La Vista Akangawa

Beautiful location - time stops. In addition to the large public onsen, we enjoyed family baths - choice of three - and we had one in our room but small, one person at a time. Amazing Hokkaido meals - stayed two nights and had different menus. Dining staff - Fujita san was efficient, informative and friendly. Front staff - Kawahara san (I hope I got the name right…) was so very helpful with attention to details. Dears paid a visit late afternoon and evenings - as if they were a part of the hotel staff on roster. They feed and drink from the river - attracted too, apparently by the warmth of the hot springs along the river.

Everything to love - nothing we didn’t like!

Lovely setting and beautiful hotel

The meals may be considered challenging to the American palette

The service was outstanding. The room was clean, spacious and comfortable, with attention paied to every detail. Many thoughtful extras between meals was very nice. The dinners were exceptional in their abundance, falvor and variety. The presentation was beautiful, fresh and delicious. The food focus on fish and sea food. We would be happy to return

The meal arrangement offered too little flexibility for guest who do not eat fish / sea food. Hence, since the dinner is fix and focus on fresh fish and sea food. Guset who do not eat sea food have very few altrenatives.

The location by the river is truly spectacular and there is a great view from the rooms The bed was comfortable The staff at check in were pleasant and efficient

This is more of a hotel favoured by group tours, than a ryokan. The service is perfunctory, rather than that experienced at a true ryokan. This hotel has been around for a while and you can tell this by the conditions of the rooms. my wall paper was peeling and probably due to the location by the river, my room smelt quite musty and just generally felt old. My real complaint is with the food, I had selected the dinner & breakfast option. At arrival I had been given the 8 pm dinner seating (I was still jet lagged, so that was too late for me & I told reception I would not be having dinner. They were just interested in pointing out there would be no refund - which I hadn't requested - rather than finding an earlier slot.) After attending breakfast the next morning, I was glad I had missed out on dinner. The worst food, I have ever been served in my 20 years of visiting Japan. Poor school cafeteria quality. I find it quite unbelievable, that a hotel in the Dormy Inn group, would serve up such food & at this price point. I had breakfast at the Dormy Inn Kushiro, which was a 1000 times better at a fraction of the price. Should I return to Eastern Hokkaido in the future, I would stay at the Dormy Inn in Kushiro and do day trips from there with my car.