The buffet has a good selection of food. However, the hotel service is unacceptable. Especially the front desk staff's attitude is terrible. Even a business hotel in the countryside would be better! How they sell the rooms is also questionable. The service level does not match the price! For example, I wanted to check out at 7 am to catch an early flight, but when I went to the front desk, no staff was there. I had to wait for over 5 minutes until a senior front desk staff came, and it took over 10 minutes to settle the bill and get the receipt. I will never stay here again. Rest assured!

In January 2019, I stayed at the Tsuruga Lake Akan Lodge Turano, part of the adjacent Tsuruga Group, for smelt fishing. Meals were at Hanayuuka. They serve breakfast in the same venue as dinner, with freshly baked bread (Pain de Pain) available. It's a buffet style, so being able to choose what you like is a great feature. However, the downside is that it's easy to get carried away and take too much. After enjoying a hearty meal, it was time for smelt fishing. Thank you for the delicious food.

In January 2019, I stayed at Tsuruga Lake Akan Lodge Tsurano in Akan Lake Onsen. Even though I didn't have my dog with me, the accommodation was affordable. Guests at Tsurano stay at the adjacent Hanayuka for meals. It was a bit inconvenient because the two places are not connected, so you have to go outside and enter Hanayuka. At Tsurano, you cannot have meals. However, this is why you can stay at a discounted rate during this season. The buffet-style meal options were enjoyable, although it was difficult to decide what was delicious. Nonetheless, having various options to choose from was fun. Thank you for the delicious meal.

It's Tsuruga! Really? How much? It's super cheap! But, that's not possible... It seems like a strange and suspicious travel agency, right? The wording seems off, right? Like "It's cheap! Traveling is delicious." or something like that? (laughs) Well, as long as it's under 10,000 yen per person, there are various options so I didn't really care where we went... I'm just going along for the ride... So, be careful not to get lost (laughs). The price? I already forgot... It was cheap though. We've arrived... As I thought... It looks like Tsuruga but not really? Or maybe it's under Tsuruga's umbrella? I'm not really sure... I didn't bother to ask or research (^_^;) As long as we can all have a fun one-night stay, that's all that matters (*^^)v The hot spring was refreshing with flowing water, very nice ♡ Apparently, you can also use the baths in the other buildings, some people went there too (・∀・) Heh~ Dinner was buffet-style, eat as much as you like... (๑´ڡ`๑) There was even ramen available ♬ I found some photos from last year's autumn trip... Lake Akan was beautiful, right? (•ө•)♡ Good job everyone~☆彡

September, third week, Sunday.《Waking up and morning bath》As usual, I start my morning at the facilities of Hanayuuka called Turano. I make my way to the main building of Hanayuuka through the staff entrance, feeling the cold for a moment but enjoying the crisp autumn air by Lake Akan. Despite feeling chilly, the morning bath at the onsen facility is always a delightful experience. The hot water of Akan's onsen never fails to relax and rejuvenate me. It's a luxurious treat to start the day with a soak in the onsen. After indulging in the blissful moment, I head back to Turano for breakfast.《Breakfast》Back in the room after the morning bath, I prepare for breakfast. The weather is colder than expected for September, making me feel like it's already deep into autumn. I head to the Forest Restaurant Harmony for breakfast, where once again, it's a buffet style. I opt for a Japanese breakfast, with items like salmon, pickled plum, tarako, shiokara, and tamagoyaki. The quality and variety are satisfactory, meeting the standard for a Japanese breakfast. My wife also joins in and tries some bread along with her Japanese set. The buffet offers a good selection of bread, and I find myself indulging a bit too much. I also can't resist the udon noodles, further filling up my plate. After eating to my heart's content, I finish with a café latte from the coffee machine. Feeling satisfied and a bit full, I wrap up breakfast.《Check-out》After a short break, it's time to check out from Turano. Packing up our belongings, especially the items for our dogs, proves to be a bit of a challenge. Once everything is sorted, we head to the front desk to complete the check-out process. Another stay at Hanayuuka comes to an end, and we bid farewell to the cozy retreat by Lake Akan.

In the third week of September, on a Saturday, our stay continues at Lake Akan. This place is one that we visited about 2 years ago and stayed overnight. As a hot spring facility, it is quite a favorite spot for our family. However, this time, the accommodation and dining/hot spring facilities are separate. This was not our choice, but rather due to the accommodation's policy when searching for a pet-friendly place to stay. We arrived at the Turano Lodge, a related facility of the Akan no Mori Hotel Hanayukou. The check-in process was done at Turano, where we were greeted by a very elegant hostess in a kimono, reminiscent of a character from a drama. Her husband was also there, quietly in the background. Despite their advanced age, their manners and speech were extremely refined. My wife even mentioned that the hostess resembled an actress named Nakamura Tamao. The hostess explained everything in great detail, but the information was too vast and slow-paced, making it hard to retain. After enduring the lengthy explanation, we finally checked into our room. The room was clean and well-maintained, with a white base color complemented by dark brown and red accents. Although the room had a business hotel feel, it was pet-friendly and had thoughtful amenities. The view outside the window overlooking the lake was lovely, and we were pleased with the room provided. However, the door lock was difficult to open, causing some frustration each time we entered or exited. We then explored the main building, Hanayukou, and enjoyed complimentary coffee at the lounge. The exploration continued with a visit to the shop and the bathhouse. Unfortunately, the bathhouse only had an indoor bath, but the water quality was said to be excellent. We also learned that we could use the baths at sister hotels with a shuttle service. Planning our bathing experience, we returned to Turano to prepare for our bath. The back entrance-like access to Hanayukou was a bit inconvenient, especially with the cooling weather. Overall, we were looking forward to a relaxing stay and a well-thought-out bathing experience.

One day, I stayed at Lake Akan (*^^*) It was my first time staying here, and the price was quite reasonable (*^^*) There is a free shuttle bus to other Tsuruga Group hot springs, so it's a great deal. However, you can't go to the high-end hot spring at Tsuruga's Bihada no Za. Bihada no Za is mainly known for its open-air hot spring in the guest rooms. The hot spring here is sourced from the spring, so the water quality is good. The room is a Japanese-style room with a view of the nearby Tsuruha store, haha. It's a really cheap room, so it's understandable. Sometimes, when I come to Lake Akan many times, it's okay not to have a lake view room (^^) The meals are buffet style for breakfast and dinner. There are plenty of options and the taste is something that everyone would enjoy. From various types of hot pot dishes to simmered dishes and appetizers... you'll be full for sure (*^^*)

Category: Favorite Izakaya (Hokkaido and Tohoku) Today, I took a bus from Obihiro to Lake Akan Onsen. I stayed at "Hanayuka," a Tsuruga Group hotel. It seems I didn't read the description carefully and ended up in a separate building called Turano-kan. They advertise that you can stay with your dog, so there is a slight animal smell. After using the shuttle to go to the baths at Akankyu no Sato Tsuruga, I returned for dinner time. It was a buffet style dinner. First, I had a beer after the bath. Let's start with a Sapporo Classic. Now, onto the buffet corner. It's a bit stricter compared to Akankyu no Sato Tsuruga. There was tuna and salmon sashimi, carp simmered in soy sauce, sweet shrimp, fried smelt, hamburger, and meatball hot pot, along with salad. I got some steak at the steak corner. It's processed meat, but it tastes good when hot. There were also fried foods, pasta, pizza, etc. After the beer, I gave up on the chemical lemon sour and stuck with shochu with hot water. I started to miss the lemon sour with Akane-chan from Kosaka-ya. I chose cheese for a snack. The hot spring water is 100% sourced from natural springs, but it's still Tsuruga quality. The cold while waiting for the shuttle really got to me. Thank you for everything. Hanayuka at Akan no Mori Hotel (Harmony Forest Restaurant), 1-6-1 Akan Onsen 1-chome, Kushiro City, Hokkaido.

On the 5th day of my trip, after leaving Shiretoko Utoro around 2:00 PM, we drove back the same way we came. We made a stop at Lake Kussharo on the way and arrived at this hotel around 5:30 PM. It was already dark outside, so we checked in right away. We stayed in the Turano building, which allows pets to stay with you. Turano means "together" in Ainu language. We stayed in a slightly larger room on the lakeside on the 3rd floor. The room had a bed and a sofa area, which was very spacious and calming. The next morning, when it got brighter, the view from the window was stunning, with a quiet lakeside and the sparkling lake. We regretted checking in when it was still bright outside. The room had a bath, but there was also a 100% natural hot spring in the main building, which we enjoyed to relax. There was a free drink space on the 1st floor of the Turano building where we had oolong tea and cola. For meals, we had buffet breakfast and dinner at the main restaurant. For dinner, we enjoyed steak, duck meat, sashimi, chirashi sushi, and cheese fondue. My wife particularly liked the gorgonzola cheese with honey and kept going back for more. The next morning, we woke up at 5:00 AM and took a walk with our dog on the Bokke Promenade in the forest by the lake. We didn't spot any red foxes, but the sunrise over the lake and the majestic forest reflecting in the water was a beautiful sight. After working up an appetite, we had a delicious breakfast with scrambled eggs, bacon, sausages, salad, fruits, grilled salmon, grated yam, and more. We especially enjoyed the tarako and squid shiokara. After checking out, we left our car in the parking lot and took a sightseeing boat on Lake Akan. We visited Churui Island, known for its marimo, which are large and fascinating. Unfortunately, we couldn't buy any marimo as they are a special natural monument in Japan. We learned this from a cheerful old man at a marimo shop near the boat. My wife ended up purchasing a natural marimo from Russia and was excited to take care of it. She was advised to change the water every 10 days, provide sunlight indoors, and occasionally supplement with minerals to help it grow bigger. The old man joked that with care, it could grow to 1.3 times its size in a year.

It was a Viking-style buffet. The restaurant is small but clean and has a bright atmosphere. All the dishes were delicious and I was truly satisfied! There were many chefs for the capacity of the restaurant, so the steaks and noodles were served fresh and in their most delicious state. The steak cooked in front of us was so delicious that I had 8 slices, haha. The Japanese-style peperoncino may look ordinary, but the chewy noodles were delicious! The ramen was made with fresh noodles by Kitahonami, and the topping of pork shoulder chashu was tender and tasty. The tempura had few varieties, but the crispy batter was especially delicious on the pumpkin. You can enjoy different flavors with salt, matcha salt, and sweet sauce. The desserts were all average, nothing stood out. The salt gelato was delicious. Each dish had high quality and you could feel the attention to detail, which was great.

I stayed at this hotel in Lake Akan. The reason I chose this place was because the buffet was delicious, it was close to Bokke Forest, and because the baths at Tsuruga Wings were available. The room was a Japanese-Western style room on the 5th floor facing the lake. It was spacious with a tatami area and twin beds. The hotel itself was a bit old, but well-maintained. The bath at Tsuruga Wings is recommended over the hotel's own bath. The hotel has a nice spa with various baths. The water was pleasantly smooth. The hotel provides shuttle buses to Tsuruga Wings and Hanayuuka, making it easy to get around. The dinner and breakfast were buffet style at "Harmony" restaurant. The dinner had a variety of dishes including steak, pasta, risotto, appetizers, Chinese and Japanese dishes, and desserts. The food was delicious and there was a good selection of sweets. The staff were friendly and the shuttle service was convenient. Overall, it was a good value stay in Lake Akan.

- Ordered items: Both dinner and breakfast are buffet style. - Cuisine: A buffet with a variety of Japanese, Western, and Chinese dishes. The steak cooked on the teppanyaki grill is tender and satisfying, while the special fried rice in the Chinese section has a nice fluffy texture and just the right amount of flavor. It is part of the hotel plan, so it's hard to judge the value for money, but I felt that it was a buffet style that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. Be careful if you stay multiple nights as the same dishes may be repeated. - Atmosphere: The style is like a separate building within the hotel. There is a small kitchen inside with a steam convection oven, a fryer, and a teppanyaki grill, creating a lively atmosphere.

The variety of dishes may not compare to Akankuraku, but the satisfaction level is excellent! The creative French-style presentation of the dishes is delightful and appealing to women. They offer steak and tempura cooked right in front of you, as well as cute desserts. In addition, during the summer when I visited, they were serving okonomiyaki, which was a fun experience. Each person had their own iron plate to cook on, and you could choose your ingredients from the buffet table. It was like a do-it-yourself okonomiyaki party! The food options included meat (beef, pork, lamb), processed meats, fish, vegetables, and udon noodles. It was a unique and enjoyable experience, and I even tried making Genghis Khan okonomiyaki (with bitter melon). If there were more condiments available, it would have been even better. The breakfast buffet was also satisfying, with delicious bread from Pandepan. Overall, I found the hot spring water to be better than Akankuraku, the rooms were clean with a nice view, and if I were to stay again, I would choose Hanayuka.

Harmony Forest Restaurant. http://www.hanayuuka.com/ My husband's family and my family were wandering around, trying to decide where to have lunch. We stumbled upon a cute bakery called Pan de Pan next to a beautiful hotel. We noticed the foot bath, it stood out. Huh? The buffet price seemed quite reasonable... We decided to go in and have lunch at the buffet. The hotel was very charming, with a spacious restaurant where you could relax. The stone fireplace, walls, greenery, and wood interior were all nice. We entered on Sunday at 12:10. It was moderately crowded, not as chaotic as some buffets in the Kanto region, so we could relax. There was a chef who would make things for you, which added to the fun of a hotel buffet, and there was a wide variety of dishes. The photos show the second round of food, so it's biased towards curry, soba, beef stew, waffles, etc., but there were also salads, hamburgers, fried foods, and more. We received excellent hotel service, the food was surprisingly delicious! I think it was probably less than 1300 yen, but I was truly satisfied. It was a clear sunny day, Lake Akan and the greenery were beautiful, and both of our families were pleased with the food, which made me happy.

It was a group tour, but this time the hotel was quiet and we were able to have a peaceful dinner. Even though we were surrounded by people from the same tour, the seating was organized well and it made me happy. It was a completely different experience from yesterday's hotel in Shiretoko!! We had the Ichii Gozen meal this time. It felt like a kaiseki course with an aperitif, appetizers, and more!! It was a pleasant surprise for a group tour... The highlights were the peach sake, crab dish, and pumpkin soup. The grilled beef steak was so tender and delicious!! Yesterday's dinner at the Shiretoko hotel was disappointing, especially the sashimi, but here at this hotel along Lake Akan, the sashimi was delicious. After the disappointing dinner yesterday, I was truly impressed by the food here.

The buffet at Lake Saroma was overwhelmingly delicious, so I had high expectations for this buffet as well. The restaurant has a fantastic location overlooking Lake Akan. However, to be honest, it was disappointing. Possible reasons could be: - The quality of ingredients available at Lake Saroma and Lake Akan is different. - It was two days in a row. - Many group hotels have opened around Lake Akan, attracting talented chefs away. - The alcohol service was not good. I was looking forward to it because a reviewer I trust recommended it, but I suspect there may have been a change in the head chef. It is my belief that when a chef changes due to multiple locations, even with the same ingredients and recipes, the taste can differ. I ordered extra cold alcohol, but it was lukewarm. The way it was served, and even the time it took to bring it after pouring, was lacking. The coffee at breakfast was the same. The coffee maker in the lobby makes aromatic coffee with a grinder, but the coffee served in the restaurant was of very low quality. There was a clear difference between dinner and breakfast, and the lack of control over drinks was disappointing. It's a shame that no one seems to notice and make improvements. The room was fantastic, but other than that, I believe it was below par within the same group. I think these are areas that can be improved through training, so I hope they will make the necessary improvements.

I joined a winter tour to Hokkaido to see the drift ice. The first night was spent at Hanayuka. Dinner was not in a restaurant, but in a dining hall. There were about 10 dishes, and the sashimi was delicious. The grilled wagyu beef was juicy and tasty. The next morning's breakfast was a buffet in a restaurant. It was crowded around 7 am with other tour guests, so I went in around 7:30 am. While there was nothing particularly outstanding, it was the best meal compared to the ones on the second and third nights. During this time, there was an event called the Lake Akan Ice Festival, and the fireworks around 8 pm were very beautiful. Walking on the frozen Lake Akan was also interesting.

This is the first night of the tour. Since the accommodation fee and course are unknown, I will post a memo here as "not for regular use". The room I was assigned is on the 7th floor with a lake view (top floor). The outside temperature upon arrival was already -19°C. The double glass windows in the room were frozen like a freezer, but the room temperature was a comfortable 22°C. The temperature difference of 40°C between inside and outside was a first for me. As for meals, both breakfast and dinner are buffet style, and despite being an accommodation that caters to group guests, it was well-prepared. There were cooking stations where food was prepared fresh and the medium steak was as good as a dish from the menu. Furthermore, there were over 50 items on the buffet. The service and the lodge-like atmosphere were welcoming, and I think it would be a good place to stay even for individual travelers. The only downside was that the baths close at midnight. However, we were able to enjoy a fireworks display on the frozen lake after dinner, making it a memorable stay. Thank you for your hospitality. In the early morning, the temperature dropped even further to -22°C. I conducted an experiment of freezing a towel outside, which took 1 minute to solidify due to insufficient moisture. Now, let's see if we can encounter drift ice today! Thank you for your hospitality.

Stayed overnight from January 10th (Sunday) to January 11th (Monday) and found a cocktail sign at the entrance that used Fukushi. The colors were very beautiful, but if not mixed well, it was quite sweet. Five to six years ago when I stayed here, the buffet had just been renovated and they offered individual hot pots where you could choose your own pot. This time, the hot pots were pre-made, so I didn't find any dishes that I particularly wanted to eat, but I still tried a little bit of everything. The dishes that left an impression on me were the yuba rolls and the gelato from Shiretoko, which was light and delicious. The breakfast buffet had a good variety of dishes, so it's suitable for picky eaters. I don't have any food preferences, so everything was okay for me, but nothing stood out in particular. Overall, I left feeling satisfied! I regret not being able to enjoy the large communal bath at Tsurugaya due to being tired from smelt fishing. Be careful not to overdo it with activities and make sure to have time to relax and enjoy the bath during your stay.