor water", which is a rare plant-based hot spring water and a Hokkaido cultural treasure. It has a darker colour with particles in water. Not chlorinated. Skin feels silky smooth. Outdoor bath was delightful. Bathing to the sound of birds in the trees in the early morning was blissful.
Sauna is fairly new. Heat was consistent. I really enjoyed the facilities - small and large towels were available in the onsen change rooms so I didn't have to take from my hotel room all the time. The strange thing is someone decided to splash water all over the sauna - the cloth mats, the walls, the floor - three next morning. I wasn't sure if this is a local thing.
***Loved that the onsen provides the rule to thoroughly wash yourself before going into the baths! ***
So many tourist onsens like Dormy Inn miss this critical rule, so tourists only think they need to "rinse" with bath water before entering the bath. So people think they don't have to wash themselves properly before entering the bath and it's infuriating to locals. Some city Japanese also think this.
The more local the sento/ onsen, the better understood the rules are. Please DO wash yourself at the showers thoroughly with soap, between toes, everywhere, scrub carefully, rinse off completely and THEN enter the bath water. So very glad that authentic and local sento/ onsen clearly state this rule!
Hotel rooms - large, very comfortable beds. Furniture a bit dated but very very clean. Respect to the cleaning staff who make sure everything was spotless.
The hotel is constructed of natural materials - wood, clay, earth, reeds.... All this adds to the feeling of bringing the outside nature into the rooms and lounge areas.
Hotel was the perfect combination of a high-end spa in nature experience - excellent staff, great food, luxurious rooms, beautiful lounge areas with nature. Best onsen. Quiet, peaceful, healing.
I would absolutely stay again.
Sarah Depp
Its location is conveniently ideal. Hotel staffs are well trained & helpful. Breakfast has a choice of western or Japanese. Tasty bread is freshly baked every day & all the ingredients are locally produced. Their outdoor Onsen bath is relaxing. Only rooms are small, unattractive.
Trung
I stayed at this hotel in Hokkaido, Japan and had a great experience. The hotel itself was very nice and well-maintained. The highlight, however, was the breakfast - it was excellent. The staff were also incredibly friendly and provided the high level of service that one would expect in Japan. Overall, I would highly recommend this hotel for anyone visiting Hokkaido.