Bourou NOGUCHI Noboribetsu

From the warm welcome at the entrance to the private in-Room dining and all the way through departure, everything was outstanding. Beyond the excellent hospitality, having a private stone sauna and an in-Room Onsen bath felt truly luxurious, and it soothed both my mind and body. I wished I could stay here forever. I will definitely return.

My wife recommended this Accommodation after staying here for a girls’ trip, so this time we stayed as a couple. Noboribetsu Onsen boasts one of the top water outputs and spring qualities in The whole country. There are many large Accommodations in the area, but I personally prefer this type with fewer Rooms. First of all, you can relax in the large public bath without feeling crowded. The spring quality is also the thick, cloudy type even for Noboribetsu, and it really warms you up—though there are a few spots where steps are hard to notice.The meals use local ingredients carefully prepared with time and effort, and I thought both the presentation and flavor were excellent. I’m not good with raw food, but they served the sashimi ingredients in an ankake-style sauce for me. Since many places tend to serve simmered dishes like buri-kama, this was a good job. My wife had her sashimi served with some special presentation as well, which was interesting. We enjoyed chatting with the staff and had a delicious meal.It was also my first time seeing a siphon-type soy sauce dispenser and a sharkskin grater—those were interesting too.They say it’s their 20th anniversary since opening, and you can feel the years in things like the lockers in the large bath changing room, some interior wallpaper, and around the vanity area. However, the in-Room bath uses stone materials that have developed character over time. And it’s spacious enough for four adults to bathe comfortably—quite impressive. It’s comparable in size to Hanzuiryo in Nagasaki; I almost felt there was no need to go to the large public bath.There are plenty of amenities provided, and having both yukata robes and samue loungewear is helpful (though tying the samue cords is a bit of a hassle).What bothered me was that after using the ganbanyoku hot-stone spa area, the shower room is separate so you have to leave once—and it felt a bit small.Also, regarding the sweets provided in the Room: at an Accommodation of this class, even just one piece would be fine if it were something original and higher quality—I think they could offer something better.