Hotel Hot Springs di Akita Prefecture, Japan

During winter, the road for the last 800 meters before reaching the hotel is closed, and you must walk in. Guests need to park at Okama Onsen first. Before arrival, you are required to inform the hotel of your check-in time so that a staff member can guide you on foot to the property. The staff will help carry your luggage, but if you have many bags, it’s best to inform them in advance. The highlight of this stay is definitely the walk to the hotel. You walk deep into the forest along towering walls of snow on both sides, and eventually discover the onsen hidden in the woods. It feels truly special and secluded. The lobby area is not very large, and the number of staff is quite limited, but overall the service was very good. Dinner was served at a counter bar, and the chef was extremely friendly and spoke good English. The receptionist at the lobby, who is from Taiwan, speaks English, Chinese, and Japanese fluently. She explained everything clearly, helped carry our luggage on the way out, and even assisted with clearing snow off our car. Personally, I found the public onsen area to be a bit disappointing. The floor was icy and slippery, which felt somewhat unsafe. However, the private onsen in the room was excellent — very private, spacious for an in-room bath, with a beautiful view and wonderfully fragrant mineral water. The room itself was spacious, quiet, and peaceful. Mobile signal does not work inside the hotel, but the hotel provides Wi-Fi, which was stable and fast. Both breakfast and dinner were very good, and the hotel responded to emails and accommodated our special dietary requests, which we really appreciated. The only regret was that the snow was extremely deep during our visit, making it hard to fully see and imagine the surrounding scenery.

Although the hotel's decor is dated, the facilities are well-maintained and have everything a traditional onsen ryokan (hot spring inn) should have, and the equipment isn't outdated. The onsen has both indoor and outdoor sections, but in winter the outdoor temperature isn't high enough, so only the indoor onsen is available. The onsen has white floating debris and smells of sulfur, just like the Kaniba Onsen (crab farm) 😂. The hotel is family-run, but the owners haven't neglected service despite its age; on the contrary, you can feel their efforts to provide guests with the best and most up-to-date amenities in many details. I've been to many onsen ryokans in Japan, and while the facilities aren't as modern as some, they're comparable to established ones. Most importantly, I felt a strong sense of hospitality, which was very touching. I would definitely come back if I have the chance.

Service: The service was impeccable. We booked a one-night stay with two meals, and the hotel staff were already waiting for us at the station to pick us up. Because we arrived late, they even held our dinner reservation for us! Our train was cancelled the next day, and the hotel staff patiently explained how to take the bus and provided a timetable. They even drove us to the bus station – the service was excellent, and all of this was free! Cleanliness: Very clean. Environment: The hotel is next to a beautiful, pristine forest! The hot spring environment and water quality are top-notch, perfect for honeymooning couples! The tap water is drinkable and tastes incredibly sweet! Service: The service was the best I've ever experienced at a hotel.

The hotel service was good. Booking the timed shuttle bus service was very convenient! Our room was in the East Wing, which required carrying luggage up a few steps before being able to take the elevator to the room. This aspect needs improvement. The room itself was very spacious and comfortable. Both breakfast and dinner were buffet style, offering a wide variety of dishes, including local specialties. After 9 PM, dandan noodles were available as a late-night snack. The public hot spring bath was also quite nice!

First of all, I booked this hot spring hotel on Saturday and it cost me 33,600 yuan. I thought I could live in a big room, but everything became a mess after two sleeping mats were laid out at dinner time. We couldn't open our luggage because there was no place, and we had to jump to go to the bathroom because there was no way to go. I was really angry. I booked this hotel because it is a LA VISTA group, but the food, both the ingredients and the taste are worth the price. There are also many snacks, water, Yakult, and fresh milk in the lounge after the hot spring, but there is no juice. This is what I find strange. In addition, we often pass by the counter, and the waiters treat you as air. Anyway, the way of this hotel is to come and go. Just now we checked out and put on our shoes, and they turned around when we said byebye, and didn't even come to the door. Am I really expecting too much?

The all-wood building of the Muming Hotel, after check-in, I found that it is a treasure hotel. Not only the architectural structure, but also the services are very traditional. From the pick-up driver, the front desk to the restaurant service, it really allows guests to enjoy the intimate, comfortable and thoughtful Japanese service 👍

We stayed for three nights, including breakfast and dinner, and it definitely lived up to the hype for its food and scenery. While the hotel facilities are pretty standard, the environment is absolutely exceptional. It's only tens of meters from Lake Towada, surrounded by lush green spaces, big trees, and the lake itself – the beauty from this distance is captivating. Both meals and the shuttle bus need to be booked in advance. The schedule was: 7:30 AM breakfast, 9:30 AM departure, 4:00 PM return, 5:00 PM dinner, 6:30 PM evening walk, 8:30 PM hot springs, and 10:30 PM deep sleep. Day one poured rain, day two was spent in Yasumiya, taking a boat cruise, and visiting Towada Shrine. Day three was a 10km hike along the Oirase Stream followed by a final goodbye to Yasumiya. Day four was departure. A perfect experience overall! If I had to point out one minor drawback, it would be that the hotel service felt a bit cold. I understood not having our room cleaned on the first day, but not having it cleaned at all for three days felt a little odd. Also, for a stay that included breakfast and dinner, drinks at dinner on the third night were charged separately. It wasn't expensive, but no explanation was given. No 'do not disturb' sign was hung on the door, yet no cleaning. Drinks were offered with dinner on the first two nights, but not on the third. The hotel's onsen only has one large outdoor pool, and it's quite hot – it felt like half water, half fire, which was very enjoyable.

The hotel is an old-style 🍽️ hot spring hotel with a quiet environment and free parking. Although the waiter didn't understand English, he took the initiative to try to solve the problems we needed to solve, which was also good. The slope outside the hotel is very steep, drivers must be careful There are no shops outside the hotel, so you need to eat in the hotel. The food is not very delicious, but it is full of Japanese flavor and acceptable.

This very homestay style accommodation started some 48 years ago by the grandma. Two of her daugthers, Kaori and Katura now runs this cosy place with about 10 rooms. The stars are the two Akita inu, Haru-chan (father), 7 years old. And his daughter, Hana-chan (6 years old). it will take some time to warm up with them, similar to Shiba inu. We got to spend sometime with both of them during our stay, including giving them some treats, watched Haru-chan drinks ice cream with ice (it was a hot day). Chatted with Kaori and grandma to find out more about them. We had dinner and breakfast which was home cooked style. It has been a pleasant stay. Very friendly and down to earth family. This is highly recommended if you are into Akita Inu and enjoy homestay.

Maintaining a tidy space is a commendable quality, reflecting discipline and respect for surroundings. These individuals often demonstrate excellent organizational skills, ensuring order in their personal environment. Cleanliness contributes to a healthier lifestyle, promoting well-being and reducing stress. Furthermore, a clean environment typically fosters a more positive and productive atmosphere. Ultimately, those excelling in cleanliness and organization demonstrate valuable traits for both personal and professional success.