Shintamagawa onsen exceeded my expectations. Traveling alone, I was a bit worried by the location, but found Akita Airportliner was able to take me straight from the airport to the hotel without any problems for an economical price. The trip up to the mountains took 2 hours, but it was so beautiful to travel there for the first time. The Hotel itself looks well-kept and in good condition, and the hotel staff was extremely amiable and efficient. I was able to check-in quickly and without issue even though I spoke no Japanese. I had a two-night stay and I would say it was not enough time to fully enjoy the area and facilities. I visited the onsen twice a day and was impressed by the strength and quality of the water. I fully enjoyed the buffet breakfast and dinner. It was a typical Japanese style meal, nothing too fancy but matched the ambiance of the hotel and tastes of the guests. Much healthier than other buffet options I have experienced. The guests were mainly older who seemed to be there to keep up their health with the great onsen facilities. I found it also very healthy from a personal perspective. I did try to visit the neighboring Tazawa Lake and Kaunodate area, but just did not have enough time due to limited bus transportation this time of year. The one-way trip by bus takes over an hour and you must plan accordingly to match the schedule to get back to the onsen. Overall I extremely enjoyed my stay and will return in the future for a longer stay.