Top Couple Friendly Hotels in Kushiro

Nestled by the serene Lake Akan, Tsuruga Akan Resort offers an immersive onsen experience wrapped in Ainu heritage and modern luxury. While the resort falls short on its buffet—a rather underwhelming spread given the price range comparable to other premium onsen resorts—it more than makes up for it with its impressive array of onsen baths, each designed to provide a unique and rejuvenating experience. The resort is split between the Main Building and the newer Wing Building. The Main Building exudes a more traditional atmosphere, while the Wing Building presents a contemporary take on relaxation, but both are bound together by their dedication to Ainu motifs—from the intricately designed lift doors to the towels, celebrating the indigenous culture of Hokkaido. The onsen baths are, without a doubt, the crown jewel of the resort. In the Main Building, the basement offers an extraordinary variety of baths, from the enchanting Cave Bath to the rustic Log Bath, carved from a thousand-year-old tree. The Bubble Bath delivers a gentle, soothing soak, but the Massage Bath steals the show. With water shooting from a high ceiling, targeting sore muscles in the shoulders and back, it’s a deeply therapeutic experience. On the 8th floor, the sauna is housed in a stunning dome-shaped glass structure, offering unobstructed views of the sky while you steam. However, the real spectacle lies at the basement’s open-air bath, which directly overlooks Lake Akan. The sight of the lake at dawn, with the morning mist hovering above the water, is nothing short of breathtaking. The Wing Building showcases a more modern onsen experience, headlined by its hot stone sauna. It blends traditional and contemporary design, featuring hot and cold stone rooms adorned with intricate Ainu-inspired motifs. It’s an ideal retreat for those seeking a fusion of modern wellness with cultural depth. An added touch of luxury is the availability of centennial Akan spring water, served for drinking at the onsen baths. Renowned for its purity and health benefits, it’s a refreshing complement to the onsen experience, keeping guests hydrated while they indulge in the various baths. While the buffet could use an upgrade to match the overall quality of the resort, the unmatched variety of onsen baths more than compensates. The meticulous attention to design, cultural elements, and breathtaking views make this resort a standout among onsen destinations.

Shin-Akan is obviously an old hotel. The buffet is OK. The highlight is that there is a large public outdoor swimming pool upstairs. It is mixed for men and women. You need swimsuits. The hotel has prepared them. You can wear theirs. There are swimsuits in the bathroom, or you can wear your own. The open-air hot spring is quite good. You basically take a bath in the hotel's hot spring. The bathroom is very small. In winter, Lake Akan is completely frozen. Maybe because of the weather, you can hardly see any scenery. It is more fun to play snowmobiles and snow sleds. The hotel has a very big problem, because there is a self-service grill for dinner, and many people will grill meat. The restaurant is completely open on the first floor, making the whole building full of the smell of barbecue, which is very bad.

The hotel is in a great location, and the sea view rooms have a view of the sea. The rooftop cafe has a great view of the sunset. The hotel is about a 10-minute walk from the Nusamai Bridge and the harbor. It is about a 10-minute walk, and there are several restaurants nearby to choose from, making it convenient to find food. The airport bus stops at the city hall, and it takes about 7-8 minutes to walk to the hotel.

I also paid to upgrade to a sea view room (the front desk guy's English was so poor that he said the 14th floor was the 24th floor). I was satisfied with the cleanliness of the room, but I had one nauseating thing during breakfast. I was about to eat some salad, but there was a long hair in it 🤮 ... It's about 15 minutes away from the JR station. It's nice on the pier. If you have a sea view room, the sunset is nice when the weather is good.

You can see it when you exit Kushiro Station, across the street, a big sign! Basically all budget hotels are available, except that the rooms are small and the luggage can be opened. Although there are not many types of breakfast, there are meat, eggs, milk, and vegetables (broccoli 🥦), and the taste is not bad! If you only stay for one night, you must choose a hotel close to the station. In winter, the bus to see the lake also departs from the door. You can walk a little further for meals, and there are still many choices!

The breakfast was very satisfying and delicious. The bath was spacious and there was an open-air bath, so it was a great place to stay. I would like to stay here again.

This is an old hotel that opened in 1976. The overall facilities have the feeling of that era. Although it is old, it is still relatively clean and hygienic. Considering that labor costs in Japan are relatively high, it is acceptable not to provide daily hotel cleaning for multiple-day stays. Those who mind this can avoid this hotel. The breakfast environment is very good. On the 10th floor of the hotel, there is a very good view overlooking Kushiro, which feels like a dream back to the Showa era. The space of the triple room is relatively large because it is set up in the corner of the building. I think this is good.