Family hotels and homes in Teshikaga

I stayed with my boyfriend in Polaris during our trip to eastern Hokkaido. The pension is located in one area with amazing nature, close to  Lake Mashu and Lake Kussharo. The owners are very friendly and made us feel at home. They are very passionate about what they are doing and the pension is really cared of in every detail. They also gave us precise indications about famous and less known sightseeing destinations nearby. There were also two wonderful cats, they did not disturb and they were really a great company. We were able to see a starry sky with the owner's telescope and the owner took us a great photo with professional equipment. The dinner and the breakfast were also excellent and with many fresh local products. I would highly recommend Polaris and I would definitely go again.

The food at Kussharo Prince hotel was superb. Much of it prepared on the spot! The quantity and quality of food was excellent and the coffee was top notch. On a side note, the staff, especially Ms. Migura Morita were super helpful. I asked about train travel and bus service to travel to Chitose Airport. She provided me with a precise stop by stop schedule with train names/numbers that took me to my destination on time as planned.

Plenty of towels, pyjamas, washing machine and tumble dryer effective.

Great location to explore Akan Mashu NP. Good size rooms. Great onsen. Delicious dinners. Friendly staff.

Kawayu Onsen is a lovely little spot - as long as this is what you're looking for - and this is the perfect hotel to stay in if you're coming. I've been to a lot of onsen towns in Japan, some with fantastic waters, some with picturesque streets to wander around in your yukata and geta. Kawayu, though, is a quiet little spot nestled in the mountains with lovely people, a bit of a "frontier" vibe and WONDERFUL waters. The town is centred on a great little ashi-yu (natural footbath) a couple of souvenir shops with a wild-west mountain vibe (hand-carved bear-claw pendants, anyone?) some great restaurants (Inaka-ya Genpei - HIGHLY recommended) and an old-skool sumo museum dedicated to a local hero. The hotel itself is a bit "Showa-era-poi" and the waters, for which this town is justly famous, are bloody great. I used not dig the sulphuric (eggy) onsens but this place has converted me: it seems, unlike the vast majority of Japanese onsens, the bath water is not diluted at all, and - due to its purity - there are signs all over as to how long you should spend in each bath (there are a variety of temperatures maintained) so as to not be dissolved away(!) I loved it. I doubt the waters actually have all the healing properties they claim, but they certainly put a smile on my face, This is far from where I live, but I’d love to visit again (wearing my (hand-carved bear-claw pendant)!