丹頂の里温泉 美肌の湯赤いベレー

[Thoughts on my stay] Easy to get to from Kushiro Station or Kushiro Airport by bus, right next to the bus stop, and with great, flowing hot spring water. The large public bath on the first floor is a popular spot for locals, serving as a public bathhouse (which is typical of most casual hot spring inns in Hokkaido—it's understandable, but it's only natural, since they wouldn't be able to stay in business without it), but the bath on the second floor for guests is quiet and relaxing. The water is amazing, staying warm for a long time after bathing—so much so that if you're not careful, you might get a hot spring shock. I've only been in the fall and winter, but I imagine it would be quite tough in the summer without air conditioning. Akan is an area of Hokkaido that's just as hot as the mainland. For dinner, I thought the course menu would be too extensive, so I opted for individual dishes in the dining room. However, the menu included a meal plan, as the menu was often heavy and greasy, with dishes like spa-katsu, tonkatsu, katsu curry, and zangi (chicken stew). If you're looking for a lighter, more balanced meal, a plan with a meal might be a good choice. My first spa-katsu was very filling, and it was delicious. Breakfast is as shown in the photo. It was neither good nor bad, but it seems like a semi-governmental Hokkaido inn. I think this is what a locally-based hot spring inn is like. There are no convenience stores nearby, and the attached roadside station is not open in the morning, so it's safer to have it on. The room is old but clean. This time I stayed in a Western-style room, but I didn't use the bath in my room, and there were big steps to get to the bathroom, toilet, and sink, so I thought it might not be necessary to have a toilet in my room. I don't think there was a table in the Western-style room, so next time I'll get a Japanese-style room. I've written a lot, but the great hot water, clean room, and above all, the friendly staff all made it an incredible price! Oh, there was no hair dryer in the room. There was one in the bathroom. I recommend bringing one if you don't want to wait in line or want to dry your hair slowly.

This is information from my visit to the "Red Beret Natural Hot Springs" attached to the roadside station on 2025/02/07. I couldn't find a hot spring analysis chart posted, so the details are unknown. However, the water quality is a hypotonic, slightly alkaline, high-temperature sodium chloride spring with high bicarbonate and metasilicic acid levels, making it a "beautiful skin bath" with heat-retaining and moisturizing properties. Open from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM, the price for adults is 560 yen. Cash only. Shoe boxes and changing lockers are 100 yen, with returnable fees. Amenities include body soap, shampoo, and a hair dryer. The bath area has three indoor baths, and the water temperatures seemed to vary slightly between 40°C, 41°C, and 42°C. There is also one waterfall bath, a dry sauna, and a cold bath, but no open-air baths. A night's stay at the roadside station RV park is a great deal at 1500 yen, including access to the hot springs. Even with power outlets, it's a bargain at 2000 yen. It is a very useful place for travelers who spend the night in their cars. Nearby is the Akan International Crane Center, where you can observe wild red-crowned cranes up close.

I went to a day spa. I hadn't been there recently. I always felt like the clientele was poor. And this time was no exception. It's not the facility's fault, so I won't give it the lowest rating, but it just didn't feel right. The sauna was small and extremely crowded. It was full to capacity with five people. The washing area was spacious, but with around 17-20 people, there weren't many seats. Most guests didn't even soak in the tub, instead concentrating on the sauna, washing themselves, and some even brushing their teeth. While I was washing next to the cold bath, some non-local guests were spitting and blowing their noses in the water, doing whatever they wanted. Three guests had pretty impressive baths. They were clearly not a local group, as they were wearing yukata robes reserved for guests. Their bathing manners were not bad at all, so I can only assume it's a rural public bath. JAF discount available. The facility isn't bad at all. I guess I just always come at the wrong time.

[Visited March 2025] I got off the bus midway from Kushiro city to Akan Lake Onsen. In winter, the transfer takes 4 hours, so I visited without hesitation. The atmosphere is like a local public bath (lol). It's attached to accommodation, so it's used by guests, but it feels like locals bring their own bath sets. I didn't have anything, so I borrowed a towel set (hand towel and bath towel) and went for a bath. *There's a system where you can get a discount on the total price if you buy a ticket that includes the restaurant, and even the towel set is cheaper. The bath isn't very big. The hot spring water is quite hot, so it's more for a quick rinse and getting out rather than a long soak. I had time, so I went in and out and relaxed for a while before getting out. There's a rest area outside where you can drink water. It's nice to be able to relax here during weekday afternoons.

Used the baths for a day trip. Cost: 560 yen. Men's bath Shampoo and body soap provided. The water temperature was set at a high 42 degrees, and there were 3 tubs, a sauna, and a cold bath. I wish there was a slight difference in the bath temperature. I wouldn't say this is a big minus, but the thing that bothered me the most was that there was what appeared to be a security camera in the changing room. The camera was facing the entrance, not the entire changing room, but even so, I wondered why there was a camera in a place where you change clothes. There was a sign posted on the wall of the changing room from the facility saying that photography and other activities were prohibited, so I thought it was a bit strange that the facility had so openly installed a camera.