Auberge Kita no Dan Dan

The moment we arrived and were shown to the lobby, we were greeted by nostalgic scenery and items. To be honest, the interior and furnishings pleasantly defied what you might expect from an “auberge.” It didn’t feel unpleasant at all—rather, it was a comforting space filled with a sense of nostalgia. Everything in the building was impeccably clean; even the wooden floors in the corridors were gleaming. Throughout the property, there were many handmade mini “info” posters with a wide variety of topics, and we really enjoyed reading them. Because the hot spring source temperature is low, it seems to be heated and circulated, but the water has a silky texture that left our skin smooth. The bath in our room was not hot spring water, but the view from the bathroom window was wonderful. Dinner is a full-course French meal, and breakfast is Japanese-style. Both were extremely satisfying in taste and portion size—we enjoyed them very much. There is also a good selection of drinks, and we appreciated how reasonably priced they were. The staff provided excellent service in every respect, with outstanding hospitality. For us coming from Nara, Abashiri in eastern Hokkaido is certainly not close—but this is an inn we absolutely want to visit again.

This was our second stay. The meals were just as outstanding as last time, and we want to come back again and again. We also enjoyed a wonderful walk around the vast gardens, which we didn’t have time to explore during our previous winter stay. We think this is an exceptional place to stay.