Kashin-tei Shirahama

Kashintei Shirahama sits close to Lake Tazawa, with the water and surrounding mountains visible from rooms and shared spaces. The inn has welcomed guests for more than a century, yet its appeal is less about formality than the calm created by the lake through snow, fresh green growth and autumn colour.

Breakfast and dinner are served in dedicated private dining rooms facing the lake. The evening meal is an Akita regional kaiseki, with seasonal produce and dishes such as Nishiki beef cooked on a ceramic plate bringing the prefecture to the table.

Hot-spring bathing includes a large indoor bath, an open-air bath and a private bath. Shirahama suits travellers who want Lake Tazawa to remain present throughout the stay, with privacy at dinner and a traditional bathing rhythm after a day around the lake.