One night with two meals costs a little over 20,000 yen per person. Adding drinks to dinner came out to around 45,000 yen for two people. The Auberge, along with Hotel Seisato in Kiyosato and Maure Sanso in Engaru, is one of the places to stay in Ohtsuk. It is a wooden building with a retro atmosphere, filled with various decorations that seem to have been collected. The dinner was creative French cuisine, all delicious! I particularly enjoyed the carrot mousse with sea urchin, steak, and homemade whole wheat bread. I was worried about the steak because they didn't ask how I wanted it cooked, but it turned out to be cooked to a perfect medium rare. The sauce made from shiitake puree was exquisite. For breakfast, there were various small dishes. The portion sizes were large, and unfortunately, I couldn't finish everything! There was also a breakfast menu that seemed to be a bit on the salty side, so it became more like side dishes. I was happy to have plenty of coffee both in my room and in the lobby. Despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, please continue to provide service that matches the price.

[Stay on November 10, 2021] - Amuse - Carrot mousse with fresh sea urchin Homemade smoked salmon Pan-fried flounder with parsley sauce Plate of Hokkaido beef fillet with port wine sauce Today's dessert Homemade bread Coffee or tea Auberge North No Nuan (Carrot mousse with fresh sea urchin) 0152-45-5963 39-17 Oma, Abashiri, Hokkaido https://tabelog.com/hokkaido/A0110/A011001/1064550/

Prison and the drift ice of the Okhotsk Sea are famous in Abashiri. At the eastern end of Hokkaido, there is a small inn called "Auberge Kita no Dan Dan". While there are larger hotels conveniently located in the city with various tourist attractions, why not choose a quiet inn surrounded by greenery when visiting this naturally rich land? Upon entering this Auberge, the first thing that surprises you is its interior. The inn has a nostalgic "Showa retro" atmosphere, with old-fashioned and miscellaneous toys lined up everywhere. It's almost like a toy museum. The owner apparently collected these items himself and displayed them in this way, although it can't be said that he has a good sense of style. However, this is exactly his intention, as he wants guests to feel like they are visiting their grandmother's house and experience a sense of nostalgia. Additionally, the interior was designed to reflect the atmosphere of the pioneers who settled in this area over 130 years ago during the colonization era. Looking at the toys, I couldn't help but feel a sense of nostalgia. The inn has 12 rooms and 2 suite rooms. During our stay, we were a group of three, so we booked the special rooms "Ooichimonji" and "Oomurasaki". Both rooms are named after butterflies, fitting the inn's location in the midst of nature. The special rooms have two semi-double beds side by side, and the rooms are spacious. There is also a bathtub made of pottery with a good view, making it perfect for a relaxing stay. Despite the inn's name, I wasn't expecting much from the food based on the interior. However, I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the meals at "Kita no Dan Dan". The dinner at "Kita no Dan Dan" is authentic French cuisine. Located in a town known for its Uni, the dishes made with the abundant seafood of the Okhotsk Sea were surprisingly refined and sophisticated. The first course was carrot mousse with Uni. The Uni, being fresh from the sea, had a clear and delicious taste. The combination of Uni, mousse, and jelly enhanced the natural sweetness of the Uni, making it even more delicious. The marinated shellfish with summer vegetables was refreshing, with the crisp acidity of cherry tomatoes and the sweetness of corn complementing each other well. My favorite dish was the scallop poele with tomato risotto. The scallops, known for being a specialty of Lake Saroma, were seared perfectly crispy on the outside, and when combined with the risotto and gruyere cheese cracker, the texture and flavor were just right. I never expected to find such high-quality French cuisine in such a place, and I was truly amazed. The breakfast at "Kita no Dan Dan" was Japanese cuisine. Dishes like onion-infused rolled omelette, salmon tartare, and meatball soup were meticulously prepared and beautifully presented. The quality of the Japanese cuisine was as impressive as the French cuisine, making the inn's claim to be an "Auberge" justifiable. Breakfast was served at the "Wind Terrace," a counter seat overlooking the balcony. If you're lucky, you might even see an Ezorisu (Ezo red squirrel) come to visit, making the view even more spectacular. Despite the summer season, the cool mornings and evenings in the northern land make hot springs the best leisure activity. "Kita no Dan Dan" is an inn that boasts an Auberge title while also having the Abashiri Lake Onsen. The inn has large communal baths and open-air baths. Since the inn has a limited number of rooms, the communal baths are on the smaller side, but the open-air bath is truly unique. It is a standing bath with a depth of 150cm! For women, when you put your feet in, your face won't be visible due to the depth. Therefore, there is a rope hanging from the edge of the bath that you can hold onto while soaking, which adds an interesting touch. The open-air bath offers a great view of Lake Abashiri, making the experience even more enjoyable.

I stayed at this hotel and the warm hospitality I received from the moment I arrived made me feel comfortable. The dinner and breakfast were both delicious and served with a hospitable attitude. The dinner was a French course meal, which felt high-class but not pretentious, allowing me to relax and enjoy a pleasant time.

It seems like a restaurant that can be used by regular customers, and it has quite a few seats. The dishes are quite generous in portion size.

Accommodation, food, service, and room all terrible, will not revisit. ❌

Located in the outskirts of Abashiri, this accommodation is situated in a slightly mountainous area. I booked this place because my wife dislikes traditional ryokan meals, so they offered a light French dinner instead. The accommodation was about a 15-minute drive away and seemed to be a renovated old farmhouse with various exhibits inside. One of the exhibits that caught my interest was the old photos of the Ainu people. The twin room I stayed in was clean and cozy, with a shower but no bath. However, there was a cypress hot spring bath available. The hot spring water seemed to be transported from the source and heated. To my surprise, the dinner exceeded my expectations with dishes like marinated flounder salad, scallop mousse with tomato-flavored risotto, and Erimo beef lamp steak. The quality was comparable to a good restaurant, and the portions were generous. My wife was also satisfied. For breakfast, we had a Japanese meal with dishes like grilled Atka mackerel, pork and wood ear mushroom stir-fry, scallop tomato soup, and simmered vegetables. Although I found the flavors slightly salty for my Kansai palate, it seemed to be the standard taste in Hokkaido. We even had a pleasant encounter with a Hokkaido squirrel at the window during breakfast. Despite the slightly higher price, I was satisfied considering the quality of the meals.