The Forest Akan Review: Best Mid-Range Onsen Hotel in Akan
Hi, I’m Yuuka! I grew up in Eastern Hokkaido, and Akan has always been a favorite spot for weekend getaways with my family.
If you’re looking for an affordable onsen hotel in Akan, you’ll love our go-to, The Forest Akan.
We’ve stayed at a few hotels in town, but always come back here because it has a warm, cozy vibe unlike big resort hotels. When my grandparents used to visit us from a different part of Japan, we often stayed here together here because they loved it too.
And it has the best hot spring water in the area. Seriously the water feels different. The price is also approachable and makes it great value for money.
Now, I’ll walk you through everything I love about The Forest Akan, and I’ll also share a few other hotel options nearby in case this one doesn’t match your travel style.
🗓️ Book my favorite Akan onsen hotel here!
Why I Keep Coming Back to The Forest Akan
✅ Not a big resort hotel = No overwhelming crowds
✅ The best-quality hot spring water in town
✅ Family-friendly. I had a great stay with my 1-year-old son.
✅ Great value mid-range stay with quality food and onsen
➡️ Does this sound like your type of hotel? Book today!
Who Is The Forest Akan Best For?
The Forest Akan is perfect for couples and families who want a cozy onsen stay without big crowds.
I like that it’s a mid-sized hotel and doesn’t feel overwhelming with tour groups that you often find at a larger resort hotels. Other big hotels in Akan have hundreds of room, but The Forest Akan has just 95 rooms.
But if you’re looking for luxury rooms with fancy furniture or a traditional high-end ryokan experience, this probably isn’t for you. (In that case, I recommend staying at Hinanoza.)
➡️ Don’t like big crowds? Then The Forst Akan is perfect for you. Book here!
The Best Hot Spring Water in Akan
For onsen lovers, this is why I recommend The Forest Akan!
In the central Akan Onsen Town, The Forest Akan is the only one with 100% natural-flowing hot spring water. That means there’s no added water or no circulation. Just fresh hot spring water flowing directly from the source. he water here is very smooth on your skin.
A couple of things to note, the onsen itself is not that large. Like it would feel a bit too crowded if there are 20 people. But honestly the quality of the water makes up for it.
And also there’s no outdoor bath. But no worries… I’ll tell you a hack ⬇️
Big Bonus: Free Access to Yuku no Sato’s Onsen
And here’s a perk of staying at The Forest Akan…
You can also use the hot spring facilities at Akan Yuku no Sato for free. It’s the hotel’s sister property in town (& more expensive than The Forest Akan).
They have much larger onsen, including beautiful outdoor baths with lake views, so you get the best of both hotels.
You can either walk there for 10 mins or take a free shuttle bus from the hotel. What I like to do is soaking at The Forest Akan after check-in, having dinner, and going to Yuku no Sato for the second soak!
🧡 Book now and enjoy access to 2 onsens!
The Yuku no Sato building itself is also worth exploring. Inside, you’ll find galleries showcasing sculptures and paintings inspired by Ainu culture, along with souvenir shops and outdoor clothing stores.
Delicious Dinner & Breakfast Buffet
Both dinner and breakfast are served buffet-style, and the quality is consistently good.
The buffet includes a wide range of Japanese and Western dishes, along with steak, tempura, and plenty of seafood.
One of my favorite features is the make-your-own kaisendon corner, where you can top rice with sashimi of your choice. Yes, unlimited ikura is included!
For a mid-range hotel, the buffet here is excellent.
🤤 Want this buffet? Book your stay now!
Staying with Kids: My Experience as a Parent
In summer 2025, I stayed at The Forest Akan with my grandpa, my mom, my husband, and my one-year-old son. Overall, it was a comfortable experience for all of us and we enjoyed it!
The restaurant provides high chairs. While there isn’t a dedicated toddler menu, the buffet makes it easy to find simple foods that young children enjoy. My son ate very well during our stay.
In the lobby, there’s a shoe-free lounge area where families can relax. My son especially loved the bookshelf corner, where we found some children’s books!
One thing to note: the hotel doesn’t offer rental baby beds. If you’re staying with young kids, choosing a room with futon floor mattresses may be easier than beds, so you don’t have to worry about little ones falling out of bed. I learned that the hard way!
🧸 Enjoy your familiy stay here! Book now
Location: Right by Lake Akan
The Forest Akan is right beside Lake Akan with direct access to the lakeside, so you can easily take a morning or evening walk along the lake.
The lake ferry dock is also right in front of the hotel, and the Bokke walking trail (the best short nature walk in Akan!) is just 2 minutes away.
Ainu Kotan, the Ainu village with craft shops and cultural exhibits, is a 10 min walk away.
If you’re traveling by public transportation, the hotel is only about a 5-minute walk from the Akan Onsen Bus Terminal. If you’re driving, free parking is available for guests.
💡 Stay at The Forest Akan with the prime location
Which Room Do I Recommend?
There are a variety of room types, including Western-style rooms with beds, Japanese-style rooms with futons on tatami floors, and larger family rooms.
If your budget allows, I recommend choosing a lake-view room. It’s so much nicer than the city-view. I especially love the frozen lake view in winter!
My top choices are:
- Lake-view Japanese room (futons on tatami)
- Lake-view Japanese Twin (regular beds placed on tatami flooring)
👀 Book your lake-view room today!
Just to note, some parts of the building are over 20 years old, and other parts have been renovated recently. If you choose the cheapest room, it may be one of the older, unrenovated ones.
Laundry Machines On Site
Lake Akan is often a stop in the middle of a longer Hokkaido trip, so having laundry machines on-site is very convenient.
The washing machines cost 300 JPY per cycle with detergent automatically dispensed. Dryers are available for 100 JPY per 30-minute cycle.
Price Range and Value for Money
A standard stay at The Forest Akan, including dinner and breakfast buffet, usually costs between USD 120 and 200 per person, depending on the season.
Considering the quality of the food, the onsen, and the free access to Yuku no Sato’s hot springs, I think this hotel offers very good value for money in Akan!
👀 Check the price for your dates now
Pros & Cons of The Forest Akan
✅ Pros
- Cozy, mid-sized hotel with a calm atmosphere
- Not crowded with tour groups
- Best hot spring water in Akan
- High-quality buffet meals
- Access to two onsen facilities
- Excellent lakeside location
⚠️ Cons
- Some rooms feel dated
- No outdoor onsen in the same building
- Not a luxury hotel
- Many international staff, so the experience may feel less traditional
A quick note about staff: many rural areas in Hokkaido face labor shortages, and hiring international staff is often a necessity.
In my experience, the staff here were professional, friendly, and capable, with some speaking English and other languages.
➡️ Book your room before it’s gone!
Other hotel options in Akan
If you’re still deciding, here’s a quick overview of other popular options.
New Akan Hotel
I like New Akan Hotel for its rooftop mixed-gendar onsen! Your whole family can enjoy the lake-view onsen together. Bathing wear is provided for free, so everyone can feel relax comfortably.
Another big plus is that this hotel doesn’t have a no-tattoo policy (the only one I know of in Akan), so you can the public onsen even if you have tattoos!
➡️ Read my full review of New Akan Hotel here
Akan Tsuruga Bessou Hinanoza
If you’re specifically looking for a more traditional ryokan atmosphere, Hinanoza would be a better choice. It’s a luxury ryokan with only 25 rooms, all with private outdoor baths.
I’ve never stayed here yet (on my list!), but my parents booked here for their marriage anniversary, and they loved it!
➡️ Book your luxury stay at Hinanoza now
Akan Yuku no Sato
If you want a big onsen with outdoor baths at your hotel, then stay at Akan Yuku no Sato. The room price is slightly more expensive than The Forest Akan.
They also have a private onsen upon booking, if you want to enjoy onsen together with your family. (75 minutes, 2,200 JPY)
➡️ Book your onsen stay at Akan Yuku no Sato
Ready to enjoy the best onsen at The Forest Akan?
If you’re looking for excellent hot spring water, a peaceful atmosphere, and good food, The Forest Akan is one of the best choices in Lake Akan!
It’s not super fancy, but it’s comfortable and convenient. That’s why it has been my go-to hotel in Akan for years, and why I still recommend everyone who visits Akan until today.
🤩 Excited to stay at local’s favorite hotel? Book The Forest Akan now!
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