I've been working on a trip which mostly are hotspring hotels, trying to move up to Hokkaido little by little.
Just would like some recommendation for hotel in Lake Toya and Sounkyo
Also, do I need 2 nights at Sounkyo to check out the Ice Waterfall??
The month of traveling is Jan16.

Accommodation JR Station Place to go Hotel
Thursday 14 Tokyo 東京 パールホテル八重洲
Friday 15 Tazawako 田沢湖町 鶴の湯温泉トップ
Saturday 16 Tazawako 田沢湖町 鶴の湯温泉トップ
Sunday 17 Hakodate 函館 ロワジールホテル 函館
Monday 18 Lake Toya 洞爺湖
Tuesday 19 Lake Toya 洞爺湖
Wednesday 20 Noboribetsu 登別 Daiichi Takimotokan
Thursday 21 Sapporo 札幌 Century Royal Hotel
Friday 22 Kamikawa (上川站) 層雲峡
Saturday 23 Kamikawa (上川站) 層雲峡
Sunday 24 Sapporo 札幌 Century Royal Hotel
Monday 25 Sapporo 札幌 Century Royal Hotel

Sorry, can't help too much here. But I have to say the onsen facilities at Daiichitakimotokan is amazing. I've been to onsen hotels all over Jpn, but never have I seen much a gigantic onsen area like theirs. They also have an awesome pool area with a fun waterslide. Mahoroba is another good Noboribetsu place.

Daiichitakimotokan is great, been there once, folks really liked it so going there again even for a night only.
鬼の湯 is super hot one that not many people go (which I like) when I was there but really gets the heart pumping.
The 露天風呂 also good, ordered a beer last time with the help of a old Japanese man. Otherwise don't know how to order the beer...
Hope someone been to Obihiro and Abashiri.
Research so far which I have some interest in.
Obihiro, Yatai, the place is known for veges but whats other things to look at during winter...
Abashiri, looks to be arriving late the first night, second day will hop on the ice breaker and off to another Onsen hotel for big meal and a bit of relaxation.
Kitami bus to Sounkyo do I need to book a with the bus company?


Tuesday 19 Obihiro 帶廣 Hokkaido Hotel
Wednesday 20 Obihiro 帶廣 Hokkaido Hotel
Thursday 21 Abashiri 網走 Abashiri Central Hotel
Friday 22 Abashiri 網走 ホテル網走湖荘
Saturday 23 Kitami 層雲峡 Sounkaku Grand Hotel
Sunday 24 Sapporo 札幌 Century Royal Hotel
Monday 25 札幌

Yeah, the only onsen hotel I've been to in Jpn where they allow you to drink in the onsen. In fact, the taxi driver was telling us that Daiichitakimoto decided to allow that, specifically because so many foreigners stay there. When I was there a week ago, the place was >half foreigners. Some people are put off by that, but I think it's great. I'd love to go back and spend at least 2 nights there next time. I could spend all day going back and forth between the onsen and the pool/waterslide there.

An awful lot of female workers work and wonder about freely amidst nekkid men in men's onsen there. Did you notice that? Mind you, they were all older ladies.

Sorry, don't know Hokkaido that well so can't help you much with the other stuff. But I'm sure Obihiro will be frigid.

When I went last Nov there was hardly any foreigners, the beer server.... was a old lady.... Modesty really goes away...
I got up early like 5am to do the morning spa and christ there was as many people as during the night, the old man and lady which really enjoys their life...
Where I stayed there was a old lady I think like 90+ lady back bent liternally U shape, and still scroll her way to the hotspring... thats hardcore spring lovers, but guess maybe thats why they can live for so long
Next trip I intend to go o Grand Hotel there just to check out the Roman Spa....
Heading to Obihiro and Abashiri feels like I've walked off the beaten part, hardly anyone been around these areas...

Any particular reason you want to go to Lake Toya? It's a bit... crappy. I gather the only decent (larger) hotel is the Windsor, which has a colorful history:

https://spikejapan.wordpress.com/spi...wer-of-bubble/

must've been the same old lady who was there when I was there last week lol.

Niseko Hilton's onsen, while busier and smaller, has very nice silky feel to the water, btw. And it's the only onsen I've been to in Jpn where the fish comes right up to you as you're bathing in rotemburo.

Just wanted to try our new places, but the trip been revised.
Tuesday 19 Obihiro 帶廣 Hokkaido Hotel
Wednesday 20 Obihiro 帶廣 Hokkaido Hotel
Thursday 21 Abashiri 網走 Abashiri Central Hotel
Friday 22 Abashiri 網走 ホテル網走湖荘
Saturday 23 Kitami 層雲峡 Sounkaku Grand Hotel
Sunday 24 Sapporo 札幌 Century Royal Hotel
Monday 25 札幌

Just a tat traveling here and there.

You're spending two nights in Abashiri, and in two different hotels? I'm not sure the place warrants even a single night: prison, Northern Peoples Museum, maybe eat some seafood (not that there's a shortage of places to do this in Hokkaido), done.

In January, the ice-breaker trip out along the Shiretoko Peninsula would also be on my must-do list. I would probably also recommend a visit to the drift ice museum. Since that would consume a number of hours, I can see the value of multiple nights.

I certainly agree that I would not be changing hotels during a 2 night stay. Seems like a real waste of time.

Reason for 2 hotels
14:25
begin OBIHIRO
[95 Min]
through
LTD. EXP SUPER OZORA 5
16:00

16:05
transfer KUSHIRO(HOKKAIDO)
[196 Min]
through
JR Senmo Line
19:21
end ABASHIRI

By the tome I arrive at 7:21 pm, the hotspring hotel is really late to go.
Also staying in town for that nice has 2 things I could achieve.
#1 have dinner at Yakiniku run/own by Abashiri Brewery
#2 closer travel to the ice breaker the next morning

Question
If I get on the 9am ice breaker, it would finish by 10ish.
Pick one of the following if I only have time to do one only...
Drift ice museum
Prison
Northern Peoples Museum
After checking out the Museum and we will head to the hotsping hotel for the night.

Note that the ice breaker tours start running on or about January 20.

For the choices you listed, there are a few things to consider. The Drift Ice Museum will present much the same information as the cruise - only inside a warm building. They have a movie-lecture theater that shows some beautiful images and videos from the trips and other research activities. They also have a small display area of photos and samples and a "cold room" in which you can experience drift-type ice in controlled conditions. The point is that it might be a bit redundant if you also take the real tour. In addition to the nice museum, the grounds have several points that give nice views out over the bay, with the Shiretoko Peninsula in the background - assuming they are not fogged in.

The prison display is mostly outdoors and constitutes a rather lengthy, self-guided walking tour. I spent hours there in the fall, happily taking photos. In January, it will probably be pretty cold so decide accordingly. I found it fascinating but I was there in shirt-sleeve weather.

I didn't see the Northern Peoples Museum in Abashiri because I spent a fair amount of time at the ones in Hakodate and Sapporo. I would recommend one or two of them but you don't really need to see them all unless you are really interested in the Ainu and their near-by relatives.

Post ice breaker day will be Museum or random food walk by the looks of things