On June 16, 2023, Friday, around 4:00 PM, my family visited Hotel Fusu in Lake Shikotsu, located in Kawayu, Kamishihoro District, Hokkaido. The hotel has a parking lot, smoking is prohibited, and credit cards are accepted on the first floor. The hotel overlooks the lake, and the bathing experience was enjoyable. We had our meals at the hotel's restaurant, Lake View, which I will include in this review. Lake Shikotsu is famous for the ice hotel built on the lake during winter and is popular among fishing enthusiasts. We spent our time relaxing without any specific activities. This was the second day of our trip to Hokkaido, and we chose to stay at Hotel Fusu by Lake Shikotsu because of its good reputation for hot springs and to visit my sister who lives nearby. We arrived at Hotel Fusu around 4:00 PM after visiting my brother-in-law's parents in Tomamu. Our room was a traditional Japanese-style room with a beautiful view of Lake Shikotsu. We first enjoyed the natural hot spring bath, which had a golden color and felt soothing to the body. The hot spring water may appear cloudy, but it was very comfortable. Hotel Fusu likely accommodates guests with various purposes, and some may stay here specifically for the hot springs. Our baby started crying when we tried to take them to the large communal bath, so we ended up bathing in the room's private bath. Maybe they will enjoy the communal bath when they are a little older. For dinner, we dined at the elegant Lake View restaurant on the first floor. The meal was served in a traditional ryokan style, with most dishes pre-set. The grilled char and whitefish were delicious, but I don't remember much else, perhaps because I was preoccupied with taking care of the baby. The sashimi was also tasty, and overall, there were no complaints. The staff, including non-Japanese members, worked diligently to provide good service. Upon returning to our room, the futons were already laid out, and we could immediately relax. I took another dip in the hot spring before going to bed. It was a delightful experience to visit Hokkaido with my family, relax in the hot springs, and enjoy our time together. The hotel was bustling with fishing groups and tour groups visiting the garden. Hotel Fusu is the only hotel on Lake Shikotsu, and I hope it continues to thrive. We would love to visit again and perhaps participate in a guided tour next time. I will share my thoughts on breakfast in the next review. Thank you for a wonderful experience.

It seems to be a place that can be reached in about an hour and a half from Obihiro, but coming from the Toyokoro side, I arrived in a secluded area. Passing through the lakeside tunnel on the way in and out, the hotel surroundings felt remote. Being buried in snow made it even more so. It is not a new accommodation facility, so it exudes a nostalgic Showa-era atmosphere. Most of the rooms seem to have a lake view. The red-purple cushions and carpet on the veranda enhance the retro feel of the accommodation. I would like to visit in the summer too. The meals were served in the restaurant, as the meal start time was decided at check-in and already set. The shabu-shabu was delicious as it was cold. The specialty of Lake Shikaribetsu, the char, was also grilled whole. The fluffy shirataki noodles were served in a bowl with fu, and the flavors soaked into the wheat gluten, making it tasty. After dinner, I went to sleep at the Ice Lodge and returned to the room in the morning for breakfast at the same restaurant. The breakfast set was served with vegetables in a rectangular lacquer box, along with rice and soup. Having breakfast by the window, overlooking the kotan bathed in the morning sun, and experiencing the white world of Shikaribetsu was a fleeting moment. I will head back around Obihiro.

I used it during the year-end and New Year holidays. I had delicious soba at the famous soba restaurant, Mebundate, just off the highway in Tokachi Shimizu, and then headed towards Lake Shikaribetsu. You need to do your shopping around Tokachi Shimizu because there are no convenience stores. Despite the weather forecast predicting a severe storm, I left Sapporo early, but the weather was sunny with no snow on the roads, and I arrived two hours earlier than the check-in time. I had to kill time, but the surrounding souvenir shops and the visitor center were closed, and the long-established inn, Fukuhara, across the street was dark and closed? It was a very lonely surrounding area. There was nothing to do but look at the lake. Even though the weather was nice, it was a world of minus 14 degrees Celsius, so cold that it was painful. So, I went to the hotel early to seek refuge. I waited for about 10 minutes in the hotel lounge while drinking, which made the hotel staff rush, but they kindly allowed me to check-in. The room was a Japanese-style room with a view of the lip mountain on the lake side, a soothing room for the eyes. It is a traditional hot spring inn, but it has a charming and clean Japanese-style room that is not uncomfortable. Unlike luxury accommodations, common inns often have buffet-style meals in the morning and evening, so I am very grateful for the kaiseki cuisine as a picky eater. Dinner was kaiseki cuisine and New Year's menu at the restaurant. It wasn't super delicious, but each dish was carefully prepared, expressing the seasonal feeling. They also served New Year's soba for supper. Breakfast was also a buffet-style at the restaurant. The infectious disease prevention measures were thorough, and the disciplined and cheerful service by young trainees, who seemed to be from Vietnam, made me feel good from the morning. I was able to enjoy the buffet time with peace of mind. The baths include a large communal bath and an open-air bath where you can overlook the lake and mountains. The spring water is continuously flowing, with plenty of water, no added water, and the temperature is maintained at around 39-45°C by adjusting the temperature of the spring water. It is a sodium-chloride. Carbonate hydrogen salt spring that warms the body and makes the skin smooth. The hotel's bingo event was of course canceled in these times, but instead, they came up with the idea of drawing a lottery number paper at check-in and checking the next day to see if you won, which was enjoyable. There was no offering of New Year's sacred sake this time. I think this inn is well-balanced and satisfying in terms of price, room, hot springs, food, and service. Although access to the hotel rooftop is prohibited, there seems to be a pyramid-shaped power charging area. Whether the entire hotel has become a power spot or not is up for debate.

I wanted to visit the Kotan village that appears only in this season when the entire Lake Shikaribetsu freezes over, so I stayed at this hotel right next to it. It's very convenient as Lake Shikaribetsu is just a stone's throw away. Dinner was a kaiseki meal at the venue, and most of the staff were foreigners. It was quite impressive.

I visited this place for the second time, five months after my last visit when the birch trees were turning yellow and the chipmunks were busy storing food. This time, I came to explore the Kotan village on Lake Shikaribetsu, a magical village made of snow and ice that appears on the frozen lake for about two months in winter. The village features igloos, ice baths, and an ice bar, showcasing the harsh natural environment of the region. The food, including a delicious pork shabu-shabu, was impressive. The next morning, I woke up to -25°C temperature, experiencing the coldest weather of the season. Despite the extreme cold, I enjoyed watching the sunrise from the outdoor bath and had a fulfilling day.

I participated in a 2-night, 3-day tour of the autumn leaves in the Daisetsuzan Mountains in Hokkaido. The first night was spent at a hotel by Lake Shikaribetsu. Since it was a hotel used for bus tours, I didn't have high expectations. The exterior was okay. The room was spacious, with a separate sink, and quite comfortable. The view from the room was probably the best around, with Mount Kuchibiru right in front, especially beautiful in the morning. The large communal bath was not as big as expected. The hot spring water didn't have any distinctive features. The outdoor bath wasn't very hot, it would have been better if it was a bit hotter. The dining hall was a large tatami room with chairs for tour groups. Dinner had a decent variety, but aside from the grilled cherry salmon, everything else was pretty average and similar to what you can get anywhere else. There was only pork teppanyaki for hot dishes, and the rest were all cold, which was disappointing. There was too much fish, and I got tired of it. Some of the service staff were foreigners, and their lack of experience was noticeable. I wished there were at least two more hot dishes. Well, I understand that it's a tour, so there's no point in complaining too much. The breakfast buffet had a wide variety, but the quality was just average. Customers rushed in at the start time, and you had to wait in line for quite a while.

Hokkaido experienced an unprecedented situation with a maximum seismic intensity of 7 in the eastern part of Iburi. To support the recovery efforts, I decided to travel to Hokkaido after the Silver Week in September. My destination was Lake Shikaribetsu, where I planned to climb Mount Higashi-Nupukaushinupuri on the first day and hike around the lake on the second day. Unfortunately, the weather was rainy and foggy most of the time, so I couldn't do much. However, climbing Mount Higashi-Nupukaushinupuri on the first day was a great decision as I got to see many cute mountain hares and enjoy the hot spring at the hotel. The hot spring had a slightly sulfuric smell and was very relaxing. The hotel also had a nice outdoor bath with a view of Lake Shikaribetsu. The meals were decent, but some dishes were not served hot enough, like the grilled fish and sukiyaki. Overall, the hotel experience was good, but there were some areas for improvement in the food quality and service.

I stayed at the hotel for 2 nights and 3 days from September 14th to 16th. My partner and I came to Lake Shikaribetsu to go fishing. Lake Shikaribetsu is the only place where you can fish for a subspecies of cherry salmon called "Miyabeiwana" twice a year. We were excited to try this unique fishing experience, which is limited to 50 people per day. The cost for our 2-night stay was 62,480 yen, which is quite pricey because this hotel is the only one near the lake. However, the dinner was fantastic! We had different dishes each night, including grilled cherry salmon, tempura, sashimi, pork shabu-shabu, and simmered dishes. The presentation was beautiful, and the food made with Hokkaido ingredients was delicious. The hotel is a bit old, but the service was good despite some areas for improvement. We also enjoyed a hearty breakfast and dinner the next day, with dishes like beef sukiyaki. Although we didn't catch the Miyabeiwana we were hoping for, we did catch some rainbow trout and cherry salmon. We will have to come back next year for another try!

It's a place where you can enjoy all year round. The hot springs are hot, but they keep your body warm for a long time.

12:00 on April 22, H30.4.22 One of the few pleasures during my business trip alone is visiting secluded hot springs. I arrived aiming for the start time of the day trip bathing. I arrived a little early, so I checked the hot spring quality at the lakeside foot bath. Oh! This spring is richer than I thought. The scent of chloride soil is overflowing. With high expectations, I couldn't wait and headed to the front desk five minutes early. They kindly accepted me. The day trip bathing fee is 1,000 yen. They accept cards. As instructed, I changed into slippers at the front desk. They will keep your shoes at the front desk. It's a thoughtful rule. I appreciate it. The baths are on the second floor, but the front desk is on the third floor, so I took the elevator down. Passing through the curtain, oh, the dressing room is beautiful. I can see the indoor bath on the left. Of course, no one is there. I quickly put my belongings in the valuables locker and hurried to the indoor bath. I washed my body and headed straight to the outdoor bath. Wow, it's paradise. The "Kuchibiru Mountain" towers before me, and the rich salt spring envelops my body. It seems to have oil content, and there is no roughness typical of salt springs. The scent of chloride soil is also good. It's similar to Toyohira Gorge or Ryounkaku. I wonder if they completely change the water during cleaning. At first, the bottom was a bit lukewarm, but after an hour, it became the right temperature. The indoor bath also has a sense of openness, and you can see the Kuchibiru Mountain and the lake from any position. This situation, just an hour from my business trip accommodation, is luxurious. I thoroughly enjoyed it. There seems to be a plan with lunch included, so next time, I think I'll try that from the perspective of a foodie on Tabelog. It would be nice to stay with my family too. It seems that Hotel Fukuhara across the road has closed. I hope Fuusui-san continues to provide this good spring, with their best efforts.

I used it casually during the New Year period. It is a new building, and meals are included in the stay. It was my first time using it in the winter. In the summer, it is a ryokan known for its Oshoro salmon dishes. In the winter, you can see the frozen lake from the room, and you can see the Goemon bath in the lake. They start using the Goemon bath around January or February. I would love to visit again next time. Despite the last-minute reservation this time, the staff were very friendly and provided a homely service. For meals, we dined in the restaurant. On a day when it was -12°C, we could see the starry sky from the open-air bath, and we relaxed while getting smooth skin from the mineral-like hot spring. Since it was during the New Year period, there was also a mochi pounding event. The menu is as follows: (Dinner) [Appetizer] Chestnut sweet potato, gold leaf yokan, Hakata kombu roll, red and white kamaboko, Datemaki, shrimp and clam simmered, Nankoume [Appetizer] Kazunoko [Sashimi] Botan shrimp, hamachi, octopus [Vinegared dish] Snake belly cucumber, Mamakari red and white roll, Nata bean flowers [Simmered dish] Salmon brocade roll, Miso vinegar Shinden roll, Kuwai Roppo, Grilled bamboo shoots, Ume-fu shrimp Yoshino simmered, Fuki [Grilled dish] Grilled Alaska shrimp and sea urchin, Mizuhiki sheaf, Haskami [Fried dish] Crab new tempura, Shrimp new jo-henage plum flower lotus root [Main dish] Alaska Menmen Miso hot pot, Chinese cabbage, Jimeji, Enoki, Shiitake, Mizuna, Tofu [Steamed dish] Chawanmushi Matsutake silver bean paste [Soup] Red and white fish somen, tied yuba, yuzu, mitsuba [Rice] Hokkaido white rice [Pickles] Salmon rice sushi [Dessert] Berry cake ☆ 2013 review ☆ Past hotel series. This hotel has the best location in the ryokan by Lake Shikotsu. It is full of relaxation as it is located next to the pleasure boat pier. Since it is built along Lake Shikotsu, the open-air bath and the view from the room are fantastic. However, it is pitch dark at night, so you can't see anything... In the evening, you can see the lake and the mountains from the window... The mountain reflected in the lake looks like lips, so it is called "Lip Mountain." The cuisine is a kaiseki meal that uses plenty of seasonal ingredients, starting with the main dish of grilled Oshoro salmon. The Oshoro salmon had crispy skin, slightly salty coating, and a refreshing fishy taste. From the open-air bath, you can immediately see Lake Shikotsu. The water quality is good, the food is delicious, and the view is amazing. It is the best inn.

I went for lunch on a tour on 9/23. It cost 2,100 yen, so I was expecting something delicious to come out normally, but the meat was tough and not tasty, which everyone didn't like. It's a place where only tourists come, probably not a frequent tourist spot, so I thought that's why this kind of thing can happen. In addition to the meat, there was char, but it was also not great. Also, the miso soup was too salty.

During the three-day weekend, we visited Lake Shikaribetsu and Kuttari Onsen. We started by sweating it out at Kuttari Onsen, then drove through the panoramic view pass to Shikaribetsu. The foot bath there is nice and hot, perfect for winter! My child really wanted to ride the sightseeing boat, so we ended up changing our lunch plans. But since the staff offered a free ticket for one child, we decided to go for it. After the boat ride, we realized it was already late for lunch, so we had a light meal at the restaurant. I tried Oshorokoma for the first time, a freshwater fish dish. It was prepared as fried fish coated in teriyaki sauce, an interesting experience. My friend had a set meal of pork bowl and soba, while the kids enjoyed the special curry. There was even a Loco Moco plate made with Oshorokoma. We finished off with a soft serve called Honarara, with a yogurt-like flavor. Overall, it was a refreshing treat. The day trip with onsen access seems to be a good deal.

Located in the Daisetsuzan National Park, the only natural lake in the park is Shikaribetsuko Lake. It is situated at an altitude of 810m, making it the highest-altitude lake in Hokkaido. The hotel's bathing area is right in front of the lake, offering a panoramic lake view. According to the review by the onsen expert Katsuro, during winter, there is an event called "Shikaribetsuko Kotan" where you can experience the unique "Ice Open-Air Bath" in extreme cold temperatures of -30°C. Additionally, there is an ice bar where you can enjoy drinks. It seems like a hotel where you can have fun even during the winter season. I was planning to visit for a day trip and use the hot springs and have lunch. There was a set menu that included a bathing ticket and lunch, but upon closer inspection of the menu posted on the bulletin board, I noticed there were lighter meal options available as well. The "Oshorokomoko," a combination of Oshorokoma and Locomoco rice bowl, caught my attention as an interesting menu. I decided to think about my meal after enjoying the bath first. The hot spring is a sodium-chloride bicarbonate spring (low salinity, neutral, high-temperature spring), formerly known as a bicarbonate-salt spring. The rocks near the hot spring outlet and edge are discolored reddish-brown, and there is a slight smell of iron. The slightly cloudy yellow-brown water felt soft and gentle on the skin. It was a sodium spring, but it didn't have a strong tingling sensation that stings wounds. The water temperature was around 42°C, a bit high for me, but it provided a refreshing bathing experience. Although it was raining, a rainbow appeared as soon as I entered the bath. The arched rainbow stayed for a while, reflecting on the swaying lake surface due to the wind, creating a dreamy atmosphere. The rainbow continued even when I moved to the outdoor bath, making my time there feel blissful. The indoor bath was also spacious and relaxing, providing a pleasant bathing experience. I usually enjoy long baths, and with the rainbow and the overall atmosphere, I ended up spending over two hours in the bath without realizing. When I finally got out, I found out that the restaurant was closed. I had no choice but to go to the shop across the front desk. I bought a "Country Home Scenery" yogurt made from high-quality milk from a local shop in Kae-oi Town. I decided to enjoy it outside since there was a promenade and benches by the lake. The yogurt was incredibly delicious, with a thick and creamy texture, moderate sweetness, mild acidity, and a refreshing aftertaste. It was so delicious! The shop seemed interesting, and I would like to visit it next time. But before that, I want to have another go at the Oshorokomoko dish. The Nature Center offers various experiential activities such as lake cruises, fishing, and canoeing. It seems like you can have fun in both summer and winter. The food looked delicious, so I definitely want to stay overnight, try fishing and canoeing, and enjoy the activities.

March 29, 2013. Arrived at Niikappu Station around 11 am, ate soba near the station, then took the bus to Kushiro departing at 11:30 am, then transferred to a bus heading to Lake Shikaribetsu at the Kaoropinaijo sales office. Arrived at Lake Shikaribetsu Onsen at 12:40 pm. Checked in at Hotel Fusui first. Enjoyed some sweetened beans provided in the room (delicious!). Then headed to Lake Shikaribetsu for the limited event "Shikaribetsu Lake Kotan" from January to March. Started with a warm outdoor bath on the ice while it was still warm at noon (temperature was 1 degree). However, due to the risk of the roof collapsing when the temperature rises in late March, it may not be available at times. In fact, on this day, right after I used it, the temperature rose and the roof was in danger of collapsing, so it was closed until the evening. It seems that visiting around February is better for those planning to take photos during the day. After that, I saw the ice chapel and other attractions (but they were also melting). Visited the ice cafe where there was an ice theater and art pieces. Had matcha latte and hot stout (hot beer with sugar and cinnamon) there. Then returned to the hotel. First, took a bath at the hotel to avoid catching a cold, but the outdoor bath was so comfortable that I ended up taking a long bath. Cold! After that, I dozed off a bit and when I woke up, it was gradually getting dark outside. Had dinner with dishes such as sashimi of shrimp, trout, scallop caught in Hokkaido, and a platter of braised pork belly tempura, as well as grilled salted oshorokoma, a unique species of this lake. Finished with milk sherbet. Hokkaido ingredients are indeed the best. After that, I tried to watch TV but only NHK and Fuji channels were available. So, I went to the ice bar. Had cocktails served in ice glasses. Returned to the room and went to bed. On March 30, in the morning, it was sunny and then suddenly it started snowing, and the snow was glittering in the sunlight. Is this diamond dust? Anyway, I got hungry, so I had breakfast. Started with rich milk and had grilled fish which was delicious. The Japanese breakfast at the hotel is wonderful. Checked out of the hotel at 10:30 am and was sent to Niikappu Station by the hotel bus. Then, headed to Sapporo on the Super Tokachi 4 Limited Express departing at 12:05 pm. Shikaribetsu Lake, both the hotel and the event, were great. The event has been going on for almost 30 years, but it doesn't seem to be widely known. It has a small and cozy atmosphere that was very relaxing. Thank you for the short but wonderful time. (By the way, it seems that the design of the ice bar changes every year.)