Rejuvenate with a soak in a steamy onsen overlooking Lake Akan, or take an exploratory walk through the 6,000 year old forest. Old meets new at Hinanoza - a modern take on a traditional ryokan.
EXPERIENCE
Whether you're hiking to hot springs in Japan's Akan National Park, taking in an Ainu fire show, or relaxing in one of its 28 rooms (all with a different décor), Lake Akan's Hinanoza is entirely unique.
Enter the lobby and you're in another world. Bells chime as you make your way to reception where kneeling attendants take off your shoes. From that point on, hope you've got a pedicure - you'll go shoeless.
Each Hinanoza room is traditional but loaded with modern comforts. Though the hotel has two public onsens and a heated rock bed, each room also has its own private outdoor spa. Thanks to the area's geothermal activity, it's heated to perfection.
Guests looking for an intimate dining experience will enjoy custom creations in a private room at Restaurant Hina. Meals skew heavy on seafood and use many local ingredients. For a glass of wine, grab a seat at Za Bar's impressive, 30-foot, one-piece natural wood bar.
LOCATION
Akan is Japan's oldest national park, and is a little out of the way. To get to secluded Hinanoza, you can take a short flight from Tokyo to Kushiro. From there, you can catch a bus from the airport, or rent a car for the 90-minute drive.
TO LIST
