Kashotei HANAYA
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About
Everyone needs a place to lay their weary head. For travellers visiting Noboribetsu, Kashotei HANAYA is an excellent choice for rest and rejuvenation. Well-known for its family-friendly environment and proximity to great restaurants and attractions, Kashotei HANAYA makes it easy to enjoy the best of Noboribetsu.
Guest rooms offer amenities such as a refrigerator and air conditioning, and guests can go online with free wifi offered by the ryokan.
Kashotei HANAYA features 24 hour front desk, room service, and shops, to help make your stay more enjoyable. The property also boasts a hot tub and free breakfast. If you are driving to Kashotei HANAYA, free parking is available.
While staying at Kashotei HANAYA, visitors can check out Enmado (0.4 mi) and Onibokora (0.5 mi), some of Noboribetsu's top attractions.
When you’re feeling hungry, be sure to check out Onsenichiba and Sumibiyaki to Ramen No Mise Isekura, which are some seafood restaurants that are popular with locals and out-of-towners alike.
If you are interested in exploring Noboribetsu, check out one of the monuments and statues, such as Daimoku Stone, Yukake Kizo, and Symbol Oni.
Kashotei HANAYA is sure to make your visit to Noboribetsu one worth remembering.
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The tatami rooms were very spacious and comfortable. The entire ryokan is well maintained. The tatami room was clean and the finishings, from the walls, to the flooring to the bathroom are kept in near pristine condition. There were also decorations and little vases of flowers throughout the hotel that were changed out daily. If you appreciate attention to detail, you will like this Ryokan.
The refrigerator in the room is refilled daily if you'd like, but those drinks are also available to grab for free during the afternoon. Breakfast and Dinner are served in your room and you get to choose what time works for you. Breakfast is a traditional set meal and dinners are kaiseki meals. The food was so delicious and meticulously prepared.
Of the main touristy strip of Noboribetsu, this Ryokan is the furthest away from Hell Valley, but it was still walking distance.
Last but not least, the onsens on the premises are lovely. They are small, with a limit of 9 people at any given point but I didn't experience any issues while I was staying there. There are 2 indoor and 2 outdoor baths and I had the opportunity to sit it in the outdoor baths while it snowed.
Don't expect a lot of English speaking staff here but with the help of Google Translate, everything is fine.
Facilities were very comfortable, clean, and well maintained. We also found the common areas typically very quiet. Service was excellent from start to finish. Most hotel staff spoke some English (enough to provide good service). Upon arrival our shoes were placed in a shoe closet near the front door of the lobby. Whenever you leave the hotel the staff will retrieve your shoes for you. Although we arrived nearly 45 minutes earlier than the 14:00 check-in time, they were still able to let us into our room. The staff member that took us to our room showed us how everything worked and then offered us a welcome tea which included a nice house-made red bean cake. We chose to have our meals served in our room and the staff that served it made sure to identify each of the food items to us since the menu is all in Japanese. The meal on the first night includes a complimentary drink (you can choose from a variety of beer, sodas, etc.) but you can also pay extra and order a more premium drink off of a separate drink menu. There is a dining room on the first floor but since we took all our meals in the room I cannot comment on the experience in the dining room.
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. As mentioned earlier, we encountered no tour groups and most of the other guests were Japanese. It was indeed a very authentic experience. There are indoor and outdoor baths for both men’s and women’s onsen. If you refer to TripAdvisor’s photos, the men’s onsen is the one with the stone flooring. Other reviews have pointed out that the baths are very small. While this is true, we did not have a problem with crowds. This could be due to the fact that we were there during the off season. There are much larger hotels up the road with the Dai-ichi Takimotokan having the largest onsen with the most variety of waters but I imagine such facilities come at the cost of crowds and you might not experience as peaceful an onsen experience as you might have at smaller ryokans such as the Hanaya.
Highlights include the quality, quantity, and presentation of the meals, the peaceful and quiet surroundings, clean comfortable room and common areas, and last but not least, the excellent service. Considering the meals themselves and how much they would have probably cost at a restaurant, the room price made for a very good value. The staff also offered us a ride to the bus terminal when it was time to leave which was a bonus because it was raining that day.
Other important points:
- The hotel has an English website and you can book directly with them. You can also book via third party websites such as Japanican, Rakuten, etc., but we noticed that the meal options available are different depending on where you book.
- If you have questions you can e-mail the hotel directly.
- By default meals are served in the main dining room with all other guests but you can request in advance to have your meals served in your room which is what we did. We booked directly with the hotel and at the time of booking we let them know that we wanted to have all our meals in the room.
- If you are taking your meals in your room, hotel staff will ask you at the time of check-in when you would like to have your meals (i.e., 7:00, 7:30, etc. for breakfast, 18:00, 18:30, etc. for dinner).
- The menu changes every day. So every day at breakfast and dinner it was a surprise what we would be eating.
- Hotel staff will set out your futon for you every night and put it away again in the morning.
- If you are arriving by bus (via Donan Bus), the bus stop to get off at is the JCHO Hospital stop, which is located across the street from the hotel (you can see the hotel from the bus stop). If you take the bus all the way to the Noboribetsu Bus Terminal you will have to walk back down the road (maybe 10 minutes) with your luggage to go back to the hotel.
- There are complimentary drinks (water, juice, tea, coffee) available in the lobby.
- We booked the 8-tatami room which was plenty of space for the two of us (see the photos). The 8-tatami room includes a sink and toilet but no bath/shower, so you need to go down to the onsen for bathing.
- Keep in mind that with regards to room sizing, the tatami mat count does not include the entry area, bathroom area, small seating area by the window, and the recessed spaces for the TV, closets, and decorations. So the room actually feels larger than it looks in the photos our sounds in the descriptions. For two people, even with the futons laid out on the floor, there was still enough room for the table and for walking around.
- The walk from the hotel to the main shopping street is quite short and enjoyable.
- Dinner is served over multiple courses so be prepared for multiple visits to your room from staff members to clear away dishes and bring additional dishes during the course of the dinner.
The only thing I would add to this hotel is perhaps a third onsen that is available for private parties to book, for example couples and/or families. If you are looking for a truly intimate and authentic Japanese ryokan experience I would highly recommend the Kashotei Hanaya over any of the large hotels up the road. We would definitely stay there again.
We were disappointed with the baths, both indoor and outdoor, which were all very small and certainly smaller than they appeared in the photos. All baths were also run down and in need of maintenance and upgrading. The tokonoma in our room had a picture hanger but there was no picture or decoration attached. Of the six onsen we stayed at in Hokkaido and Honshu during our visit, we felt this one offered the least value for money.
I was very lucky to find Kashotei HANAYA on agoda website. I remembered I was booking them back in April 2016 for my stay in Feb 2017. I also remembered I was at Athens airport when I tried to book Kashotei HANAYA.
Their email response was good because I have a few questions to ask about the transportation and my lodgings as I have booked a half-board option (dinner + breakfast), I wanted to make sure that my dinner was of certain quality otherwise I will either upgrade or change my dinner plans.
But I was reassured that my dinner is of their Pan B menu which you can find on their website. So I was happy about it. I was travelling from Niseko so I took the JR from JR Kutchan and change at JR Oshamambe then towards JR Noboribetsu. It cost me 4370yen and there are limited timing so if you intend to take the same route. Pls check and check again.
Upon arrival, once you have exited JR Noboribetsu, you can see public bus stop buses going towards Noboribetsu Onsen and taxi are also available..
I took the public bus heading towards Noboribetsu Onsen for 340yen/pax. You will have to get down at the JCHO stop which means the hospital stop. This stop is before the onsen so pls ask the driver or check your google map.
Once you have alighted, it is a short walk to Kashotei HANAYA. Our room was 303 and being a ryokan, it means living room + dining room + bedroom are combined into one room. The gentleman will come into your room to setup the tatami bed. The ladies will come into your room to setup the dinner and breakfast.
For the most time, we just left our main door unlocked.
Once you arrived, you will get to choose your preferred timing for dinner and breakfast.
We chose 530pm for dinner and 830am for breakfast. The ladies will enter your room slightly early to set up so pls be prepared.
WE ENJOYED OUR KAISEKI DINNER AND BREAKFAST. As I have booked a half-board option so I have got a great deal!
After dinner, we went to the public onsen. Although the onsen was small, it was good enough. The outdoor onsen was too hot and even in the snowy weather; my body also cannot stand the hot temperature in the natural onsen.
The next morning, Kashotei HANAYA. was kind enough to send us to the Jigokudani Hell Valley. In fact we can walk about 20mins or take the public bus and alight at bus terminal and you can walk along the street to reach the hell valley.
On our way back, we chose to walk back in the snow. It was fun but not recommended for senior citizens.
After check-out, we were supposed to head back to JR Sapporo. There was a direct bus at the bus terminal near Kashotei HANAYA but that day they only had a morning bus.
We can also take a bus and make transfer. But we chose to head back to JR Noboribetsu. Yes, we can take the JR back to JR Sapporo but we chose the bus option because it was much cheaper and only take 100mins.
I hope you find my review useful for your planning.
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.
Your meals are served to us in our rooms. Even the multiple-course Kaiseki dinner which was part of the deal. Breakfast at the appointed time will also be set up in the room. In full elaborate traditional style. The lady-in-waiting serves us with food brought into the rooms on trays. She places the tray on the tatami, slides open the door, places the tray on the tatami in the room and she herself glides into the room on her knees with elegance and grace. It was an experience! The dishes come in sets of two or three items and there were at least four visits by her before our dinner was over.
Soon after dinner, the dining table is cleared and the futons (beddings) are prepared for us to rest our weary bodies. All through the day and night, the waters of the river nearyby can be heard. The air is fresh and clean. It is like a little paradise on earth.
1. Reservation
English website available. Easy to book.
2. Getting here
We reached Noboribetsu by JR train. Plenty of taxis at the station to hop on. I advise you to take a taxi from the station to Kashoutei Hanaya.
3. Superb service
Top, top class. Staff are extremely helpful. They speak little English but it is enough. When we asked the reception for directions to Hell's Valley, we got a free one-way ride via the Ryokan car. When we wanted to visit the historic village, the reception sold us the tickets on the spot and called a taxi to send us over. Whatever we need, the staff will go the extra mile and surprise us.
4. Traditional room
We stayed in room 207. There is a bedroom with 2 single beds, a living room and a restroom with bath and toilet separated. Very spacious.
The living room is laid with tatami mats and is warm during winter. For the full experience, we chose to sleep in the living room. The staff will come every evening after dinner to laid the futons on the floor. The futons are very comfortable and far better than beds in my opinion.
5. Fabulous food
Breakfast and dinner are included in the room rate. Be ready to be stuffed by the Kaiseki dinner course. The spread is amazing, the seafood is fresh and the amount is plenty. The children has a slightly different meal setup which works very well for them. We had chilled hairy crabs, Japanese hotpots, sushi, sashimi, udon, tempura, grilled fish - all in a short 2-night stay.
6. Hot spring bath (onsen)
There is the common bath for all guests, split by gender. This is the highlight of Ryokans in hot spring resorts. You must try it. Dress yourself in Yukatas available in the room and bring your towel (big and small) along.
At the common bath, there is a shelf with baskets to place your cloths in. Bring the small towel and head into the bathroom. Shampoo, face wash and body wash are provided in the bathroom. The Japanese will sit on wooden stools and bathe themselves clean before soaking in the hot spring tub. So we do what they do.
There are two tubs - one in the bathroom and another in the open air. Try the open air tub!
Boutique and traditional accommodation. Impeccable service. Food fit for royalty. Therapeutic hot spring. You get to experience all of these at Kashoutei Hanaya.
"They have a shuttle available in the afternoon to take you to and from the train station"Read full review
"You really don't need your own shower/bath if you use the onsen. And you should use the onsen!"Read full review
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