Due to the volcanic land, the area around Lake Akan gush with high quality hot springs; one hot spring town on the lake’s south shore has around 20 lodging facilities.
Among them, roughly 10 of the lodges (like the 2 below) allow you to enjoy their hot spring for about ¥1500 without having to stay the night.
There are many good hot springs in Hokkaido, but Akanko Onsen is so highly regarded that it is usually ranked in the top three in various hot spring popularity rankings.
And for good reason.
The exquisite view of Lake Akan, Mount Oakan and the deep green forest can all be observed from most of the baths.
Lake Akan Hot Springs has a long history.
When a Japanese explorer surveyed the area in 1858, the indigenous Ainu people were already using the area.
It opened as a hot spring resort in 1901, and has since developed into what it is today.
Incidentally, the number of Chinese tourists coming to this area has increased rapidly due to the Chinese romantic comedy movie If You Are the One, which was a big hit in Hokkaido.
