Oku Jozankei Onsen Kasho Gyoen

This is an Accommodation I highly recommend. Every dish was carefully prepared and beautifully seasoned, and everything was delicious. At dinner, the staff member who assisted us showed thoughtful, natural consideration that left a strong impression, and my daughter was delighted.We were also very satisfied with the Room interior and the Onsen temperature. It’s not an easy distance for us to visit often, but it’s an Accommodation we would love to return to. We will definitely stay here again when we visit Hokkaido.

I enjoyed a private bath with continuously flowing hot spring water, available 24 hours a day. The temperature was slightly on the hot side, and combined with the water quality it warmed me up thoroughly. Even without a large public bath, having a tub big enough to stretch out in meant I could bathe whenever I felt like it, so I really appreciated the in-Room bath. The Room also has a balcony, which was perfect for cooling down after warming up. It seems it had started snowing the day before, and outside was a world of snow. Experiencing the famous powder snow for the first time was personally moving.Dinner is Italian, but marbled beef can feel heavy for an older stomach. Wherever you go in Japan, wagyu tends to be very rich and fatty. I hope leaner cuts become more appreciated again. Breakfast is Japanese-style and features a large grilled fish; the flavor is delicious, but it feels more like a hearty grilled-fish set meal than something refined.The staff were friendly and pleasant. Their attentiveness—whether during meal service or when taking a leisurely walk around the property—struck just the right balance: present when needed but not intrusive. There were also many international guests (more than half), and plenty of staff members who could assist them in foreign languages.From the narrow reception area right by the entrance, you proceed into an open atrium overlooking an inner courtyard; that sense of space felt wonderful. I could gaze at the snowy scenery without getting tired of it—it was truly relaxing.