Yama No Ofurumai Towadako Shinzantei

Towadako Shinzantei is a ryokan in Akita, a minute's walk from Lake Towada. The shared bath, Manten-boshi (満点星), is lined with round river stones; guests say it warms the body well and leaves skin smooth afterward. Guest rooms have only a plain unit bathtub rather than onsen water, so the hot spring is only in the ground-floor bath. Dinner centers on robatayaki (炉端焼き), fish and other ingredients grilled over charcoal right at the table, which is what most guests remember the stay for.