Kussharo Prince Hotel

“A hotel on the shores of Lake Kussharo with fabulous room lake views and with friendly staff”

As one of the several accommodations in our 10-day Hokkaido self-drive vacation, my family and I stayed one weekday night at Kussharo Prince Hotel. Getting to hotel & parking: The hotel is located at the south western part of Lake Kussharo along Bihoro National Highway or National Route 243. We a… more

As one of the several accommodations in our 10-day Hokkaido self-drive vacation, my family and I stayed one weekday night at Kussharo Prince Hotel. Getting to hotel & parking: The hotel is located at the south western part of Lake Kussharo along Bihoro National Highway or National Route 243. We arrived here in the late afternoon using Apple Maps and Google Maps on the Apple Car Play in our rental car, after prior sightseeing of Oshinkoshin Waterfall and 5 attractions in the Akan Mashu National Park (so it had been a long day for us). We parked our car for free in the open car park (with some 160 parking lots) that is opposite a lovely pond and walked about 60 metres to the hotel main entrance. I don’t see any local bus plying National Route 243. If you take the train to the JR Mashu Station (B64) on the Senmō Main Line or to the JR Bihoro Station (A65) on the Sekihoku Main Line, you still have to take a taxi to the hotel. We chose this hotel because of its excellent and convenient location: (1) it is at the shore of lake Kussharo, which at 79.7 square kilometers is the largest caldera lake in Japan. (2) it is near to two Lake Kussharo observatory or lookout points – Bihoro Pass (12 kiolmeters, 15 minutes’ drive) and Tsubetsu Pass Observatory (11 kilometers, 25 minutes’ drive up the mountain). There is an external travel agency within the hotel that runs an early morning tour to see the unkai or “sea of clouds” exclusively from the observatory tower at Tsubetsu Pass Observatory. You would have to book the tour the previous night and the travel agency would advise whether the tour is available based on the unkai forecast. As I missed the booking, I took my chance and drove up to the Pass at 6:30am and saw the coverage of just a few scattered clouds over Lake Kussharo (and I did not see any tour group at the lookout point that whole morning). (3) all 208 hotel rooms face Lake Kussharo Hotel staff: All the hotel staff that we interact with were friendly and respectful. It started first with the gentleman receptionist who checked us in speaking fluent English. He took a laminated information sheet and was patient to explain to us the following: (1) check in time is 2pm, check out time is 11 am the next day (2) Restaurant Loupeign/Loupeigne on the first floor serves buffet dinner between 6 – 8:30 pm at ¥5000 (adult), ¥3500 (student), ¥1750 (children aged 4 to 6 years old) and these rates are seasonal (3) Restaurant Loupeign/Loupeigne serves set breakfast between 6:30 – 9 am at ¥2600 (adult), ¥1820 (student), ¥910 (children aged 4 to 6 years old) and these rates are seasonal (4) in-house open-air but covered onsen or hot springs on the third floor which opens 5 to 10 am and 2 pm to 12 midnight. We have to bring our room towers and wear a yukata and slippers to the onsen (5) the convenience shop or store at basement B1 opens 8 – 11 am and 4 – 9 pm (6) the games/arcade room (including table tennis) at basement B1 opens 4 – 10 pm (7) the laundry room basement B1 is open 24 hours and costs ¥200 for a single wash and ¥100 for 30-minute drying (8) there is a microwave oven near to the elevators on the first floor After the explanations, I was comforted that this hotel is somewhat self-sufficient and meet the needs of its guests well considering that Kussharo Prince Hotel is not located in a city - it is some 16 kilometers away from Teshikaga city – and not every guest has a car. Hotel room: After we opened the door of our non-smoking 38.6 square metres Corner Triple Room on the fourth floor, we entered interestingly into a long corridor covered by light brown carpet and white wallpaper. Directly opposite the room door is the toilet room with bidet cistern and a small sink. As we walk along the corridor, first on the right is the en-suite brown tiled bathroom with a circular whirlpool bathtub (hotel calls it “blower bathtub”) that accommodates two adults, a sink, a large mirror, nicely placed toiletries and a shower room equipped with Pola body soap, shampoo and conditioner. Next on the left is a sliding door wardrobe closet with hangers. Finally the corridor leads into a spacious bedroom that comes with two twin (“Hollywood Twin”) beds, one single sofa bed, two maroon sofa chairs, one coffee table, one standing lamp, first bedside table with a safe, second bedside table that is a console with a digital clock and knobs/dials for room lightings and a long table fixed to the wall that houses the LCD TV, small refrigerator, mirror, kettle, cups, plates, tea packets, hotel information packages and a stool chair. At the far end of the room are two large windows diagonally opposite each other; while the windows cannot be opened, we opened the wooden door beneath the window to let natural air come into the room. I liked the following about the room: (1) the beds were comfortable such that we have a good night sleep (2) the theme colour of brown throughout the room is pleasant and associates with nature which is appropriate as the hotel is located on the shore of Lake Kussharo amidst natural flora (3) the entire room is covered by light brown carpet (no tiles) which gives that soft comfortable feeling when walking in the room (4) even with the single sofa bed, there is ample walking space and does not feel cramped or congested– thanks to the large area of the room. (5) room is well cleaned and quiet (6) the fabulous window view of Lake Kussharo although it is partially blocked by the trees (the highest floors will have unblocked views but would be more expensive) (7) complimentary Wi-Fi with fast connection speed (password was stated in the “Welcome to Kussharo Prince Hotel” paper in the hotel room table) (8) the toilet has a sink to wash our hands, unlike some hotels where you have to go from the no-sink toilet to the bathroom sink to wash your hands (9) enjoyed my first time in a whirlpool (jacuzzi) bathtub inside a hotel room. The jet spray force is strong and invigorates my body. I disliked the following about the room: (1) the air-con is not strong despite setting to the highest fan speed (2) the refrigerator is noisy Hotel restaurant: my family and I had dinner at the really huge Restaurant Loupeign/Loupeigne wherein its very high ballroom ceiling and very high full-length glass panes or panels at one end look into a peaceful pond, thereby generating a grand luxurious yet relaxed atmosphere when dining in this restaurant. The buffet dishes were in the centre and surrounded by dining tables and chairs that I think could easily sit at least 200 guests. The buffet spread was fantastic that I went a few rounds – salted scallop pieces, cakes, smoked potato salad, Bologna sausage salad, melted Gouda cheese, Hokkaido Mozzarella cheese, green beans with cashew nuts, tako wasabi (wasabi-flavoured octopus), cod bouillabaisse, eggplant and potato meat gratin, Mashu soba, sashimi (shrimp, blue flounder salmon), tempura (pumpkin, Teshikaga Shiitake mushroom, shishito pepper), Hokkaido milk panna cotta, Shiratama zenzai, ice cream amongst others. As we are not wine and beer drinkers, we drank green tea and Houji tea (roasted green tea) from the dispensing machine and did not order beverages, wines and beers as we have to pay extra. Overall, we had a pleasant stay in this 3-star hotel which takes care of the guests in being self-sufficient and at such an exotic location next to Japan’s largest caldera lake that I think would make a Kussharo prince (if there is ever one) have an enjoyable time. I would surely recommend this hotel if you are touring Akan Mashu National Park – there are so many attractions in this National Park that you deserve a stay at Kussharo Prince Hotel after a day of touring.

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