Family & Tattoo-Friendly Onsen Review: New Akan Hotel

Looking for a comfortable and affordable onsen hotel in Lake Akan for your family trip?

Then I definitely recommend New Akan Hotel. Because here you can enjoy a mix-gender hot spring as a family (bathing wear provided).

Hi, I’m Yuuka! I grew up in Eastern Hokkaido, and Lake Akan has always been one of my favorite places to spend a weekend with my family, as we live just one hour drive away.

Over the years, we’ve stayed at several hotels in town, and New Akan Hotel is where we like to go for a family onsen experience with a beautiful lake view.

It’s not a luxury hotel or ryokan. It’s a large, classic onsen hotel, but with a great lakeside location, a very approachable price range, and a rooftop hot spring.

👀 Check prices and availability for New Akan Hotel here

I’ll walk you through why it’s perfect for family travelers and guests with tattoos, and what to expect from the rooms, food, and location.

Note: This post is not sponsored. All opinions are my own, based on personal experience.

Why New Akan Hotel is Perfect for Your Family

Rooftop Hot Spring the Whole Family Can Enjoy

I keep recommending this hotel, especially to mid-budget families and couples, because of its mix-gender onsen.

There are regular indoor onsens that are separated by gender, where you can wash yourself and enjoy the tubs as usual.

But if you head up to the rooftop, you’ll find an outdoor mix-gender hot spring (it feels more like a heated rooftop pool) with an overlooking lake view.

Bathing wear for the rooftop onsen is provided by the hotel for free, so you can enjoy time with your family or partner comfortably in public.

Growing up, I often came here with my parents and my two younger sisters. My dad was always the only one who went to the men’s bath alone, while the rest of us went together. But at New Akan Hotel, we could actually meet up in the onsen and enjoy the view together as a family.

The lake view from the rooftop is special. I love soaking here at night under the stars, and then coming back again early in the morning at sunrise, when it’s calm and quiet.

🛌 Book now to enjoy the rooftop onsen at New Akan Hotel

Love onsen but have Tattoos? Book here.

You can enjoy the onsen at New Akan Hotel, even if you have tattoos. This is another reason I personally value this hotel.

My non-Japanese husband has tattoos, which makes onsen stays in Japan very limited. Many hotels clearly state a no-tattoo policy, including hotels in Akan.

But New Akan Hotel doesn’t have such a policy. They don’t publicly market themselves as “tattoo-friendly”, but in practice, they are accepting of guests with tattoos and allow individuals to decide whether they want to cover them or not.

When my husband and I stayed here, he was able to experience authentic onsen culture without any issues, which made me so happy because I really wanted him to enjoy onsen.

Before the trip, I literally called every hotel in Akan about their tattoo policy and was turned down by all the others… except this one!

⭐️ Have tatoos? Book your worry-free onsen stay now

Dinner & Breakfast Buffet: Great for a Mid-Range Stay

Meals at New Akan Hotel are served buffet-style for both dinner and breakfast.

This is not a luxury dining experience, but the variety is quite wide and quality is good for a mid-range hotel. You’ll find Japanese, Western, and Chinese dishes, along with plenty of seafood, which is always a highlight in Hokkaido.

One morning we stayed, they had an unlimited ikura corner for breakfast, where you could make your own ikura rice bowl. My husband, who loves ikura, went back for 3 times!

Their desserts are also high quality and popular among guests.

For a mid-range hotel, the buffet is more than satisfying and works well for families and travelers with different food preferences.

Location: Lakeside and Central

New Akan Hotel sits right on the edge of Lake Akan, with direct access to the lakeside promenade. You can step outside and take a relaxing walk along the water, continue into forested paths, and sometimes even spot deer nearby.

The hotel is also centrally located within Akan Onsen Town, which makes sightseeing easy.

From the hotel, you can walk to:

• Ainu Kotan (the Ainu village) in 10 mins
• The Akan Visitor Center in 7 mins
• The lake ferry dock in 5 mins
• Bokke nature walk trail in 5 mins

If you’re arriving by bus, the Akan Onsen Bus Terminal is only about a 5-minute walk away. If you’re driving, the hotel offers free parking for guests.

Which Room to Book? Lake-View.

New Akan Hotel is a large property, and the building itself is not new. Some rooms might feel more dated than others, especially the standard Japanese-style rooms with tatami flooring.

That said, the rooms are clean, functional, and spacious enough. You’ll find both Western-style rooms with beds and Japanese-style rooms with futons, depending on what you prefer.

If your budget allows, I recommend choosing a lake-view room. It’s so much nicer than the city-view room on the other side.

Expect Crowds During Weekends & Peak Seasons

The hotel does accommodate tour groups (both Japanese and international), so public areas, especially the restaurant, can get quite busy during peak seasons and on weekends.

If you prefer a quieter stay, I’d recommend a smaller hotel like The Forest Akan (my full review here!).

Pros & Cons of New Akan Hotel

✅ Pros

• Mix-gender rooftop onsen with lake views
• Bathing wear provided
• Tattoos accepted
• Central location by Lake Akan
• Good value for money

⚠️ Cons

• Building and some rooms feel dated
• Large property, can be busy in high season
• Not a luxury or traditional ryokan experience

👀 Check prices at New Akan Hotel now

Who Is New Akan Hotel Best For?

New Akan Hotel is a great choice if…

• You’re traveling as a couple and want to enjoy onsen together
• You want an onsen stay with affordable prices
• You prefer a central, lakeside location

It may not be the best fit if…

• You’re looking for a quiet, small ryokan experience
• You want modern, newly renovated interiors
• You’re traveling during high season and hate crowds

Other Hotel Options in Akan

Want to explore other hotels too? Here’s a quick overview of other popular options.

The Forest Akan

The Forest Akan is my favorite in Akan. It’s a mid-sized hotel, so it feels cozy and not too crowded.

Their hot spring water is the best quality in town. I like they give you access to onsen at its sister hotel, Akan Yuku no Sato, so you’ll enjoy onsen at two hotels in one stay!

➡️ Read my full hotel review of The Forest Akan

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 New Akan Hotel.

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

Final Thoughts: Family-Friendly Onsen Hotel in Akan

Yes, New Akan Hotel isn’t the newest or fanciest hotel in Lake Akan… but it offers something special that other hotels don’t.

If you want to enjoy onsen together with your family, or if you’re struggling to find onsen that you can go to with your tattoos, this hotel is the best option in town!