Visit date: Tuesday, March 9, 2021, around 12:30 PM. When it comes to Yoichi, it's a must-visit spot for a sake lover like me. On this day, I visited the Nikka Whisky Yoichi Distillery for a free factory tour. It's important to note that due to COVID-19 measures, you need to make a reservation in advance to enter the factory for the tour. I made a reservation at 2:30 PM on the same day. I departed from Otaru Station at 10:53 AM and arrived at Yoichi Station in about 25 minutes. The coastal views along the way were beautiful. Upon arrival, I did some shopping at "Kakizaki Shoten." Instead of going for lunch right away, I decided to take a quick bath at Yoichi River Onsen. It's about a 10 to 15-minute walk from Yoichi Station. You'll pass by a roadside station with a space shuttle statue before reaching the entrance. The bathing fee is listed as ¥440, but it's actually ¥450. Upon going up to the second floor, there's a rest area combined with a restaurant. There was only one other customer when I arrived. The atmosphere is reminiscent of an old-fashioned coffee shop with a TV, manga, and magazines available. Popular menu items include sweet shrimp and cherry shrimp tempura rice bowl, and hairy crab ramen. The two male staff members were very kind. Although I didn't plan on eating, I felt obligated to order something after hearing the young staff member chatting with the other customer. I ordered my favorite simmered dish for ¥390. It took about 7 minutes to prepare. While waiting, I chatted with the other customer, and the time passed quickly. The large wood stove inside the restaurant kept the place warm and cozy. The simmered dish had small pieces, about 7 in total, with a slightly sweet flavor that made me crave a beer. I couldn't stay long as I needed to hurry for the factory tour, so I resisted the urge to have a drink and headed for the bath. The bathwater was not colorless and had a slightly unusual hue. The sauna's temperature was over 90 degrees Celsius, and it was very relaxing. Next time, I'll make sure to go with more time to spare!

On February 14, 2021, around 4:30 pm, I visited a hot spring in Yoichi Town. It is a unique hot spring styled like a public bath, and they offer special baths like wine, whiskey, and cherry blossom baths which are quite popular. The entrance fee for a day visit is 440 yen for adults (junior high school students and above), 140 yen for children (elementary school students to junior high school students), and 70 yen for young children (below elementary school age). The hot spring is located on the west side of the Yoichi River, about 150 meters across the Yoichi River from National Route 229. It's about a 20-minute walk from JR Yoichi Station. On this particular day, I didn't try the wine bath but opted for the outdoor bath with slightly warm water, perfect for a long soak. After enjoying the hot spring, I went to the second floor for a highball drink priced at 280 yen and a dish of simmered fish roe for 390 yen. The highball was delicious, but I personally didn't enjoy the sweet taste of the simmered fish roe. It might be just a matter of personal preference.

Tabelog is basically a personal blog for individual opinions. The restaurant has a casual atmosphere but the food is good. Above all, it's cheap. You can eat for under 1000 yen. The venue is spacious and seems to be a local banquet hall. The hot spring water is absolutely wonderful. I have never felt so relaxed in a hot spring before. In front of the reception, there are plenty of local vegetables and wine. I found some grapes from Setana for 800 yen. Some may question the taste for the price, but this is just my personal opinion.

The salmon fry set meal was delicious as I usually don't order salmon fry set meals.

The tempura was too greasy...

I heard that there is a space hot spring in Yoichi Town, so I looked it up on the internet and found it. It seems that it used to be a public bathhouse run by the parents of astronaut Mohri (now managed by someone else), and they forcibly attached a space shuttle to the roof of the building to create the name "Space Hot Spring." The actual hot spring is called Yoichigawa Onsen, which is a natural hot spring with flowing water. The entrance fee is 440 yen, and there is a rest area and a restaurant on the second floor with a variety of menu options. A particularly good deal is the combo of hot spring entry for 440 yen plus a seafood bowl for 700 yen or a crab ramen for 1000 yen, along with a 100 yen blueberry soda, all for just 1000 yen. I couldn't resist and ordered both the seafood bowl set and the crab ramen set to share with my partner. Our impression... it was delicious. Definitely worth 1000 yen.

I don't dislike the image of public baths and have been there several times. However, yesterday (June 7th) was my first time eating there! I usually arrive after the baths are closed. But this time, the receptionist mentioned a special set, so we decided to eat before bathing. I had a seafood bowl and my husband had hairy crab ramen. The ramen came with a drink and cost 1,000 yen, while the seafood bowl was 700 yen. We also ordered a dry curry for our daughter. The taste was okay, nothing extraordinary. The ramen was a bit difficult to eat, but the crab broth was delicious. The seafood bowl was decent. The miso soup that came with it was also tasty. Our daughter didn't like the dry curry, so she left most of it. The blueberry soda was quite delicious. However, the service was a bit slow, with the dishes coming out one by one. The portion sizes were small, so I probably wouldn't eat there at regular prices. The staff didn't respond when we thanked them for the meal, which was a bit disappointing. Overall, the experience was okay, but I would probably go back only with a discount coupon.

On November 7th (Saturday) at 3:30 PM, we left the Nikka Whisky Yoichi Distillery and drove 8 minutes to Yoichigawa Onsen to warm up. There is a space shuttle on the rooftop, so it's easy to find. We parked our car in the parking lot next to the store and entered. It is a local social gathering place loved by the locals. It reminds me of the public baths from my childhood. For those who are used to the comfort and cleanliness of modern super sento, it may be a bit challenging. The natural hot spring water here is incredibly relaxing. Along the way, an older lady named M checked the temperature of the water. An old man complained that the water was too lukewarm, maybe not even 40 degrees. M's thermometer confirmed that it was indeed 42.0 degrees. Temperature check completed (laughs). The outdoor bath features a different hot spring every day, and today it was a whisky bath. I won't give too many details to avoid spoilers, but it really was a whisky bath. The composition of the water is sodium chloride hydrogen carbonate spring, with a temperature of 42.5 degrees. It is said to be effective for neuralgia, muscle pain, joint pain, motor impairments, cold sensitivity, rheumatism, eczema, burns, prickly heat, rashes, atopic dermatitis, and women's health issues. The components include sodium ions, potassium ions, magnesium ions, calcium ions, aluminum ions, and more. The origin of the "Space Hot Spring" name comes from the parents of astronaut Mamoru Mohri, who used to run a public bath called "Kikuno-yu" in this area. After Mohri achieved his great feat, his children were asked to draw a "dream picture of space," and Mohri himself suggested creating a "space hot spring." This is how the dreamy name "Space Hot Spring Yoichigawa Onsen" came to be. After bathing, I ordered shrimp tempura rice bowl, simmered vegetables, and pickled plum and burdock from the vending machine. It's the same M from earlier. She's a local idol, working hard at reception, temperature checks, and the dining area. I might end up getting discovered because of her (laughs). The food was ready in about 15 minutes. The rice bowl wasn't large, but it had two shrimp tempura pieces stacked on top of each other, with four shrimps in total. I was very satisfied. I felt like having a beer... The recommended simmered vegetables were delicious with seven pieces and a tasty seasoning. I'd like to try the seafood bowl next time. The lady at the counter also added a nice touch to the experience. We said we would come back in winter and left. Thank you for the meal.

Welcome! Have you seen a building with a space shuttle attached along Route 229 in Yoichi Town, Yoichi District, known for the phrase "going to the bath"? When you enter, you will be greeted by a girl at the front desk. If you're lucky, Wakai-chan might be sitting there. The first floor is the bathhouse, and the second floor is a relaxing dining area. You can just enjoy the bath or have a meal, it's up to you. If you want to know about the hot spring water, ask Katsuro or Smile-chan. Going up to the second floor, you'll find a cozy rest area that feels like a casual cafe. You can spend a relaxing time reading manga or watching TV. To order food, use the vending machine with a variety of menu options. The seafood bowl "AKY" is recommended, but the seafood bowl is also popular. Be prepared to wait as the food takes a while to be ready. The shrimp tempura bowl with miso soup costs 500 yen and is a good deal. The tempura is crispy and delicious, with two large shrimp tempura pieces. The tempura is well-cooked with a nice crunch. The shrimp is sweet and the miso soup is tasty. The tempura is skillfully fried, creating a delicious flavor. The tempura sauce is sweet and complements the rice well. Although the bowl is small, the generous amount of tempura makes it satisfying. The seaweed miso soup is strong in miso flavor and is refreshing with pickled radish. The neighboring group was enjoying a beer after their bath, which is only 280 yen. The locals come here to enjoy beer after bathing or have a meal with their families. This restaurant has a homely atmosphere and is a great place to relax. Thank you for the delicious meal!

This onsen, known for being visited by Japanese astronauts, is quite an old establishment. The facilities could use some updating, especially the changing rooms. I had high hopes for the seafood bowl with hairy crab at the second-floor restaurant, but it was just okay. I finished my meal and left. No plans to return in the future!

This is a continuation of my review of Otaru. The trip to Otaru was prompted by a group purchase coupon that offered a discounted package deal for bathing and meals at this place. We first visited the Nikka Whisky Distillery, then passed through Ritaroad and visited the Otaru Space Museum in honor of Otaru's first Japanese astronaut, Mamoru Mohri. We then bathed at the Otaru River Onsen and had dinner at the second-floor dining area. The building has a large model of a space shuttle on top, making it stand out. The onsen seemed to be more of a local bathhouse rather than a tourist attraction, with many regular customers' bath sets lined up in the changing room. The facility itself was small and a bit old, but the hot spring water was pleasant. The outdoor bath was more like a small hut with windows open to the outside. I personally prefer soaking in a bath outdoors to avoid feeling lightheaded from staying in an indoor tub for too long, so this setup was fine with me. For dinner, I chose the shrimp tempura rice bowl, which came with miso soup and pickles. It was delicious and filling. I had non-alcoholic wine as my drink. The overall atmosphere was reminiscent of a Showa-era town bathhouse and dining area, which I didn't mind at all. Interestingly, around the same time, Groupon was also selling a similar ticket with soft drinks included, but I opted for another lesser-known group purchase coupon (I can't remember the name, probably not available anymore) that came with wine. I actually bought another ticket for the same bathing and meal deal through Groupon for the winter, but unfortunately, I couldn't make it due to poor health, and the ticket expired. It was a shame to waste the money and miss out on the experience. I hope to visit again someday. Thank you for the meal!

Finally, we arrived at Yoichi. Our destination is here, "Universe Hot Spring at Yoichigawa". I came here as part of my casual hot spring series, which is now in its 15th installment. This time, we ventured a bit further. My wife had purchased tickets in advance through the "Kumapon" coupon site. The ticket included "bathing" (equivalent to 440 yen), "seafood bowl with miso soup" (equivalent to 700 yen), and a "soft drink" for a total of 980 yen. In other words, it was a hot spring set with a meal included. My wife had arranged everything in advance. We arrived at the location around 13:30. First, we were surprised by the appearance of the building. There was a space shuttle on top of the building... Well, it is Yoichi, so let's try to understand it even if it seems a bit forced. Later, I found out that the hot spring was named "Universe Hot Spring" because the parents of the astronaut Mamoru Mohri, who used to run a public bath called "Kikuno-yu", were inspired by Mohri's achievements in space and his words "Let's create a hot spring in space" led to the creation of "Universe Hot Spring at Yoichigawa". I see... Universe Hot Spring, huh... The combination of hot springs and space does seem a bit unusual, but that's the origin of the name. Anyway, we had reached our destination. On the way here, we had eaten various things, but strangely, when it was time, we felt hungry again. First, we entered the building and decided to have a late lunch. We handed over the tickets on the 1st floor and were told to have our meal first before heading upstairs to the 2nd floor. We ordered the "seafood bowl" and chose "oolong tea" for me and "blueberry soda" for my wife as the soft drink. There was a local family sitting at the neighboring table, seemingly relaxing while reading manga or eating. We sat down at a corner table and observed the unique atmosphere of the place. It reminded me of the leisure facilities in Sapporo that had a similar vibe, which seemed to have disappeared these days. After about 10 minutes, the set meal of "seafood bowl" arrived. It looked colorful and delicious. We dug in. The quality of the ingredients wasn't exceptionally luxurious given the price, but the freshness and taste were indeed remarkable, probably due to the location. It was really tasty! However, there was a lot of fish roe like "ikura" and "tobiko" in the bowl, and I wished there were more fish pieces. As we ate, the rice underneath the toppings wasn't that much, so even though we had snacked here and there on the way, I still felt like eating something else after finishing the seafood bowl. If you eat this in a very hungry state, it might not be enough. The miso soup that came with it had crab claws in it, which added a nice flavor. This kind of delicacy is probably a result of being close to the sea. It was really delicious. We returned the dishes ourselves as it was self-service. We said "thank you for the meal" but the staff was chatting with what seemed like a familiar local, so there was no response. Well... It seemed like various things were allowed in this unique atmosphere. After eating our fill, it was finally time to soak in the hot spring. 1F =======

▼Location▼ Located along National Route 229, 800 meters from the starting point of National Route 229 in front of JR Yoichi Station towards the town hall on the left side. ▼About the Shop▼ Yoichigawa Onsen was originally operated by the family of astronaut Mamoru Mohri under the name Kikunoyu, and later renamed Yoichigawa Onsen in honor of Mohri. It is a natural hot spring with a restaurant on the second floor. ▼Menu▼ Various menu items such as rice bowls, ramen, udon, soba, curry rice, set meals, drinks, and snacks are available. ▼Food Consumed▼ - Sweet Shrimp Tempura Rice Bowl + Blueberry Soda (January 2016) Using a Groupon coupon, the total of 1040 yen for the sweet shrimp tempura rice bowl (500 yen), blueberry soda (100 yen), and bathing fee was discounted to 600 yen. The tempura in the bowl was large and delicious, with a good balance of sweetness in the sauce. The rice was fluffy and tasty. The blueberry soda had a decent flavor. ▼Impressions▼ In January 2016, I visited this hot spring facility with a restaurant, formerly owned by astronaut Mamoru Mohri. The hot spring, originally a public bath, had a simple atmosphere with some locker issues. The overall facility appeared old and somewhat disorganized. However, the hot spring water quality was good. The restaurant on the second floor was a bit cluttered, but the rice bowl was delicious and filling. Overall, I felt that with a little more attention to cleanliness and organization, this place has the potential to be a more enjoyable hot spring experience.