In June 2023, I went on a 3-night, 4-day trip to Southern Hokkaido by Hokkaido Shinkansen. Starting at 6 am, I enjoyed a private outdoor hot spring bath and a large communal outdoor bath, both with natural spring water. For breakfast, I had delicious miso soup and rice from "Ginkon-yu no Kodawari Miminori" at the same venue as last night. When staying at a ryokan, I always end up eating too much breakfast because it's so good. Thank you for the wonderful meal.

In June 2023, on the first night of a 3-night, 4-day trip to southern Hokkaido via the Hokkaido Shinkansen, I stayed at the long-awaited hidden hot spring, Ginkon-yu. For dinner, I enjoyed a meal at a dining establishment. To start, I raised a toast with the Japan Secret Hot Springs Preservation Society exclusive "Secret Hot Spring Beer" and Hokkaido deep-sea water beer "Kumaishi Legend". The menu included: sesame tofu with wasabi, roast beef, lemon vinegar-marinated Moui salmon, butter soy sauce-grilled scallops, rolled yuba in miso, okra sesame salad, wasabi sashimi, rapeseed mustard-flavored nanohana, marinated mini tomatoes, fried cheese spring rolls, assorted sashimi, grilled saury with cream soy sauce, simmered golden shrimp, simmered komatsuna, simmered konnyaku tofu, fried shrimp with yuzu salt, fried pumpkin, fried bell peppers, chicken sukiyaki with Matsunaga's raw egg, onions, napa cabbage, butterbur, chrysanthemum greens, kudzu starch noodles, bracken, tofu, burdock, fresh shiitake mushrooms, and udon noodles, Yumepirika rice, pickles, miso soup, and a water-based dessert. The menu was so generous that even if I hadn't eaten a single Daun Go just an hour before, I don't think I could have finished everything. After dinner, we were guided to a spot on the premises where we could see fireflies, and all the guests, including my family, were very excited! It was a wonderful memory of the trip.

Celebrating our silver wedding anniversary with a trip to Hokkaido, we stayed at the "Ginkon Yu Ryokan" for multiple nights. Coming from the hot temperatures of Takarazuka at 36℃/26℃, we found the cooler climate of 28℃/20℃ in Hokkaido to be paradise. The ryokan boasts a vast forested area with five outdoor baths scattered throughout. Crossing a fun suspension bridge over the river, we found the "Momiji no Yu," "Donguri no Yu," "Tochini no Yu," and "Katsura no Yu" on the other side, each offering a rustic outdoor bathing experience. The "Sugi no Yu" on this side of the river also had a charming bathhouse. While summer brought some pesky insects, the maintenance of these outdoor baths spread across the expansive grounds was impressive. As for the food, dinner was impressive in terms of variety for the price, and the locally sourced ingredients, though simple, were delightful. Breakfast had a homemade feel and comforting taste. We had been looking forward to visiting this ryokan for our silver anniversary for a few years now, and it did not disappoint. We are already thinking about coming back for our next celebration.

We stayed at Ginmatsuyu, where there is a private open-air bath for guests only. There are about six different outdoor baths, and we bathed in two of them: one made of logs called "Tochini no Yu" and a regular one. The private outdoor baths are located a 10-minute walk away from the inn, scattered in the forest. The key to Tochini no Yu even had a bear bell attached, creating a slightly eerie atmosphere as we walked through the woods. The hot springs in such a natural setting were very relaxing. There are no shower facilities, so it's just for bathing. The log bath was a bit hot. Breakfast was simple and healthy, with local ingredients like lots of "miminori" seaweed in the miso soup. It had a good texture and was delicious. We would love to stay at this inn again if given the chance.

The number one feature of the hot spring inn in Yakumo Town is the outdoor private open-air baths scattered just a few minutes walk away on the premises (usually there are 5, but during the visit, 3 were closed for winter). It's enjoyable to compare and soak in the different baths, comparing the views. The water quality is a balanced type, leaving you refreshed yet gently warmed. There are five springs secured, truly showcasing what "hot springs" are. The rooms in the new building are spacious with no particular complaints. Please refer to the images for dinner and breakfast. Oh, how was the food? Um, well... Ding-dong! Oh, it seems someone is at the door.

It's a hot spring inn that I've always wanted to visit. My partner took me there as a birthday present. The weather was a concern, but we arrived at the inn smoothly without any trouble. It was snowing lightly in Yakumo. The location was perfect for a winter hot spring inn. The inside of the inn had a warm and luxurious feel with wood. There were different types of baths, including indoor and outdoor baths. There were 5 outdoor baths within walking distance, but only 2 were available in winter. We couldn't make it in time for the outdoor bath as we arrived just before 5 pm. The indoor bath was spacious and almost private. The water had a slight thickness to it and was just the right temperature. The outdoor bath with snow scenery was amazing. The meals were generous and delicious. I was satisfied and could relax leisurely. When we become grandparents, let's go again! Thank you, my partner!

Usually, during New Year's, reservations are fully booked early on, but this year, as soon as GOTO was suspended, there were many cancellations, so there were openings... It was sudden, but after finishing the osechi, we stayed overnight. We checked in at 1:00 PM and crossed the suspension bridge while it was still light to reach the hot spring we were aiming for! The hot spring was truly amazing! After that, we just watched TV and relaxed. The wifi is only available near the fireplace downstairs.

I had some free time, so I suddenly decided to stay overnight. It seems that the customers are gradually returning. It's the season of new green leaves, which I haven't experienced much before. Usually, I come during the snowy season, but this season is also pleasant. Especially, I enjoyed crossing the suspension bridge early in the morning before breakfast. The dinner portion also seems to have become just right. The morning Yakult drink is still available. The quality of the rice seems to have improved from before. It's a great inn that never gets old no matter how many times you visit.

On November 23, 2019, my wife, my child, and I stayed at this inn that we had been longing to visit for a while. We wanted to show our appreciation to my wife who works hard on housework and childcare. We checked in at 1:00 PM and stayed in the "Hanamon" room. The main building had rooms for 10,000 yen per person, but we decided to splurge a bit and reserved a room for 14,000 yen as it had a private toilet and sink. As soon as we arrived, my child was excited. We headed to the hidden hot spring at 2:00 PM, which is exclusive for guests. The "Donguri no Yu" hot spring was a short walk from the inn, about 10 minutes away. Despite my wife's fear of heights and my child's reluctance, we managed to convince them to cross the suspension bridge and finally enjoy the outdoor bath together. Although we had to cut our time short due to an accident where my wife cut her toe on a mineral deposit, it became a memorable experience for us. The indoor bath was also amazing, with all water coming from natural springs. For dinner, we dined in a private room overlooking the illuminated courtyard. My child was so hungry that he immediately dug into the children's hamburger without waiting for the toast or rice. The pre-dinner drink was delicious, but unfortunately, it was not for sale. The rice was shiny and delicious, especially the Yumepirika rice from Rankoshi, which was this year's new harvest. We also enjoyed the hot bath with my child at 9:00 PM and the next morning, my wife and I had a relaxing soak at the "Katsura no Yu" hidden bath. The breakfast was also delicious. We played baseball in front of the entrance until the 11:00 AM check-out time. We truly enjoyed the secluded hot springs and the warm hospitality of Gin Kon Yu. It was a memorable experience that will stay with us for a long time. We made sure to get the Japan Secret Hot Spring Association stamp for all three of us. Thank you, Gin Kon Yu, for such a wonderful trip! We will definitely come back again!

My daughter loves hot springs, and she also likes being able to go to a hot spring when she returns home. So, my mother made a reservation for Gin Konyu and was waiting for us. My daughter said she had heard of Gin Konyu before, like a hidden hot spring inn that she saw on the internet. She seemed excited to enjoy the outdoor bath, so we headed straight to the inn after arriving at the airport around 11:30. It's best to arrive here early to enjoy the outdoor bath, especially since it gets dark early around 5 o'clock. My daughter was immediately satisfied after soaking in the popular bath. She enjoyed the bath, beer, bath, oranges, beer, dinner, beer, shochu, bath – whenever she felt cold, she would jump into the bath. The old building has separate toilets and washrooms, but the atmosphere and price are great. My daughter mentioned that she liked the variety of appetizers. This time, we also got a stamp book from the hidden hot spring inns, and we found out there's one in Okutama, Tokyo, that we want to visit next time. We also bought Matunaga's Yuraku egg to take home the next day.

I was attracted to the hidden outdoor hot spring bath, so I stayed here. Dinner was served in a private dining room, not in the room. Some dishes such as appetizers were already set on the table, but tempura was fried after we sat down, so it was served hot. The menu that left a lasting impression was the white sesame milk kudzu tofu. It was even smoother and softer than sesame tofu. The salmon with lemon soy sauce was refreshing and went well with rice. The saury with cream soy sauce was also a unique flavor that paired well with rice. Most importantly, the rice was delicious! Whether it's good rice or skillful cooking, it was really tasty! The dessert, rare cheesecake mousse, was fluffy with a rich cheese flavor yet refreshing and delicious. The breakfast the next morning was also great with oily mackerel and seaweed miso soup that the inn staff harvested themselves. The rice was so good! The hot spring was very satisfying, the food was delicious, and I highly recommend this inn!

We are celebrating our pottery wedding anniversary, and next year will be our tin wedding anniversary, so maybe we'll buy some sake cups. This is our second breakfast: grilled mackerel, boiled greens, sweet soybeans, Matsumae pickles, simmered daikon radish, onsen tamago, sweet and salty squid (similar to Chanja), fuki miso salad, Nanatsuboshi rice, miso soup with ginkgo and komatsuna, pickles. I prefer the taste of the cucumber at night over the one in the morning. The temperature of the hot spring is just right this season, with no insects around. This hot spring has many baths, each with a slightly different feel, but overall they are smooth and have a strong gypsum scent. Many food bloggers dislike chemical seasonings, and I hope more people start to pay attention to non-recycled, non-chlorinated hot springs. Both food and hot springs are important for the senses, with the nose being key.

This is the second time. Appetizer: White sesame milk kudzu tofu with roasted dashi and wasabi Roast beef, salmon with lemon and Tosazu pickles Scallop butter sauté with mascarpone and yogurt sauce Rolled yuba in simmered broth Okra sesame dressing Spicy simmered mountain vegetables Cheese fried spring rolls Myoga sweet vinegar sashimi Grilled salmon, shrimp, and octopus heads Simmered saffron, leeks, and tomatoes in cream soy sauce Simmered shrimp in egg yolk Komatsuna and simmered koyadofu Fried items: Tempura shrimp, crab tempura, pumpkin tempura Stir-fried green peppers Pork cold shabu-shabu with vegetables and white leek sesame sauce Meal: Seven kinds of rice Miso soup with maitake mushrooms Pickles: Cucumber Dessert: Watermelon Beer: Super Dry Kumoiishi Legend Pilsner There was no famous chicken hot pot from last time. Considering this price for a ryokan, it's good. And the hot spring is one of the best in Dohton.

I slowly went to bed and in the morning, I went to the large communal bath with my mother, where the male and female baths switch in the morning. This way is better! When I was about to return to my room, I saw a blue general manager wandering around the inn. Breakfast is served at 7:30 with a healthy menu. My husband was disappointed because he was expecting the rumored egg, but this time it was a soft-boiled egg. I enjoyed the meal with butterbur miso, salted fish roe, and rice. The beans were also delicious. The miso soup with ginkgo nuts and wild vegetables is a favorite of my father, who is from Dounan, so we often eat it at home by freezing it. The children had miso soup, stir-fried tomatoes and eggs, and Yakult. They don't eat the same food as adults yet, but they were satisfied. The children's fee was very cheap this time. My first grader and preschooler stayed with my mother and sister, and had a children's lunch for dinner and skipped breakfast. So it was 1500 yen for each child and 14000 yen for each adult, excluding tax. I did my best, Auntie. The next day, there was a sudden heavy rain, so we couldn't fulfill our promise to cross the suspension bridge with the children. The bath was good, and I took multiple baths, which is rare for me. I want to go again. The only downside was that the bath towels smelled bad. I wonder if they wash and reuse them here. If it were my house, I would definitely throw them away.

At the end of August, my mother, husband, and I took a day off and went to a hot spring resort to celebrate our silver wedding anniversary. My sister and nephews, who live in the forest, joined us there. We arrived close to 2 PM, later than planned, as we stopped by relatives' houses, had lunch, and bought some beer. We booked two rooms - one for my husband and me, and one for my mother and sister with her kids. The resort was spacious and beautiful. We decided to enjoy the outdoor baths before my sister arrived. We chose the "Katsura no Yu" and "Sugi no Yu" baths because they were closer and more accessible for my mother who has trouble walking. The resort provided sandals for the baths, but they were not very clean. We heard there were many stray cats around, but we only saw two. My mother was hesitant to fully immerse herself in the bath without washing, so she just dipped her feet in. The "Sugi no Yu" bath had a roof and was a bit dark, so we left the door open. It was a lovely bath, and we felt refreshed. We then moved to the "Katsura no Yu" bath, which had a high platform and a beautiful wooden dressing room. We locked the door this time. After enjoying the baths, we relaxed in the large communal bath, which was a bit hot but spacious. The outdoor bath was also nice. When my sister and her kids arrived, they played outside in the rain, looking for cicada shells and insects. We had dinner at 6:30 PM, and the kids had a children's meal. The dishes were varied and well-prepared. My husband even preferred the kids' meal over his own. The menu had a good selection, and the prices for canned beer were reasonable. My husband was satisfied with his Galena drink. Overall, it was a quiet and relaxing stay, and we had a good night's sleep.

I visited this popular inn during the Golden Week holiday in 2019. It is advisable to make reservations well in advance, especially during long weekends. Upon check-in after 5 pm, I was only able to use one of the five private open-air baths for guests, called "Katsura no Yu." I later found out that these baths cannot be used in the evening due to lack of electricity. To fully enjoy all the private baths, it is recommended to check in early. Some open-air baths are also closed during the winter season. The next day, I was fortunate to be the first to soak in the most popular bath, "Tochini no Yu," starting from 6 am. However, there may be a wait of nearly an hour due to popularity. The meals are not served in the rooms but in a semi-private dining area, providing a sense of privacy and relaxation. The freshly fried tempura and the chicken hot pot with a sukiyaki-style twist, including special eggs, were delicious. The dishes were served in small portions but with a wide variety, each meticulously prepared and satisfying. The dessert was a rare cheesecake mousse, offering a mix of Japanese and Western flavors that kept the dining experience interesting and enjoyable.

This is my third visit to this day-trip hot spring. The rating remains the same as last time. I visited in May 2017. Check-in is at 1:00 pm, which is early, and check-out is at 11:00 am, allowing for a leisurely stay of up to 22 hours. The accommodation offers one night with two meals for 2 people starting at ¥10,950. Surprisingly, even the day before public holidays is the same price. (During the New Year holidays, there is a ¥2,160 increase, but during Golden Week, you can stay at this price.) This time, I used the Hokkaido Reconstruction Discount and booked through "Rurubu." We were able to stay for two people at ¥12,000 with a coupon attached. About half price. The Reconstruction Discount has been extended until March, so if you want to go, I recommend booking through Rurubu. (Even if the usage limit for Rurubu coupons has been reached, sometimes the code still works.) Now, onto the food. For dinner, since it was winter, we had a hot pot. The main dish was pork sukiyaki with plenty of ingredients such as meat, meatballs, tofu, shiitake mushrooms, butterbur, burdock, and a large amount of udon noodles underneath. The sashimi included octopus, seared salmon, and shrimp, but it was slightly scaled down from last time. The tempura was delicious, eaten with salt and not greasy. The simmered dishes were shrimp, dried tofu, and maybe komatsuna greens? The seasoning was to my liking. There was roast beef in the appetizer dish, along with a fish fillet with miso marinade, scallops with a mysterious yogurt sauce, and what I thought was a spring roll but turned out to be yuba. Yuba again! The drink menu at the hot spring is very cheap. Surprisingly, a 350ml can of beer costs ¥300, a 500ml can costs ¥500 (Asahi Super Dry), and a large bottle of beer (633ml) costs ¥600. Even in supermarkets, a 350ml can of beer costs just over ¥200. Is a ¥100 margin enough? The bottled beer is also too cheap. We had 3 bottles with a total alcohol cost of ¥1,800. It's too cheap. Anyway, we were very full. I asked for a very small portion of rice, but even that was a lot. The miso soup was a bit strong but had a nice flavor. For dessert, we had a cheesecake that was delicious. This time, the famous manju and handwritten menu were missing, which was strange. I was very satisfied. I took a picture of breakfast this time! The grilled fish was mackerel this time, and it was fatty and went well with the rice. I'm not a fan of grated yam, so I asked for it without, and we had onsen tamago instead. Both of us skipped the grated yam. Perhaps it was without grated yam to begin with. If you visit this hot spring, be sure to try the "Tochini no Yu" bath. Among the 5 hot spring sources owned by this hot spring, Tochini no Yu is the only one exclusively used. It has a rich and wonderful water quality that you can stay in as much as you want. The "Japan Secret Hot Springs Preservation Society" has only 6 hot springs now, including Gin Konyu, as Koigawa Onsen in Hokkaido has disappeared. I love old-fashioned hot spring inns with good water quality more than resort hotels like Tsuruga and Hoshino. I think it's nice to stay at a traditional hot spring inn once in a while!

I bought a book called "Secret Hot Springs in Japan" in 1995. I must have bought it because I wanted to visit some hidden hot springs. In the hot springs listed in the book, I visited Jigoku-no-haya when I was in Abashiri, Tsuru-no-yu when I was in Hakodate, and recently enjoyed Yumakomaso and Ginkonyu with my classmates. This time, when I received a stamp book from the Japan Secret Hot Springs Preservation Society at Ginkonyu, I noticed that the inn had changed a little. My husband and I love hot springs, so we decided to make a reservation to visit this place again together. We left home early to enjoy the hidden hot springs tour on the premises. We arrived right at 1 o'clock for check-in, where we were able to sign in and have tea served in the room, which was a rare treat. The senbei rice crackers with the Ginkonyu brand stamped on them were delicious, and I found out they were made by Nagai Seika in Yakumo, the same town. We enjoyed unlimited hot springs from 1 pm to 4-5 pm, which we would have missed if we arrived at 5 pm. Dinner consisted of all homemade dishes, and there was no menu this time, but we could tell what each dish was by tasting it. The chicken hot pot had been changed to pork hot pot, and we enjoyed it with delicious local eggs. We were completely full, so we rested before going back to the hot springs. The inn has a total of 21 rooms, with 16 rooms in the new building with attached toilets and 5 rooms in the old building without toilets. The old building had a nice old-fashioned feel, although the hallway was a bit bright for sleeping. What was great this time was the private family bath that we could use anytime if it was available. Despite the cold, we had fun touring the hot springs on the premises on a warm day. Breakfast was a nice and calm meal, with enough side dishes for about three days at home, and we couldn't finish the salty items. We could relax until 11 am after breakfast, and being able to enjoy this place for up to 22 hours for around 10,000 yen made me think I would come back occasionally if it were nearby. I also went to see the ikebana (flower arrangement) done by the man who lives there once a week, as there was a photo in the room.

January is coming to an end and we are entering February already. I will continue to post gradually this year, so thank you in advance. My children have grown up and no longer join me for New Year's meals, which is quite lonely. So, my partner and I finally fulfilled our wish for a silver wedding anniversary hot spring trip! On January 3rd, we stayed at an old inn for 10,000 yen per person. The room and meals were more than satisfactory. The outdoor baths, especially the open-air baths, were fantastic. We checked in and immediately headed to the outdoor baths. We first visited "Katsura no Yu" which was a short walk away. It was quite an experience to be naked outside in the middle of winter (laughs). We changed into yukatas and enjoyed the hot spring. It felt a bit hot, maybe because our bodies were cold. It was a wonderful experience. We then went to "Donguri no Yu" by the river. It was luxurious to soak in a round tub together. It was a blissful time. The next morning, we visited "Tochini no Yu" at 7 am. Taking a morning bath during a trip is the best. The hot spring here has the highest mineral concentration. We felt the warmth differently. After the bath, we returned to the inn for breakfast. The indoor and outdoor baths were also very satisfying. We were impressed by the amount of food served for dinner and breakfast. The main dish for dinner was pork sukiyaki. The Western-style dish with white sauce on white fish was also delicious. The breakfast highlight was the grilled salted mackerel, which was fatty and delicious. The miso soup with seaweed was also special. It was a one-night stay, but next time, we want to stay longer and enjoy the hot springs to the fullest, along with our routine of beer after a bath and a nap! We would love to stay at this inn again. On a side note, the tabi socks and hand towel dyed with cloves showed their thoughtfulness. Walking around the inn in tabi socks, without slippers, was a nice touch. I find the tabi socks useful even at home.

I will gradually post the past unpublished posts as I will visit Hokkaido after a long time. This is the accommodation for the first night of a 4-night, 5-day trip to Hokkaido. I visited in late July 2009 and stayed in the old building, costing 10,150 yen (including tax) + 150 yen (bathing tax). Dinner included pre-dinner sake, soft-boiled octopus, assorted appetizers, sashimi, grilled fish, steamed sea bream and potatoes, hot pot with mountain vegetables and kinki fish, tempura of Ezo mushrooms, bamboo shoot rice, miso soup with butterbur, and homemade cream mousse for dessert. Breakfast included rice, miso soup with seaweed, rolled omelette, grilled trout, shrimp and yuba roll, kinpira burdock, honey simmered black beans, fresh vegetable salad, and boiled water greens. The meals featured local ingredients and had a subtle and deep flavor profile. The dishes were generous in portion sizes, and there was also a steamed bun for a late-night snack, making it a satisfying dining experience.