Stayed for 1 night in early Oct as stopover from Asahikawa to Sapporo. Friendly staff. Really appreciated the shuttle bus service to and form Asahikawa JR station. Room clean & quiet for good rest. Onsen was good. 3 indoor & 1 outdoor pool + sauna - each for both for the female and male section. Hot spring water is milky and has a light scent of sulphur. Clean, well maintained. Little wonder why they won an award a few years ago. They should try and improve on the quality of dinner and breakfast. Kaiseki dinner - a scallop cooked over a earthen pot, lots of small dishes preserved veg, squid, etc that lack quality and appeared cheap. Breakfast - buffet style with typical Japanese offerings eg bite sized salmon fillet, tamago, greens, fruits etc. The dairy products were excellent as they used local Hokkaido brands which are naturally yummy. There is however little to offer for sight seeing at this place. The waterfall was okay but it really depends on which time of the year one visits. Like the blue pond, it can lack the wow factor. Other than these, there really isn't much else but it is nevertheless a pleasant location for an over-nighter. If you are looking for place around this hotel for a late lunch, there is only a simple family-run eatery next door that sells ramen and rice. Tried the cha-sis ramen and won't recommend it unless you are on emergency survival mode.. Overall, this ryokan is pleasant with its onsen punching above its weight.