Hotel & Spa Resort La Vista Akangawa Kushiro

We have had the most wonderful 2 days here. The room was even better than pictured (and the pictures were great!), the in-room hot spring bath was to-die-for and all the small details were amazing. Little things like local printed fabric cushions, cute hand made pottery for coffee cups, a coffee grinder etc. really made the stay special. We had a river view room and saw deer and tanuki (racoon dogs) daily - which was magical. There are 3 private onsen that don’t need reservations (you simply see if they are free with the lighting system at the spa area). We didn’t use the public bath as our private tub and private baths were plenty enough. Little extras such as ice creams, drinks and snacks were really thoughtful. The staff were the highlight of our stay. Despite language barriers (on our side - we have VERY poor Japanese skills beyond basic ordering) the staff were so kind, patient and caring. Even if it took us 10 minutes between us, they waited and worked it out. We told them it was our honeymoon and received a cute hand written card and wooden spoon set. I can’t imagine where the comments of poor service come from - we did not experience this. This was our first ryokan style stay and we absolutely loved it. Thank you all! (Especially K Oto (おと)) who was so sweet and took good care of us.

I chose La Vista the last minute as our schedule has changed due to the earthquake. We planned to stay one night but unluckily(luckily) we got road block due to heavy snow, so we extended with another night. I would say I love everything in this hotel, the service, the onsen, the decoration, the room, the ppl. It is very convenient for us to find it with our own car as we were doing road trip. The reception gave a warm welcome, they are very helpful to share the food available before our dinner time. And yes, they offered some nice juice and steamed pumpkin for all customers. I had a language problem communicating to my hair salon which I booked in Sapporo and the people there are so helpful to support me communicating. The food for 2 nights are different (including breakfast and dinner). I would agree with many ppl that breakfast has space to be improved, but dinner menu, I would say it’s above my expectation especially the 2nd day with Wagyu. The room is spacious, my two kids can run a bit inside the room. And we love the decoration. Although the room has the onsen itself, I would really suggest you all try its private onsen and public onsen. You will really appreciate the wonderful world more with taking onsen and seeing the snow at the same time. The ice cream/yogurt after onsen was just nice. And If you are getting hungry at night, they also offer complimentary ramen. Oh, I forgot to mention there are two massage chair next to Onsen at basement level. Our family love the whole experience in the hotel, it’s quiet and independent from the town area. We also love the service people there, I don’t have all names, but I remember K.OTO San, a Chinese guy with surname 章，and many more staffs there being so helpful. Thank you so much! And we will go back again for sure!

Many reviews had been written about the La Vista Akangawa in Kushiro in Hokkaido. I noted that most of the reviews were complimentary while there were a few which offered otherwise - and I am sure that the writers had just cause to air their grievances. Based on our current 4-week driving tour of Hokkaido, I have to say that this hotel was the best that I had experience, bar none. We elected to stay in room with a view of the Akan River directly from our room and we were so glad that we did - the room was furnished with a bench seat which you could sit and admire the tranquility and natural beauty of the river and the forest. It was therapeutic. However, what truly impressed me was the layout of the room, the comfortable twin beds, a large sofa bed which you lounge in and spoil yourself, a generous washroom with a separate toilet and a private onsen. Besides the usual tea corner, the hotel also provides (for those who cannot wake up with coffee in the morning), a coffee corner complete with coffee beans and a grinder so that you can make yourself a fresh cuppa in the morning. The hotel’s replenishment of linen, towels, consumables and daily replenishment of bottled water and soft drinks in the mini bar was generous. No complains about the total service - the front desk, the restaurants - they were accommodating and happy to meet you half way even if you are unable to convey your requests or aspirations in unpolished Japanese like I did. Some would say that the hotel is off the beaten track - nestled in the woods by the river - while most of the hotels are huddled around Lake Akan. I found this actually refreshing and offered some relieve from the busloads of tourists that thronged the lake. I would not hesistate to stay at the hotel if I am ever back to this corner of Hokkaido.

Really nice Dormy Inn’s La Vista hotel 👍 Awesome rooms, indigenous -inspired dinner course & to-die-for hot spring♨️setting. Ample room size & spotless maintenance for a 10 year-old hotel. Generous offerings of local milk and drinks 👍 Dinner time allocation may be tricky, not sure if they are booking in more guests than they can actually accommodate 🤔 The frequent usage of disposable plates (for light meals) & plastic cups ( for drinks during breakfast) doesn’t really fit into hotels’ environment concept & deluxe positioning.

Stayed 2 nights. Great room layout bedroom, living room n full window view of the forest and river. In room wooden bathtub. Bird watching and spotted an eagle. Dinner and breakfast were excellent. Our friendly staff Honda spoke good English and Mandarin.

Although this property is located a bit farther from Lake Akan, it offers a spectacular river view and features a private onsen inside the room. It’s truly a luxurious experience to soak in the hot spring while listening to birds chirping in the morning. During dinner, we even saw a baby deer nursing from its mother! This resort truly blends into nature in a perfect way.

A wonderful ryokan in an absolutely beautiful location. It's only a short drive from the main town of Lake Akan, but it feels away in the forest by the riverside. The in-room baths overlooking the river are great, and the outdoor public bath is even more serene.

The best luxury stay I’ve ever had. The room photos on trip do not do the stay justice. Went during the end of autumn and was greeted with splendid foliage and animals. Plenty of good food and free ramen.