Hotel Romantic di Hokkaido, Japan

For our last night in Hokkaido, we drove all the way from Kushiro to this small hotel in Biei. The hotel was tiny, and although it had a second floor, there was no elevator. The staff were incredibly enthusiastic and even helped us carry our luggage, which made us feel a bit embarrassed. Our room came with a private open-air onsen, so it was quite spacious, but the futon mattress was a little hard. It made me miss my smart electric mattress back home! The food here was also great; both breakfast and dinner were typical Japanese cuisine, perfectly to my liking. Definitely recommended!

This was the most magical onsen I’ve ever been to. Pretty remote and difficult to get to if relying on public transport/taxis, however once you get there it’s so warm, inviting, and luxurious. The onsen baths are a mix of separate genders (mostly inside) baths, but also a spectacular outside onsen for mixed genders; the staff at reception will give you a covering garment for this. The dinner and breakfasts were truly delicious and filling but we enjoyed dining in the provided yukatas. The real draw of this place however is the birdwatching opportunities. The main lobby boasts a huge window to a bird garden which is teeming with various species. There is an owl that often visits and perches right outside the window. The staff can also call your room during the night if it appears and you’re desperate to see it!

I had a great time. I booked a room on the top floor. Business hotels are cramped, so I stayed overnight with a friend. There was a sauna, karaoke, and a large TV. It was also well soundproofed, so I could drink and make a lot of noise. I had a great time.

Chief's House was my candidate for Kiki's reservation on the day I didn't get a reservation, but I unexpectedly got to experience local life again. I had experienced it there once when I went to Furano in 2017. I had to make my own bed, but I didn't have to this time. However, my mother didn't like it because there was no toilet in the room and I had to go outside to use it, and there was no air-conditioning. The water in the sink was rusty. I am not so particular about B&Bs because they are cheap, the quilts are thick and it's not cold even without air-conditioning. The four-person room I booked was not big enough to add another layer. The biggest problem was water. I asked an elderly person at the front desk to take me to another sink, but it still didn't work. I was too lazy to do it, so I just bought three large bottles of water from the vending machine, which was enough. The food here is very local and delicious. Although the hardware cannot be donated, the boss and his wife are really good people. It was not convenient for me to go to Kiki the next day. The boss's wife saw that I was in trouble and drove me up. She is really a good person and helped me out of my urgent need.

Breakfast included, self-driving preferred!