After checking out from Hilton Niseko, we drove to
Kashoutei Hanaya 059-0551 Hokkaido, Noboribetsu, Noboribetsu Onsen-cho 134
(Phone: +81143842521) This was our most memorable stay. Featuring natural
hot-spring baths and fresh Japanese meals, Kashoutei Hanaya Ryokan offers
spacious rooms overlooking the Oyunuma River. This hotel is located right next
to a river and so we could hear the sound of the river from outside our window
and enjoyed a pleasant view as well. We stayed for 2 nights. We paid ¥54600. It was our most expensive stay but it was worth it.
It was meant to be our finale of our two weeks in
Hokkaido. And we were spot-on in making Hanaya our final two nights' stay to
relax, unwind and get ready for our real world back home. We drove into town
from Niseki, about 100 km away. It was a most splendid drive through the
mountain roads and along Lake Toya.
Later on in the evening, when we were greeted by the
owner of the hotel herself, Madame Michio Imari while we were enjoying our
dinner. She told us about the history of the hotel and how it was set up some
half a century ago by her family and now it is in her hands to manage. She told
of the great old days when the onsens were not more than 4 storeys high. "
No taller than the trees". So that the natural environment can be enjoyed
in full by the people who come to retreat into the onsens. However, now the
onsens have been bought over and developed into tall hotels and obstructing the
grand vistas from view.
Upon our arrival, our settling in was super easy. Feeling
right at home the moment we stepped into the cosy lobby. Our bags were already
in our rooms when I parked the car 50 m down the road, after dropping the bags
first.
The cosy little ryokan with its own onsen is a real gem
of a place. The service is impeccable and the courtesies and warmth of the
staff can be heartfelt. The tatami room we were given on the second floor was
very comfortable, spacious and with all the amenities one would need. It has a
view of the garden on the ground floor and the vistas of the mountains across
the street.
The spas for the men and the women on the ground floor
are imaculately kept. The temperature of the waters are monitored by a staff
periodically. The dressing room is luxurious with all the amenities including a
water dispenser which dispenses water at your desired temperature. The
toiletries provided in the bath area are also equally luxurious. Mild volcanic
mud facial cleanser, shampoo and conditioners and even a pumice stone scrub to
scrub your feet, There is both the indoor and the outdoor options of the hot
spring spa.
The detail to which the management pamper to your little
fancies can be seen in so many things around the hotel. The spa are switched
around daily. Meaning the gents' and the ladies' spas are switched, so that
your spa and the views from the spa can be different on the second visit. The
flowers we see all around the hotels at the right places are all living. Many
of them in minature bonsai style.
Our meals at the hotel was an in-room multi-course meals featuring local specialities (kaiseki). This was our dinner on the first night.
And our dinner on our 2nd night. What a sumptuous spread. And every dish was just so delectable.
Our breakfast
We were served our welcome tea and Japanese sweets on arrival. Service was excellent from start to finish.
Guests can choose a classically furnished Western room or a Japanese room with tatami (woven-straw) flooring and traditional futon beds. We chose the traditional Japanese room. Each room includes a satellite TV and private toilet. The ryokan itself is really beautiful and every part of the hotel has nice decorative touches. There were only 1 person who could speak very basic English, but everyone was super friendly and nice.
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