Kashintei Shirahama

We skipped the breakfast and dinner set meals this time, and there is parking across from the hotel. I loved the traditional ryokan feel: shoes off at the entrance, tatami mats throughout, and a really cozy, authentic atmosphere. Our room was comfortable and the staff were so welcoming. There are three bathing options, a gender-separated public bath, an outdoor bath that was closed during our visit, and a private onsen where you get 40 minutes. I highly recommend it if you're staying near Lake Tazawa. ❤️

We spent two nights at Kashintei Shirahama, which was about right for seeing the area in winter. We skied at Tazawako resort and went to nearby Kakunodate. The food was delicious and unusual, with a wide range of dishes to try. We also enjoyed the private onsen and the amenities. Our host was incredibly kind and did her best to communicate with us in English.

The staff were wonderful throughout: they showed us where to park, carried our bags, gave us a tour, answered questions quickly and politely, and lent us snow boots. I speak Japanese, but they still made an effort to use some English for my companion or when I seemed unsure. I called after booking online to confirm, and they did so readily. They asked to see my residency card and my partner's passport, so bring those documents. We stayed in a lakeview 15-tatami room with two sitting areas and lovely views. The space was gorgeous and the futons very comfortable. Dinner came in several beautifully presented courses at 7pm in the private dining room attached to our room. It's a set kaiseki menu; there was also a printed menu to translate anything we weren't sure about. The public rotenburo was much better than the private bath, though both were clean, well kept, and comfortably hot, leaving me relaxed. I was a little concerned by some reviews as a foreigner, but we were treated with great kindness and respect. The food, views, people, and stay were all great. I can't recommend it enough.

We slept like babies in the room with two double beds, and the relaxed feel of the place was lovely. There's an elevator and free parking across the street, so getting luggage to the room was easy. The private and public onsens are on the first floor; guest rooms are on floors three through five, with five rooms on each floor. We chose half board for two days, getting Japanese breakfast and kaiseki dinners. No dishes were repeated, and we tried Akita specialties including Kiritanpo, Hinai chicken, and Inaniwa udon. Every dish was delicious and beautifully presented, served in a private dining room. The private onsen is free, with a 40-minute limit and first-come access. The location by Lake Tazawa also worked well for visiting Kakunodate, the ski resort, Dakigaeri Valley, and the Tatsuko statue, all within the distances we wanted. Staff were very friendly and helpful, especially Nori-san and Minori. When communication got tricky, Google Translate helped us out. This is one of the best Japanese ryokans we've visited.