Tsukushi Village

We spent almost two weeks in a cottage that could comfortably fit six adults and a few kids in its two rooms. It had two bathrooms, ample parking, and a well-equipped basic kitchen with a hob, fridge, and mini table oven. The split levels meant a fair bit of exercise, and the bath felt luxurious by Japanese standards, with washing facilities too. The place is made up of several standalone split-level cottages and a small dining restaurant, where orders have to be made much earlier and by request. Surrounded by farmland about 28 km from Kushiro City, it suited us as a quiet rural base with modern comforts. The town was a little over 20 minutes away, and Lake Akan and other places of interest in the northeast were an hour or more away.

We went in February 2023, in winter, and found this place beautiful. It’s like a service apartment, and five people can stay comfortably in one row house. You can cook for yourself, but bring the food you’ll need, since the place is on the outskirts and there’s nothing nearby within less than 6 km by car. There’s only one taxi in town. Tsurumi dai is just 450 m away, and otowa bridge is 1.8 km away; you can walk to the bridge or hire a taxi. The staff are very kind. My one request is to have a caretaker available for help, since no staff stay here after office hours.

I visited in winter and saw a flock of red-crowned cranes fly past my window over the pristine white snow. This stylish inn has a lovely layout, and the meals made with local ingredients were delicious. I recommend booking a room with meals included. I could completely relax with the lovely acoustics, wood-burning stove, and cypress wood bath.

We stayed one night with breakfast and dinner included, and both meals were so good that the whole family kept talking about them. The guesthouse itself is lovely, clean, comfortable, and fitted with new facilities. The owner and staff were warm and friendly, too. Tsurui Village has wonderful air and peaceful nights. If you’re coming in winter to see the red-crowned cranes, the location makes this a great place to stay.