Furano
Visiting the Furano area of Hokkaido in the summer, a popular tourist destination for Japanese
· Furano is in the mid to midwest region of Hokkaido
· It’s a famous tourist destination for Japanese people
· It appeals to travelers both in the summer and winter seasons
In the middle of Hokkaido is Furano, a landlocked area surrounded by vast green mountains. For Japanese tourists, this area is a popular tourist destination, especially in the winter and summer.
I was able to visit the area once in the summer in 2022. It was my third time to Hokkaido, and while I had visited Sapporo and Niseko in the winter, this was the first time visiting in the summer.
How to get there
Like most of Hokkaido, Furano is accessed best by car.
About Furano
The greater Furano area is quite vast, and has a population of just over 22,000. It’s popular in the winter because of its ski areas, and in the summer because of sightseeing destinations like its lavender fields as well as its overall cooler climate versus the majority of Japan.
Where we stayed
Hoshino Resorts Risonare Tomamu
Our first stay was at the Hoshino Resorts Risonare Tomamu, a large resort located at the base of a ski area.
The Tower at Hoshino Resorts Risonare Tomamu
It’s a different line from the KAI resorts that I have often stayed at, but under the same company. This resort is very different as rooms are located in 4 main towers, and is quite spread out.
We stayed in the towers towards the top. They’re a bit dated and the shower took a while to get hot, but it was very spacious. There was a bathroom in the master room and another with a sauna and jacuzzi facing the windows in it.
There are various restaurants and cafes, a couple of all-you-can-eat buffets, a lot of different activities that you can partake in, and areas to relax and have a picnic at.
One of the main commercial areas is Hotaru Street, which is in between the two pairs of towers.
Hotaru Street with cafes and restaurants at Hoshino Resorts Risonare Tomamu
We came across wild deer and rabbits roaming the vast grounds, but there are also areas that have sheep, goat, cows, even ponies.
The highlight of the stay is the trip up above the “Sea of Clouds” to Unkai Terrace. This happens in the summer.
A shuttle will pick everyone up before the sun’s out, and take them to a ski lift. The lift will bring you above the clouds up top where there are cafes and various different viewpoints and photogenic spots.
It’s absolutely gorgeous up there with views as far as the eye can see. I shared a little more in the video I made about this trip.
Above the Sea of Clouds at Unkai Terrace
Fenix Furano
The second place we stayed at was at the Fenix Furano, a luxury apartment-style hotel geared towards visitors planning to hit the ski slopes right across at Kitanomine.
Rooms here are fully equipped and range from hotel-style rooms to 3-bedroom apartments and penthouses. Its modern design is beautiful and it was a pleasure to stay the night.
Where we went
Aoi Pond
Aoi Pond
Yes, it’s actually that color.
Aoi Pond is actually a recent discovery in 1997 after being an unintentional creation while work was being done to control erosion.
There’s a parking lot and you can walk about half the perimeter of the pond. It’s beautiful, especially with the trees.
Chateau Furano
The Furano Winery, or Chateau Furano, dates back to 1972. At this little winery, you can check out the cellar with a collection of old bottles, see some of the production process, and do some wine tasting.
They make both red and white wines, however I have yet to taste a good red made here or anywhere else in Japan. If you like clean, crisp white wines, Japan makes some decent ones.
If you’d like to watch a video of traveling to all these places, check mine out here.
Tomita Melon House
Hokkaido and Furano, specifically, are known for melons. While we were a bit too early to see Farm Tomita’s lavender fields, we were able to go to their neighboring melon outpost, Tomita Melon House.
They have some of the juiciest melons I’ve ever had in my life here to eat, to buy and to ship domestically. They also have desserts centered around their melons.
A good place to stop if you want some of the most high quality melons around.
Genghis Khan King
Hokkaido is known for Genghis Khan (pronounced Jingisukan), a local style of barbecue that is focused around mutton and vegetables. For this, we went to Genghis Khan King on the grounds of Hoshino Resorts Risonare Tomamu.
The food is grilled on a special grill that is raised in the middle, causing the juices from the meat to drip down around the rim where the vegetables are. To my surprise, the meat here was not gamey at all, and instead was rather tasty.
Easy to eat, fun and delicious. Dig in.
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Nagato Yumoto Onsen: Hoshino Resorts KAI Nagato
Deep in the mountains of Yamaguchi Prefecture, Hoshino Resorts KAI Nagato is a luxury onsen resort based on accommodations for 17th century feudal lords.
Deep in the mountains of Yamaguchi Prefecture is the Nagato Yumoto Onsen area. With a river running through the middle, the Hoshino Resorts KAI Nagato, a luxury onsen resort, sits right alongside it.
Hoshino Resorts is one of the most well known and sought after luxury hot spring and resort ryokan chains in Japan.
If you’ve looked around at my Japan travels on my blog or watched some of my videos on YouTube, you may know that I’m a fan of their KAI brand. I’ve been fortunate to have stayed at some of their resorts such as:
While on a trip around Fukuoka in late spring of 2022, we decided to cross into Yamaguchi and head into the mountains for a stay at their KAI Nagato location.
How to get there
The best way to get to the Nagato Yumoto Onsen area is by car.
That being said, we took the bus/train. Our route wasn’t a typical one, but there’s a train from Asa Station, which is also a stop for some Shinkansen, to Nagato-Yumoto Station.
The lobby
Nagato Yumoto Onsen is a hot spring town that dates back several hundred years, and was a destination for daimyo.
Becoming a bit dated, the area went through a rebranding and made some changes in the spring of 2020. Amongst those changes was the brand new opening of Hoshino Resort KAI Nagato.
Like other KAI locations, KAI Nagato focuses on the local area and its culture. The concept for this location is draws upon the old tea houses and accommodations that hosted feudal lords in the 17th century.
Travel Library
Outside of the Travel Library
Activities
The main activity that many guests take part in is ink making and calligraphy.
It is said that for over 800 years, artisans in the region have been crafting inkstones out of a local stone called Akamaga, which produces high quality ink.
Calligraphy room
Brushes for calligraphy
Carving tools in the calligraphy room
Calligraphy activity set
Rooms
We stayed in the Japanese-style Room TA3, a room that measures 48㎡ big with 2 beds in the main space and a bathroom with shower (you probably won’t need it because of the onsen).
The window had sliding doors that opened to a view of the river.
Main area of the room
Main area of the room
Bathroom
The Hot Spring
The onsen hot spring baths at Hoshino Resorts KAI Nagato are both indoors and outdoors.
Public onsen bath
The water that flows through Japanese onsen hot springs vary and depend on where the water is coming from. Each has a slightly different combination of minerals carrying different benefits to the skin and body.
Hoshino Resorts KAI Nagato’s onsen water is from the Nagato Yumoto hot spring and is alkaline and pretty clear in color. It’s said that the benefits include helping with nerve pain, muscle soreness, joint/arthritis pain, and general fatigue.
The water is really silky and smooth, and it made my skin feel really nice after. The indoor bath was not as hot, more lukewarm, but the silkiness feeling was the highest.
Dining
Like most ryokan stays, Japanese kaiseki meals are included. Hoshino Resorts KAI Nagato’s meals are served in a dining hall that has separated rooms.
Like every other Hoshino Resorts KAI resort, this location had great meals.
Yamaguchi prefecture is known for foods like yuzukichi citrus and fugu (blowfish) and both were part of the meal.
We opted to go for the Special Dinner: Spring-Summer option, which focused on kawarayaki, Wagyu beef cooked in a way that resembles kawarasoba, a Yamaguchi style of cooking soba on a heated roof tile.
Breakfast was also good and stayed with the regional concept. Some dishes were a local miso soup and kamaboko (fish cake).
This was yet another enjoyable stay at a Hoshino Resorts KAI location and one in a rather remote, peaceful location that’s rich in history.
Furoshiki
If you’d like to watch a video of my stay there, please check it out below.
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Shizuoka: Hoshino Resorts KAI Enshu
A luxury ryokan resort focused on Japanese tea. The Hoshino Resorts KAI Enshu, an amazing getaway that dives into the local specialty.
Next to Lake Hamana is the Kanzanji Onsen area, a removed area near Hamamatsu City. Right at the lakeside is Hoshino Resorts KAI Enshu, a luxury resort that is all about tea.
Hoshino Resorts is one of the most well known and sought after luxury hot spring and resort ryokan chains in Japan.
If you’ve looked around at my Japan travels on my blog or watched some of my videos on YouTube, you may know that I’m a fan of their KAI brand. I’ve been fortunate to have stayed at some of their resorts such as:
We took a road trip to Hamamatsu in the spring of 2022, and I was able to stay at their KAI Enshu location.
How to get there
We drove to the ryokan, but it’s possible to get there by train and bus.
From JR Hamamatsu Station’s North Exit, there’s an Enshu Railway Bus from Bus Terminal Platform No. 1, that’s bound for Kanzanji Onsen. The bus will take you to Hamanako Bay Street, and it’s about a minute or two to the hotel on foot.
The lobby
Hoshino Resorts KAI Enshu focuses on the local area, just like other locations in this line. Shizuoka Prefecture accounts for 40% of Japan’s green tea, so it’s only right that this resort is focused on it.
The resort itself is centered around the tea garden pictured at the top, and there’s tea at every turn inside the resort as well.
At the entrance of the main indoor lounge area are these fancy-looking, cold-brew green tea dispensers.
Tea Stand for cold-brew tea
Nearby is their Tea Cellar, a long counter with personal teapots and about 13 different tea leaves with pictogram “Tea Cards” that explain about the tea and provide brewing recommendations.
It’s self-serve and you can make yourself a pot of tea and take it anywhere in the resort to enjoy.
Tea Cellar with 13 different types of tea
One of the teas at the Tea Cellar
In the same area is their Tea Lounge Bicharaku, a library space with tables and an elevated space that looks over the tea garden and Lake Hamana.
Tea Lounge Bicharaku library
Activities
There are a number of activities that guests are able to take part in. One of them is their tea brewing experience.
Here, an instructor educates participants exactly how to brew their tea. Once everyone has successfully brewed their cup and finished drinking it, a challenge is presented.
Three different cold teas are presented, and one of them is the same type of tea as the hot one that everyone just brewed. The challenge is to guess which one that is. It’s harder than it sounds!
Tea Bar for the tea brewing experience
Tea at the tea brewing experience
Taste test at the tea brewing experience
Rooms
We stayed in the Western-style Room with Lake View TA2, a room that measures 35㎡ big with 2 beds in the main space and a bathroom with shower (you probably won’t need it because of the onsen).
Like all the rooms, it had a main window that looked directly out at Lake Hamana which was gorgeous.
Main area of the room
Sofa by the room window
Bathroom
The Hot Spring
There are two onsen hot spring baths at Hoshino Resorts KAI Enshu.
One has two tubs, an indoor and an outdoor one that’s pictured below. It’s set in a serene location, surrounded by nature, and has a running fountain of fresh water pouring in.
One of the two public onsen baths
The second bath also has an indoor tub, but the main outdoor tub is unique as it has baskets of tea floating in it. The tub itself is wooden and circular, and although it’s a bit small, having the tea in their will give off an aroma that gives you quite a unique onsen experience.
The water that flows through Japanese onsen hot springs vary and depend on where the water is coming from. Each has a slightly different combination of minerals carrying different benefits to the skin and body.
Hoshino Resorts KAI Enshu’s onsen water is from the Kanzanji hot spring and is pretty clear in color. They report that their water has sodium, calcium, chloride, and strong saline.
One of the benefits said to be provided by this combination is that the salts coat the body like a veil to warm up and moisturize the skin.
Dining
Like most ryokan stays, Japanese kaiseki meals are included. Hoshino Resorts KAI Enshu’s meals are served in a dining hall that has separated rooms.
Like every other Hoshino Resorts KAI resort, this location had great meals.
The Hamamatsu area is known for unagi, or eel, but because we had plans to eat that in Hamamatsu city, we opted to go for the Standard Seasonal Dinner option.
Delicious dinner. Some pics are below.
Breakfast was also good and staying with the tea concept, some of the main dishes were served in a box of tea on top of tea leaves.
This was another enjoyable stay at a Hoshino Resorts KAI location and recommend it to anyone traveling in the area, especially if they have an interest in tea.
If you’d like to watch a video of my stay there, please check it out below.
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Aomori: Hoshino Resorts KAI Tsugaru
A winter escape in Aomori at the Hoshino Resorts KAI Tsugaru, an amazing boutique ryokan full of local culture.
In Owani onsen, a rural area of Aomori, is Hoshino Resorts KAI Tsugaru, a fantastic retreat that lets guests dive into the local, Tsugaru culture.
Hoshino Resorts is one of the most well known and sought after luxury hot spring and resort ryokan chains in Japan. If you’ve looked around at my Japan travels on my blog or watched some of my videos on YouTube, you may know that I’m a fan of their KAI brand. I’ve been fortunate to have stayed at their KAI Kaga resort while visiting Kanazawa, their KAI Sengokuhara resort while visiting Hakone, as well as others.
While traveling around Aomori in the winter of 2021, I was able to get another chance to stay at one of their locations.
How to get there
We took the Ou Line limited express train from Aomori Station to Owani Onsen Station. Owani Onsen Station is a very local station, and a Hoshino Resorts KAI Tsugaru van will come and pick you up if you tell them when you will arrive.
As you check-in, you can schedule your meals (2 time options per meal) and schedule any activities. We did one, which was to have a drink in an igloo outside (top image), an activity that they only offer in the winter. In the summer, the area transforms into a lake with lanterns.
The Owani Onsen area is very local and not really convenient without a car, but it’s fine since the purpose of going to these types of ryokans is to relax at the resort. And this one allows that just fine.
The lobby and performance area
Library lounge and gift shop
Hoshino Resorts KAI Tsugaru, like other locations in this line, is focused on providing a local experience. A lot of the decor is from the area, using traditional patterns and techniques.
Tsugaru Koginzashi patterns decorate the room and resort
For example, the diamond-like pattern in decorations in the rooms and around the resort, as well as in the lighting in the halls, are called Tsugaru Koginzashi. It’s a traditional embroidery pattern devised by local farmers and primarily used on indigo fabrics, that’s been passed down through generations in the area.
Aomori’s Nebuta lantern decorations
After dinner, a traditional shamisen performance in the local style was performed by national champion Kohei Shibuya and a resident student of his. I have to say that they were impressive - a clip of their performance is in my video.
Rooms
We stayed in the Japanese-style Room TB2, a room that measures between 64㎡ big with 2 beds, a living room, bathroom with shower (you probably won’t need it).
Sleeping area of the room
The living room area
Bathroom
The Hot Spring
What makes Hoshino Resorts KAI Tsugaru’s onsen especially unique is the apples floating in the water. Aomori is known for apples, and they help give off a pleasant, sweet scent as you soak in the bath.
The water that flows through Japanese onsen hot springs vary and depend on where the water is coming from. Each has a slightly different combination of minerals carrying different benefits to the skin and body.
Hoshino Resorts KAI Tsugaru’s onsen water is from the Owani hot spring and is pretty clear in color. They report that their water has sodium, chloride, and sulfate.
This combination is said to help in areas such as protecting the skin from drying out, accelerating the body’s natural healing process, and coating the body like a veil to warm up and moisturize the skin.
Public indoor onsen bath area
Dining
Like most ryokan stays, Japanese kaiseki meals are included. Hoshino Resorts KAI Tsugaru’s meals are served in the dining hall that has separated rooms.
Like every other Hoshino Resorts KAI resort, this location had amazing food.
Aomori prefecture is known for maguro (tuna), and we opted to go for the special maguro kaiseki course.
It included dishes such as maguro akami (lean) and chutoro (medium fatty) sashimi, sushi, negima (maguro and green onion) hot pot, Aomori-grown rice cooked perfectly in an earthware pot, a maguro ochazuke set that you can adjust according to taste, and a bunch more. We also made sure to order some Aomori nihonshu, or sake, since the prefecture is also known for that.
Delicious dinner. Some pics are below.
Breakfast was also great and was centered on kaiyaki miso, a local dish where scallops are marinated in miso, cooked in its shell, and topped with lightly beaten raw egg.
I enjoyed my stay at the Hoshino Resorts KAI Tsugaru and recommend it to anyone traveling in the area. It’s a perfect place to go to for a retreat.
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Aomori: Hoshino Resorts Oirase Keiryu Hotel
A beautiful and relaxing winter retreat surrounded by Aomori’s nature.
On a trip to explore northern Honshu island in February 2021, I was lucky enough to get to stay at Hoshino Resorts Oirase Keikyu Hotel in Towada, Aomori.
Hoshino Resorts is one of the most well known and sought after luxury hot spring and resort ryokan companies in Japan. I’ve stayed at a few in their KAI line, such as KAI Kinugawa (Nikko), KAI Sengokuhara (Hakone) and KAI Kaga (near Kanazawa).
This was the first time I was staying at one of their resorts that wasn’t in that line, and as expected, it was great as well.
Main lobby and check-in area
How to get there
We took the Tohoku Shinkansen bullet train from Tokyo Station to Hachinohe in Aomori prefecture. From there, there’s a daily shuttle bus that you can request that is provided by the hotel. It takes about an hour and a half to get to the hotel.
The main lounge area
Hoshino Resorts Oirase Keiryu is located along the Oirase stream, tucked away and completely surrounded by nature.
Because of this, if you want to leave the resort, you’ll need a car.
Luckily, Hoshino Resorts Oirase Keiryu has a handful of tours and activities setup which they provide transportation for as well as equipment to rent. We took part in a couple, and I talk about those down below.
We stayed in the Modern Room, a room that measures 44㎡ with 2 beds, a bathroom, and a sofa looking out at the surrounding nature.
Modern Room
The Hot Spring
Maybe especially so because we went in the winter, but the onsen hot spring here was amazing, probably one of the nicest I’ve sat in.
Public indoor onsen bath area
In the winter, it’s called the “Frozen waterfall onsen” due to being surrounded by walls of ice. The hot water comes from Mt. Hakkoda, and the outdoor bath look out to the natural environment.
There is also an indoor part of the onsen that is quite big.
Dining
Like most ryokan stays, meals are included. Hoshino Resorts Oirase Keiryu’s meals take place at their Aomori Ringo Kitchen, a dining area centered around an all-you-can-eat buffet.
Aomori Ringo Kitchen buffet
The food here was great, and yes, they had more than apples.
For dinner, the highlights are their roast beef and maguro (tuna) sashimi and negitoro. Their apple pie and self-serve soft serve ice cream dessert is also really good.
For breakfast, their ikura (salmon roe) and salmon flakes are amazing.
Activities
Because the Hoshino Resorts Oirase Keiryu is secluded in the Towada area of Aomori, you basically need a car to go anywhere on your own. Because of this, they have option activities available that they’ll provide transportation for and offer gear to rent.
We went on two.
Night tour: Frozen waterfall
This was a short trip in a van to Makadoiwa Rock, a nearby waterfall that gets illuminated by LED lights. You don’t need any equipment and the whole trip takes only about an hour.
Snow trekking
This activity is in the daytime and took place twice a day. We opted for the later one that went from 1PM - 4PM. A van takes the group to a parking lot where we each strap into show shoes.
We followed the leader up and around a small mountain area until we ended up at Tatsunuma, a scenic swamp/lake. The guide was very informative, explaining the trees in the area and behaviors of the animals while looking at the tracks we came across.
All in all, this was a really nice stay and this resort was great. It exceeded my expectations and I’d love to visit again.
If you want to see the trip in video:
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Kaga Onsen: Hoshino Resorts KAI Kaga
A nice Kanazawa getaway at the Hoshino Resorts KAI Kaga, an upscale boutique ryokan that lets guest dive into local culture.
A break from life in a small, rural town near Kanazawa.
Hoshino Resorts is one of the most well known and sought after luxury hot spring and resort ryokan chains in Japan. I’ve stayed at their KAI Kinugawa resort while visiting Nikko, as well as their KAI Sengokuhara resort while visiting Hakone.
I was glad to get another chance to stay at one of their locations in 2020, while on a trip to Kanazawa.
HOW TO GET THERE
We took the Thunderbird Express train from Kanazawa Station to Kagaonsen Station, the quickest way at the moment. Kagaonsen Station is a very local station, but a Shinkansen station is currently being built to replace it. From there, there is a bus that will take you near the resort but if it’s difficult, catching a taxi may be easier.
A Hoshino Resorts KAI Kaga staff member greets you at the entrance and guides you to the check-in area. You put your shoes into a locker and wear slippers around the resort. You can then check-in and schedule your meals (2 time options per meal) and any activities such as massages.
The Kaga Onsen area is small and there isn’t much to do or see. This isn’t a big problem though, as the purpose of going to these types of ryokans is to relax at the resort.
The library lounge area
Hoshino Resorts KAI Kaga is focused on providing a local experience. A lot of the decor is from the area, using traditional patterns and techniques, and are created by local craftsmen. After dinner, a traditional lion dance is performed that was first performed in the region back in the 16th century.
We stayed in the Japanese-style Room TA3, a room that measures between 41㎡～51㎡ big with 2 beds, a living room, bathroom with shower, and balcony.
Living room area with mat flooring and sleep area in the back
The living room area
The balcony space
Bathroom with shower
The Hot Spring
The water that flows through Japanese onsen hot springs vary and depend on where the water is coming from. Each has a slightly different combination of minerals carrying different benefits to the skin and body.
Hoshino Resorts KAI Kaga’s onsen water is from the Yamashiro hot spring and is pretty clear in color. They report that their water has sodium, calcium, sulfate and chloride.
This combination is said to help in areas such as protecting the skin from drying out and accelerating the body’s natural healing process, as well as coating the body, therefore warming and moisturizing the skin.
Public indoor onsen bath area
Smaller outdoor public onsen area
Dining
Like most ryokan stays, Japanese kaiseki meals are included. Hoshino Resorts KAI Kaga’s meals are served in the dining hall that has separation barriers, allowing each party to have a private room.
Shokujidokoro (dining hall)
The Hoshino Resorts KAI line never fails to have amazing food.
Ishikawa prefecture is known for crab, and there are a few different crab kaiseki courses to choose from.
You can’t go wrong with any. Ours included dishes such as crab sashimi, crab hot pot, and a Shimenawa-Mushi steamed crab that is made by steaming the crab in a saltwater-soaked rope. Just so good.
Breakfast was also great and was centered on a seafood nabe (hot pot).
The Hoshino Resorts KAI Kaga was yet another resort in the KAI line that I enjoyed staying at. They really area an elegant onsen retreat. Whenever we have an extra day on a trip where we can afford to relax, we look to see if there’s a KAI location nearby.
I recommend this resort for anyone looking for a luxurious Japanese getaway.
Furoshiki wrapping cloths to take home
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Hakone: Hoshino Resorts KAI Sengokuhara
A peaceful Hakone getaway at the Hoshino Resorts KAI Sengokuhara, a luxurious boutique ryokan with private onsen hot spings.
Private onsen tub at Hoshino Resorts KAI Sengokuhara in Hakone
A blissful getaway where the day is spent silently soaking in a private onsen hot spring looking out at the view.
Hoshino Resorts is one of the most well known and sought after luxury hot spring and resort ryokan chains in Japan. I stayed at their KAI Kinugawa resort while visiting Nikko, so I knew that their boutique KAI line provides for a very relaxing weekend.
We stayed for a night at their KAI Sengokuhara location, which opened in 2018, this time when we stayed for a weekend in Hakone.
Sengokuhara
HOW TO GET THERE
We took the Odakyu Romance Car to Hakone from Shinjuku station, a popular way to get to Hakone besides driving. From there, the fastest route is catch a bus to the Daigatake stop in Sengokuhara [MAP], which is right in front of Family Mart. Hoshino Resorts KAI Sengokuhara Is located right up the hill next to it.
As soon as you enter the Hoshino Resorts KAI Sengokuhara‘s premises, a staff member approaches you to greet you and guide you up to the lobby. A long escalator takes you up to the lobby area, where you check-in and schedule your meals and any activities.
Lobby area with art room
This Hoshino Resorts KAI location is focused on art, so they have an optional activity that lets participating guests color a long cloth with Japanese scenes, something you do after dinner and then take home with you as a souvenir. The room keys also stay on the art theme, with keychains that have nicely displayed, dried, Japanese flowers.
We stayed in the Japanese-style Suite with Outdoor Bath RB2, a spacious room of just about 63㎡～70㎡ big with 2 double beds, a living room, detached desk space, balcony and private onsen bath outside. It was just under $400.
Living room area with a huge L-shaped sofa and Okinawan tatami mat flooring
The bed area is attached to the living room and features gorgeous lighting accents
Spacious balcony area with furniture for two
The bathroom is roomy and well designed
Desk area with a view looking outside at Sengokuhara
The Hot Spring
The water that flows through Japanese onsen hot springs vary and depend on where the water is coming from. Each has a slightly different combination of minerals carrying different benefits to the skin and body.
Hoshino Resorts KAI Sengokuhara‘s onsen water is from the Owakudani volcanic valley and is slightly milky white in color. They report that their water has “acid,” calcium, sulfur and chloride.
The “acid” helps with chronic dermatitis, sulfur with chronic dermatitis and circulation, and the chloride salts coat the body like a veil, warming and moisturizing the skin. It did leave my skin feeling pretty smooth indeed.
Public indoor onsen bath area
Smaller outdoor public onsen area
The lounge area by the public onsen baths has free popsicles, juice and tea
Dining
Like most ryokan stays, Japanese kaiseki meals are included. They’re served in the dining hall, one that is beautifully designed with Japanese aesthetics and allowing each party to have a private room.
Shokujidokoro (dining hall)
Dinner had several courses, each presented very nicely and was equally delicious.
Breakfast was just as impressive and a great meal to start off the next day.
Breakfast featuring fish and tonjiru (pork borth miso soup)
The Hoshino Resorts KAI Sengokuhara lives up to its high reviews as an elegant onsen retreat. It’s perfectly set up so that you see as few people as possible and the rooms themselves were just about silent. I definitely recommend this resort for anyone looking for a luxurious Japanese getaway.
Visiting the Furano area of Hokkaido in the summer, a popular tourist destination for Japanese