Hotel Abashiri Lakeside

It was a long-established Hotel with attentive service. I visited looking forward to the buffet restaurant opening in July. There was a wide variety of dishes, and everything tasted great. Although many of the staff were from overseas, everyone was very kind and pleasant. At the dining venue, they promptly cleared away finished dishes, and I felt the staff were well trained. If I have the opportunity, I would like to stay again.

While there are several Onsen facilities around Lake Abashiri, this is the only one right on the lakeshore. It is also conveniently located along National Route 39, Abashiri’s main road, making the location truly outstanding.　This is a large Hotel consisting of three buildings: the Main Building, Central Building, and South Building. It has a glamorous, bubble-era feel with large banquet halls, and even the sizable game corner and gift shop give it a nostalgic atmosphere. Another distinctive feature is the many large paintings displayed throughout the property, and there is also a library-like space.　We stayed in the most affordable twin Room on the highway side. Lake Abashiri turned out to be more beautiful than expected, so I slightly regretted not choosing a lake-view Room despite the higher price. Aside from the view, it was comfortable and relatively spacious—fine for two people.　We booked a Plan with dinner and breakfast included. Dinner was buffet-style with a 90-minute all-you-can-drink option; unfortunately I don’t drink alcohol, but it’s a great Plan for those who do. Since we dined in a venue that had just opened earlier that month, I may have expected too much—but overall it felt like it needed something extra. The snow crab had little meat, and many dishes were fairly standard; honestly, I would have liked to see more local Abashiri seafood as well as vegetables and dairy products featured more prominently. The live kitchen concept was nice, but perhaps to avoid making guests wait they prepared too much in advance—at that point it felt like pre-made dishes would have been fine. Breakfast was also buffet-style; while many items were standard fare, everything tasted good.　As for the Onsen: I had assumed Lake Abashiri Onsen would be an alkaline simple spring water type, so I was surprised by how mineral-rich it was—a salty chloride spring. Unfortunately you can hardly see the lake from the baths. The water is clear and colorless with no noticeable smell; despite being only moderately warm (and slightly salty), it leaves you feeling quite heated afterward due to its strong mineral content.　The service was polite and pleasant overall. When we arrived at check-in we were even welcomed at the entrance by what appeared to be the proprietress/owner-matriarch herself—surprising in a good way and reflective of their high level of hospitality.