Toyako Hotels with balcony

"The price was relatively good, especially since I booked a last-minute trip to Hokkaido. All the trendy private onsen hotels were fully booked, so I settled for this one with a public hot spring. To my surprise, I had the entire onsen to myself that evening! The room had a traditional Japanese tatami design, and I could see Lake Toya from the window. It felt a bit old but was perfectly functional and had no strange odors. There's a black 7-Eleven nearby, just a short walk away. The only slight inconvenience was transportation; I couldn't find a taxi in the morning and had to wait for a bus to the JR station."

"This is a long-standing four-star Japanese onsen ryokan in Lake Toya, located at the entrance of the onsen town. If you're driving from Muroran, it's the first hotel you'll reach, making it very convenient for loading and unloading luggage with a chartered car. The female staff at the front desk spoke fluent English with no accent and at a moderate pace, making communication very smooth. Her English proficiency was even better than the front desk staff at Hilton Niseko. The service follows a traditional Japanese ryokan style. Upon check-out, they print the accommodation tax receipt and place it in an envelope, adding a nice touch of formality. The stay included dinner on the night of arrival and breakfast the next morning. The restaurant offered great views and a wide variety of food choices. There were many individual travelers and almost no tour groups, making it good value for money, though the food taste was only average. The onsen facilities met four-star standards, with appropriately sized pools and uncrowded shower areas. However, the changing rooms lacked lockers; clothes had to be placed in open baskets, with only small cabinets available for locking valuables, so privacy for clothing storage was somewhat limited. The hotel is not far from the fireworks boat pier, but it's not the closest, and the fireworks boat experience was mediocre. Being at the end of the onsen town means a bit of a walk to reach the shops."