Akan Yuku no Sato Tsuruga

The buffet meals at Akan Yuku no Sato Tduruga were excellent, with plenty of delicious choices and a comfortable dining room. We especially appreciated the main dining manager, Amir, who took time to understand our daughter's multiple food allergies and arranged off-menu dishes so she could eat safely. The chefs also deserve thanks for making that possible. Their care made meals stress-free and our stay more pleasant. We appreciated the warm hospitality and would gladly return.

We were treated very kindly, even though there weren't many Western guests around. I’d read a review from someone who said they didn’t feel welcome, but my own experience here was completely positive. The staff were professional and made a real effort to help. For example, our six-year-old was having trouble with the seven-course Japanese dinner that our tour had arranged. The food was delicious, but the server noticed our son was struggling and asked before bringing him other food and fruit he could enjoy. Later, my wife felt a little ill and couldn't make it to the buffet dinner. Although guests normally can't take buffet food out of the dining room, the staff made an exception and let me bring some back to her. We really appreciated both gestures. The room and beds were comfortable, and the rooms were lovely, with especially thoughtful lighting and artwork. If you're a Westerner concerned about bed comfort, there are rooms with standard Western beds, so choose one of those. You’ll be respected and well cared for at this beautiful place.

There’s plenty to do nearby: a shopping street with around 16 shops stays open from early morning until late at night, the Ainu Theatre is within walking distance, and the famous footbath takes a somewhat longer walk. The hotel itself is spread over two separate buildings and has shops on site, including a souvenir shop and a North Face outlet. Rooms are spacious, and the onsen facilities are large, with an outdoor bath on the main building's eighth floor. The buffet restaurant has a strong selection for both breakfast and dinner, though dining times need to be reserved in advance.

The front desk staff were welcoming and helpful, but my experience at the second-floor buffet was disappointing. Breakfast wasn't full, and there were plenty of tables for two. I handed over my buffet ticket as part of a tour group, but the host seated me at table #3, which seemed like an extra table set up against a dark wall. Other two-person tables had at least some view outside, and this one felt like it shouldn't have been used. When I went back to ask for a different table, the staff member seemed unhappy with my request. It was the first time I didn't feel the Japanese hospitality or the customary apologetic response. The buffet hosts need etiquette training.