Introducing Asarigawa Onsen in Otaru, Hokkaido

For the second night of a 3-night, 4-day trip to Hokkaido, I decided to stay at an onsen hotel. Having previously stayed at onsen hotels in areas near Sapporo such as Kitahiroshima, Jozankei, and Lake Shikotsu, this time I chose the Otaru region. After hearing about the famous Korakuen, I took a local bus and traveled about 10 minutes further into the mountains to reach Asarigawa Onsen Village. From Otaru Station, buses to the onsen village run about once an hour. During the winter season, buses operate every 30 minutes, while in the summer season, they run once an hour. Initially, I planned my itinerary based on the winter schedule, but upon discovering the summer schedule on the day of travel, I successfully adjusted my plans for the following day. From Otaru Chikko Station, it takes about 25 minutes by bus. The Chuo Bus accepts IC cards. The hotel is just a 1-minute walk from the Onsen Minami bus stop. Despite being mid-April, the scenery of the snow-covered mountain onsen village was breathtaking. The hotel is a three-story building that resembles a youth hostel from the outside, but the interior of the rooms is in better condition than the exterior suggests. I booked a twin room, which is a Western-style room with beds. The bathroom is barrier-free and very spacious. As it is an onsen hotel, the room only has a sink, with no shower booth or bathtub. Although the view from the second floor is of a wall, there is a small balcony where you can step out and face the forest. Dinner featured Furano beef sukiyaki as the main dish, served as part of a fusion kaiseki course meal. It was accompanied by Sapporo Classic beer. The meal began with smoked mackerel and cheese dishes, which were incredibly delicious. Next came three types of sashimi, followed by the main dish, sukiyaki, which was absolutely divine. Afterward, salmon steak paired with asparagus and cream sauce was served, and it was equally delightful. The meal continued with chawanmushi and three types of tempura. I ordered a Nikka Whisky highball to complement the dishes. The meal concluded with salmon soba and inari sushi as the main course, followed by dessert. The dinner, which I had not expected much from, turned out to be heavenly, leading me to cancel my planned visit to Aeon Mall and relax in my room instead. The room was heated by a hot air blower, as there was no separate heating system. The temperature in the mountain area was around 3–4°C. Although the blower was noisy, it worked well, and the double-glazed windows kept the room warm. There was an onsen on the same floor as the guest rooms, including an outdoor bath and a newly opened sauna this winter. I enjoyed the onsen while gazing at the snow. The front desk closes from 8 PM to 8 AM. Amenities are self-service. After a good night's sleep, I woke up at 5 AM to watch the sunrise and went for a walk. The air was crisp, and the snow-covered paths were partially blocked. The ski slopes still had snow, but the lifts were stopped as it was the off-season. I enjoyed the sound of the upstream water flow in the valley-like river during my one-hour morning walk, followed by a refreshing morning onsen. Breakfast started at 7 AM in the dining area. It was not a buffet but a set meal prepared for guests. The natto, umeboshi, and miso soup were particularly delicious. I checked out at 8:30 AM and received a duck-shaped souvenir. I took the 8:35 AM local bus from the hotel entrance back to Otaru city. The ride to Otaru Station took about 40 minutes. After a peaceful and quiet stay in the mountain village, I returned feeling well-rested. Thank you.