We stayed in a tatami room for one night over there. The room was ok but the service to setup the mattresses was slow. Altogether we requested the service twice before the job was done. For the hot springs, we enjoyed the outdoor pools very much! It would be a waste if staying there and not taking time to try the hot springs. The only thing which I think they should improve is the quality of the food. We are Japanese food lover but found that both the buffet dinner and breakfast did not taste good.

Stayed for a week in the end of May, 2012. Arrived from the Shin-Chitose airport (we rented a car there): 1,5 hours by the highway. The hotel is located in a very famous hot spring town called Noboribetsu adjacent to the terrific volcanic valley "Jugokudani" (means "The Hell Valley"), the source of the hotel's geothermal hot water. The area has a lot of attractions, both for adults and kids as well - The Hell Valley itself, the Historical Village, The Bear Farm with terrific view of the Kuttara lake, The Aquarium in Noboribetsu village, etc. Worth to rent a car to get to more distant places like the Toya lake with its famous Usuzan volcano, Muroran port with its Swan bridge or Orofure pass.
We stayed in two standard western style rooms on the 10th floor with a view of the town. The rooms were clean (a little bit worn, but not an issue at all) and well maintained, equipped with LCD TV. Unfortunately, no wi-fi in the rooms, you need to go to the first floor,near the sitting area in the lobby. The food (breakfast&dinner included) was very good, specially seafood (crabs, sashimi, etc.). You can choose from both Japanese & European cuisine. The staff was very friendly and helpful. The main attraction of the place is its hot springs, specially the outdoor pools. They claim it to be the biggest in Japan. Unforgettable experience of getting up earlier (opens up at 4 a.m.) and be the only one in the outdoor pool enjoying the sky just before the sunrise!
Highly recommend this hotel, if you want to experience the Japanese-style relaxation.
Iryna & Anatoli

We stayed a night as part of our Hokkaido trip. We were in luck as it was summer and the town would have a Ghost firework on a Friday as part of their festivities. So that was a bonus.

After coming from the Jozankei area, with the small old Onsen hotel, this was actually a step up.

THe area has sulphuric geothermal activity in the surrounding mountain, so this was something different from the other Onsen hotels we've been to till this point, so it was an experience. The onsen would have hotspring water that has sulphur content, thus be prepared for the smell.

It was with that that I would recommend heading straight for the outdoor onsen as soon as possible to get a better mix of fresh air and sulphur smell. On the onse, as mentioned by other reviewers, they switch the men's and women's (ie mornings and afternoons), and you have to try both, as one outdoor onsen kind of stares into boulders and hotel pillars, the other gives you a mountain slope view that is quite breath-taking.

I read here from a previous reviewer that you should choose a room on the higher floor to avoid as much of the sulphur smell as possible, and I agree with that recommendation.

Pros:
- Great onsen.
- Buffet dinner we were served was OK. Plenty of varieties, but don't be late to dinner.
- Opportunistic to see the Ghost Festival (only Fridays during summer I am told)

Cons:
- None really, except perhaps the sulphur smell, but that's a given considering its a sulphur onsen.