Hotel Lake Side Tsukuba

The heat stayed with me long after I got out, so I imagine the springs would be especially nice in colder weather. I only visited the hot springs for the day and can't speak to the hotel. I saw just the men's area. The private shower stalls on the open-air side were a nice touch. The water in the non-flowing bath was hot, while I personally preferred the cooler, smaller flowing bath. The indoor bath smelled of chlorine, though it seemed clean. It's the nearest hot spring to my home, but I think around 800 yen would be a more reasonable price.

The guest rooms have been renovated and are clean, and I really enjoyed the breakfast with Daruma natto and all-you-can-eat tofu. The baths are split between the first floor and basement, but that wasn't an issue for me since I could use one in the evening and the other in the morning. Dinner was a letdown: there was about half as much sashimi as when I last stayed. The tennis courts are also in poor shape, with some spots treacherous enough to cause injuries. If they're charging people to use them, they should maintain them properly.

It was quiet at night, and my friend and I could really relax. We chose monkfish hotpot for dinner, and there was more than the two of us could finish. Breakfast was tasty too, with natto on straw and mixed grain rice. The female staff member serving dinner was lovely, and the young part-time workers were working hard. It was our first girls' trip in a while, and I was a little nervous after reading other reviews, but the exterior looked beautiful and the older feel inside didn't bother me much. The woman at the front desk was so friendly when we checked in. The halls and room were renovated and clean, and the bed was comfortable. I slept soundly. It got a bit chilly at night, though, and my friend was cold with just the air conditioning, so I borrowed a comforter from the closet. I wish we'd brought a blanket. There are two baths. The large one on the second floor was cold and steamy. The water temperature was just right, not too hot, and there was no drain smell. Four faucets in the washing area were broken, and the drainage seemed a little slow. The water dispenser in the changing room should be fixed soon. The basement bath is open-air, with a nice atmosphere and two pools. You can't see outside, but my friend and I admired how solidly it was built while looking up at the riveted roof. The open-air bath lockers take a 100 yen coin, which is returned, so bring one along. It was a great hotel. Thank you very much.

The food was delicious, and the facilities were clean and well kept. I used the hotel several times on a company-sponsored trip and wanted to come back with my family, especially since there's a pool in summer. But it always fills up then, so that never worked out. Breakfast was tasty too. The stay felt a little expensive, though half was covered by my company, so it wasn't an issue for me. For most people, I think it may be a bit pricey.