Towada Prince Hotel

The lake is the main draw here, though we had windy, cloudy weather and couldn’t fully enjoy the view. I imagine it’s stunning during the autumn foliage season. We found everything good enough, but nothing really wowed us, so I’d put it around 7.5/10. The hotel is in a forest with no nearby shops or restaurants, so I’d strongly suggest booking a plan with meals. We drove there and parking was easy, with plenty of room. The property is large and has lots of staff, but service felt limited: we carried our own luggage, and there’s no elevator. Our room had the basics, including a bathtub, but felt dated and wasn’t especially memorable. Dinner was a French course meal that tasted decent, though the service was slow. We’d been given a dinner time in advance but still waited nearly an hour because of table management issues. Breakfast came in Japanese or American style. We chose the Japanese set, which was good overall, and the cold apple soup stood out as unusual and refreshing.

What made the stay memorable was Sumi, who warmed up food we’d brought and found utensils for us right away. The lake views were stunning, the room had everything we needed, and the onsen was deeply relaxing. A wonderful stay.

The lake view alone could keep me here forever. The onsen was great, the French-style dinners were good, and the green pea soup was astonishing. Staff were friendly and professional.

The staff made the biggest impression, from the drivers who ferried us from the Yasumi to the hotel, to the helpful front desk team and the people serving us in the restaurant. Everyone was friendly, professional, and ready to help. I’m sorry I didn’t get their names. Our family stayed two nights. The rooms were a little dated but clean, and the beds were comfortable. We enjoyed grinding the coffee beans provided in the room, and loved having breakfast and dinner included. The food was delicious and beautifully presented. We’d definitely return if we get the chance.