Urabandai Lakeresort Nekomarikyu

We spent four nights here in autumn and enjoyed it more than expected. The hotel was comfortable, our room looked out over Lake Hibara, and we made good use of the public onsen. A private onsen can be booked for a fee. We’d previously stayed somewhere with free private baths, so we didn’t feel the need to pay here. Instead, we went to the public bath early in the morning or afternoon when it was quiet. The outdoor onsen was closed for most of our stay because of bear sightings, which was disappointing since we’d been looking forward to the view. Fortunately, it opened on our last day. The Five Ponds Walk starts at the hotel and ends near a tourist area with a delicious restaurant. We drove to the far end to leave the car, had a tasty brunch since we eat only two meals a day, then walked back toward the hotel. It was an easy, relaxed walk with plenty of photo spots. Walkers are encouraged to wear bells to deter bears; we played bell sounds and music on Spotify instead. The walk was beautiful, and we saw large kois in one pond. After getting back to the hotel, we walked to the other end again to collect the car. You can rent a small boat on the lake or take the larger ferry, making this a lovely area for relaxing and enjoying nature. For dinner we drove to Inawashiro, which had lots of options. We found a few good lunch-only restaurants nearby for brunch. We’d love to come back.

There are lots of guest spaces where you can sit and chat, and the bar has darts and billiards. Dinner was plentiful and different each day. The resort has plenty of facilities, and it’s very close to the ski resort, just a short flight away.

The interior felt cozy and comfortable, and there are three different ski resorts nearby, with options for beginners through advanced skiers. The heating was weaker than at other hotels where I stayed last winter.

We had a spacious room looking out over Lake Hibara, and the public bath was huge, clean, and comfortable. Its view of the autumn leaves was one of the best parts of our stay. Meals were buffet style, with plenty of choice at both breakfast and dinner, and the food tasted good. You can also get straight onto a hiking trail from the hotel to visit the ponds. There’s a large shop stocked with souvenirs and food, too. I’d love to return someday, especially in autumn.