Toya Kanko Hotel

The onsen was great, with several pools and an outdoor bath, and we really enjoyed it. My kids were shy on their first visit, but soon they were happily soaking in the warm water. The view of the lake from our window was lovely, especially in winter. The hotel is well kept and the room was nice. It was our family’s first time sleeping on futons, and they were very comfortable. An earthquake shook us awake at night, with everything moving, but the hotel was still standing well afterward, so it seems sturdily built.

The staff were super friendly, and we appreciated having an on-site onsen that was never very busy. The hotel is well located, only 30 minutes from rusutsu, which made it a good base for skiing. The place is somewhat old and needs renovation, but it was clean and comfortable. It was a good stay, as long as you’re not expecting luxury.

We stayed for two nights. The hotel is old and needs renovation throughout. Breakfast was fair, with limited selection, but there was still something to eat. Outside meal times, it was hard to find an open restaurant. If you buy something quick from Seicomart and want to eat in the lobby sofa area, you have to buy drinks there too. Reserve the bus to Sapporo in advance. We didn’t know that was required and waited five hours after the driver turned us away because it was fully booked. A Chinese male receptionist helped us reserve the next bus.

The lakefront location is prime, but this grand old place badly needs a facelift. Cracked tiles, peeling paint, mould in the corners, and an overall 80s feel make it seem like it must once have been magnificent. Also, one of my two bags was missed during luggage check and left by the hotel entrance. Luckily, nothing in it seems to have been disturbed. That’s unusually poor service for a hotel in Japan.