First dish: Tarako (cod roe) with simmered butterbur, tsukudani (seaweed and small fish) which is incredibly delicious, marinated herring, and thick grilled fish. Second dish: Tempura, grilled hokke fish, famous chip-grilled salmon roe, tofu with sweet miso sauce, and salad from the salad bar. It took over 6 minutes for the food to be served, but only the miso soup was warm? What was the purpose of the waiting time?? The drink bar and salad bar were prepared before seating, but there were no chopsticks so we couldn't eat. Enjoying a non-homogenized milk for the first time in a while, I waited while the gel milk melted in my mouth. There were many good ingredients, but I felt slightly disappointed. Thank you for the meal.

Breakfast was served at the venue. There was sashimi, grilled dishes, and the portions were too big to finish. There were also unique items like chips, which I thoroughly enjoyed. There was ramune in the private outdoor bath, but I couldn't figure out how to open it... So I asked the staff for help and they opened it for me. Thank you very much. It was a delicious meal.

The hotel that my friend booked for our Hokkaido sightseeing trip was excellent in terms of facilities, hot springs, and location. I highly recommend it without any complaints. We ordered a kaiseki course this time, and every dish was exquisite. The appetizer was edamame tofu topped with abalone, which paired well with yuzu flavor. The first dish, Kutchan 540, was a single slice of potato that was as sweet and impactful as sweet potatoes. The sashimi platter included octopus, tuna, flounder with kelp, Himemasu from Lake Shikotsu, and sweet shrimp. The flounder with kelp and Himemasu were especially delicious. The course featured ingredients from Hokkaido, which are known for their deliciousness, and the seasoning was also well-crafted, making it a top-notch hotel in every aspect. For breakfast, there was a regular menu along with a buffet offering sashimi, curry, and steamed dishes, and I indulged in three types of potatoes. It makes me want to visit another hotel in the same group.

This is the restaurant "Souan" located in the Suiko Lake's number one treasure pavilion, Suizan Pavilion. They serve handmade tofu and other dishes that you can also serve yourself in addition to the dishes prepared at the beginning. The food was delicious. However, there was a problem during the stay and the response was not very good, which was disappointing. Thank you for the meal.

The breakfast venue is located at the Suizantei hotel in Lake Shikotsu. It is actually on the first floor, although you have to go down to the basement from the lobby and then up the stairs at the back. Each table is set up for individual rooms, and the main dishes are served as soon as you sit down. There is also a buffet counter near the entrance with salads, simmered dishes, desserts, etc., which you can help yourself to. The most memorable part of the breakfast was the Lake Shikotsu specialty "Grilled Hime Masu (trout)" - the flesh was reddish and similar in color to salmon, but much softer and lighter in texture, making it very delicious.

The duck soba was very elegant. As you can see in the photo, it looked beautiful. There were three types of condiments, and by adding each one, I was able to enjoy the different flavors. The duck meat was very tender, and the more I chewed, the more umami flavor came out.

Well, well, on the second day after spending the first day of the new year at the Suizantei at Lake Shikotsu, it's time to review another restaurant, Souan, which was listed separately on Tabelog from yesterday's Koian. "Waking up and morning bath" After waking up, I headed straight to the bathhouse with my son. It was nice to see no one else around, enjoying a peaceful morning bath at a hot spring resort on New Year's Day. The outdoor bath, which was hard to see clearly last night due to darkness and steam, now offered a clear view. The hot spring water was colorless and transparent, and I found it to be of good quality and soothing. I reflected on things while soaking in the water, hoping for a calm year ahead. "Breakfast" Moving on to breakfast, I found myself at Souan, a place different from yesterday's Koian. The setup was not as elaborate as Koian, but it had its own charm. There was a buffet corner set up, along with traditional New Year's dishes like osechi on the table. Personally, I'm not a big fan of osechi, but the small portions made it bearable. Other dishes like grilled fish, simmered dishes, pickles, and soup were also served. I preferred the more traditional breakfast items like nori seaweed, natto, and umeboshi. Despite the initial hesitation, I managed to enjoy a satisfying breakfast. "Check-out" After a relaxing moment in the room, it was time to prepare for departure. It was a luxurious treat for the whole family, with great hot springs, facilities, and service. The food was well-prepared, although some dishes didn't quite suit my taste. Overall, it was a satisfying experience. Time to head home after a nice New Year's getaway.

Good morning. This is "Lake Shikotsu First Houkei Ryosuiyamatei Souan" inn. Recently, the perspective on staying at a ryokan has changed a lot. It's really amazing. A ryokan is a place that takes care of "clothing, food, and shelter" all at once. From the moment you check in, they manage your stay for the next few days. They provide everything you need, including meals, baths, laundry, and sleep. Waking up at 6 in the morning in nature makes you hungry. When the air is fresh, the food tastes better. Thank you for the delicious meal. Thank you and have a great day.

On the final day of the consecutive holidays, I went on a day trip to Suisen-tei at Lake Shikotsu. Suisen-tei is a restaurant where you can also enjoy lunch as part of the day trip bathing package. I called on Saturday, so I thought that Monday's public holiday might be fully booked, but there were hardly any people there. For the day trip bathing, there were probably only 3 of us, including me, in the women's bath. It was quiet and nice, but I hope it doesn't go out of business. When going with a partner, the public baths are separate, which can be boring, so this time we decided to use the private bath as well. The public bath was available from 12 o'clock, while lunch and the private bath were from 11 o'clock, so we booked it as follows: - Private bath from 11 am for 40 minutes. - Lunch from 12 pm. - Public bath until 3 pm. In the end, it was a bit rushed, but if you don't mind, the 40-minute private bath was also good. It costs in the 3000 yen range, whereas 60 minutes costs around 4300 yen. The private bath was quite spacious, so it could accommodate 3-4 people, including children. After warming up in the bath, I was looking forward to lunch. When we entered Suisen-tei, there were two other groups of customers, but no staff came out. We had to go all the way to the kitchen and call out before someone appeared. The lunch box that was served was a two-tiered box that you open yourself. Wow, it was luxurious! It included sashimi, tempura, grilled dishes, steamed dishes, and more. And it was delicious! I was pleasantly surprised by the flavors. Last time I came for lunch without a reservation, and they couldn't serve anything other than soba because a group was there. Finally, I could eat, and it was delicious! The scallops in the sashimi were fresh, and despite being in the mountains, it was unexpectedly good. The sashimi was better than the one I had at Hotel Nikko a few days ago. My favorite tamagoyaki was also included, and the rice had salmon and salmon roe on top! The miso soup was crab soup. It was all my favorites! I finished lunch with great satisfaction and then headed to the public bath. In the women's bath, there were two customers who had just left, so the bath was practically private! Lucky me! I was excited to go to the open-air bath, but it was cold! The water was colder than my body temperature. It was around 34 degrees. It felt like a warm swimming pool! It was impossible to stay in it when it was cold outside! So, I moved to the indoor bath. However, after relaxing in the indoor bath, I started feeling hot... Oh, maybe I can go back to the open-air bath now? I thought, so I went back to the cold open-air bath! If I don't move, it's not too hot or too cold. It was a temperature where I could stay for a while. Later, I heard that the men's bath was also cold. Well, it's silly to heat up the bath for just three customers... (But I think it's a service that should be provided since we are paying). But since I had already used the private bath and enjoyed a delicious lunch, I was okay with it! There were few people, so I had a good time! I wonder if there were more customers at the neighboring Mizu no Uta. Hang in there, Suisen-tei! I like it. One thing that was a bit inconvenient was the layout of the building. To get to Suisen-tei from inside the building, you have to go down to the basement and then go up the stairs. If you don't like that, you have to go outside once before entering. Frankly, both are a hassle! When I came to stay with my grandmother before, it was difficult to bring my grandmother, who had bad knees, to Suisen-tei, which is also the breakfast venue. It has a calm atmosphere and doesn't feel like it's geared towards young people, but it's not functional for the elderly either, which is a shame. The day trip bathing with a Matsukadotei bento box included was 2,675 yen per person. Last week, I also visited the neighboring Mizu no Uta, but they don't serve Japanese food, so if you want a hinoki bath and Japanese food, Suisen-tei is the place to go. If you want a buffet with healthy Western food and a large bath, then Mizu no Uta (including bathing for 2,900 yen) is the place to go. It depends on how you feel at the time, but personally, I like Suisen-tei because it's quiet.

I went to Lake Shikotsu for sightseeing with my family and we got hungry, so we were drawn to a sign that said "Juttoku Soba" and decided to go in. When we entered, no one came out to greet us, but a man in his 50s was cleaning up a table for one. I asked if the restaurant was open since it was 1:30 PM, and he replied that we could sit in the back. We sat in the tatami room, where there were spills of water and food left on the table. I asked if we could have a table wipe, and the man came over without a word, wiped the table, and finally placed the menu on it, saying, "A group just left, so it might take a bit of time." At this point, I should have just left, but it seemed like a hassle to find another restaurant at that moment, so I ordered the mini tempura rice bowl with soba. When my family asked what was in the tempura bowl, the man replied rudely, "Huh? It's just a tempura bowl and soba, as stated on the menu." It was clear that nothing I said would make a difference with this person. Since there were no other customers, our order arrived quickly. The tempura in the bowl was fried in old oil. The soba itself was delicious, but the broth was very salty, and despite me never leaving food uneaten, the portion was too much for me, so I left half. The broth was too salty for someone from Kansai. It was disappointing to learn that the restaurant was run by a hotel.

[October 2013 Update] The "Akihime Onsen Tamago Rice," which is being promoted as a B-grade gourmet dish at Lake Shikotsu, doesn't seem to have much recognition. It features flaked Akihime, which is the post-spawning meat of Hime Masu mixed with rice and a hot spring egg inside. Currently, it is available at eight restaurants around Lake Shikotsu. I have tried three other "Akahime Onsen Tamago Rice" dishes before, but this time, for some reason, it came with two types of desserts. While it is customary to include a dessert, this time both sweets and fruits were provided, which may be a special service just for this occasion and could be appreciated by women and others. [May 2009 First Review] The Lake Shikotsu Daiichi Houreiryu Suisantei, a popular inn in the area known for its luxurious ambiance, offers day trip hot spring packages with lunch. Plan A includes hot spring bathing (with rental towel set) and a Matsukado bento set, while Plan B includes soba and dessert. The bento box is quite impressive, with tempura, sashimi, grilled dishes, and salad beautifully arranged in a two-tiered box. The taste is satisfactory, but what's even better is the visual appeal. Additionally, rice and soup dishes are included, providing a fulfilling dining experience. For those who prefer just the meal, the Matsukado bento can be ordered separately for 2,000 yen (with soba for 3,000 yen). The menu also features 100% soba noodles, with options like Inaka and Sarashina soba, including specialties like "Onsen Tamago Soba." The Inaka soba has a thick texture, which may not appeal to everyone, but the Sarashina soba might be more popular. Access to the restaurant is convenient, as you can enter directly from outside without passing through the hotel, making it a great stop during your Lake Shikotsu sightseeing trip.

I asked a local taxi driver to take me to a delicious soba restaurant, and he took me to a great place that I hadn't planned for. It seems like getting recommendations from someone who knows the area well is the best way to go. The restaurant in the hotel offered hand-made soba noodles, which I was worried would be expensive, but it turned out to be quite reasonable. The noodles were thin and chewy, and you could choose between Inaka soba and Kyo soba. The restaurant is located by Lake Shikotsu, making it a great spot for tourists. Ten-wari mori soba costs 735 yen, and Ten-wari duck nanban costs 945 yen. This information is from "Ibaraki Soba Guide: Outside the Prefecture".

First Houteiru is a wonderful hotel group with a calm atmosphere located in places like Jozankei, Furano, and Niseko. I went camping alone at Lake Shikotsu, but since there was no one else at the Morap Campground I had planned to stay at, I ended up staying at this hotel on a whim. I was given a room on the mountain side as part of a same-day plan. There was no dinner, only breakfast, and the price was reasonable. The onsen and hotel were both spacious and comfortable. I have stayed at all of the First Houteiru properties and had a comfortable experience at each one. I had breakfast at a restaurant called Souan, which included tomato juice, homemade tofu, simmered dishes, grilled fish, and more. The portion was generous and everything was delicious. Although I had a plan without dinner, there are restaurants called Kaisoan and Grill Kaisoan located underground where you can have dinner. Guests can also use the self-service coffee lounge on the first floor and the self-service Chinese tea lounge on the second floor. The osmanthus oolong tea I had on the second floor was very delicious. I would like to try dinner next time.

This is a soba restaurant located at a hot spring hotel by Lake Shikotsu. I used a plan that included lunch and day bathing. The restaurant is connected to the hotel only underground, so after checking in at the front desk, you have to go outside to the adjacent building. The restaurant has a traditional Japanese atmosphere. I chose the Matsukadou bento for lunch. It included vinegared dish, sashimi, rice dish, salad, fried food, simmered dish, small rice topped with salmon roe, and soup. My companion chose a bento that came with soba and dessert. Each dish was small, but together it was quite a lot of food. While the restaurant has a traditional Japanese style, the contents of the bento were a mix of Japanese and Western cuisine. At the time of payment, the staff seemed busy and did not notice that I wanted to pay, so the service was a bit disappointing, but I would like to visit this restaurant again during my next drive.

Recently, I've been really into having Japanese breakfast. So I always look forward to the breakfast at ryokans. Especially when the dinner was good. I start with a glass of milk in the morning. It's so delicious here. You can grill your own food the way you like. The grilled trout is delicious. How can you have a Hokkaido breakfast without salmon roe? It's so good though. The rice is also delicious and I'm satisfied.