The Forest Akan Tsuruga Resort

The view was fantastic, and you can walk to the Ainu village if you enjoy walking. This is probably one of the best value-for-money hotels in Japan, if not the best.

I expected an old hotel, but it seems to have been renovated really well. The lake view is lovely, and the cafe restaurant serves delicious Japanese food. The onsen is small, and you need to bring your own towel from the room.

The buffet was tasty, though the same dishes came around each evening, so by night three it felt repetitive. That was a small drawback in a stay we otherwise really enjoyed. The staff were kind and accommodating: after we asked for a window table, they tried to seat us at B-3 for most meals during our three nights. The hotel also has a great spot right by Lake Akan, with a path along the shore accessible from the back door and the boat terminal just steps away. We had a very pleasant visit. Thanks for looking after us.

We came as a group of nine and everyone was happy with the stay. The buffet dinner was generous and delicious. The hotel feels new, and you can still smell the wood when you walk into the lobby. We arrived early and, following the staff member's directions at the entrance, parked about 100 meters away. We walked the nearby forest trail, saw the mud volcanoes, and strolled along the lake. The weather was very good at the end of April. The outdoor foot bath is across from the entrance, and there's a washing machine on the second floor. We didn't try the onsen, but guests can visit the larger one at the sister property about 800 meters away using the free shuttle bus, which runs on a fixed schedule. The main problem was the water on the sixth floor: the pressure and flow were both poor. I’m writing this on our first night, so breakfast is still ahead. For a Lake Akan visit, this hotel is worth considering.