I stayed at Iwanai Marine Hotel in Iwanai Town with breakfast included. Breakfast was served by the nearby Sea of Japan. The hotel seems to be managed similarly to a business hotel, with connecting corridors inside. The breakfast consisted mostly of pre-made items such as sweet simmered herring, surf clam salad, sweet and spicy scallops, rolled omelette, cod roe, and simmered root vegetables. The surf clam salad was also available at the LUCKY Iwanai store's deli section. The sweet and spicy scallops had a strong flavor. The miso soup was the saltiest I've ever had, but I managed to adjust it by adding a lot of hot water from the self-service tea kettle to get the right saltiness. The breakfast was a bit too salty for someone like me who is used to lighter flavors from the Kansai region. Address: 17-3 Mandai, Iwanai-cho, Iwanai-gun, Hokkaido.

Welcome. ---------- September 2016 ---------- The hotel is always full because it is close to Iwanai Bus Terminal and Michinoeki, and there is also an izakaya next door. The building, which has 2 floors, seems like a guesthouse with hotel-like interiors. The rooms are only for 2 or 3 people, so if you stay alone, you will have one extra bed. Meals are served from 7 am at the neighboring restaurant, and there is no curfew, so it's good to carry a key when going out. Tom has decided to cherish the morning meal of the journey, which sets the tone for the day. The breakfast was truly a taste of the countryside, with crunchy pickled herring, konbu tsukudani, vinegar octopus, and Yumepirika rice from Kyowa Town cooked firm, which goes well with the soup made with wakame and tofu, giving a homely touch. Everything was store-bought and you cannot ask for seconds. Next time, I'll try a different hotel or guesthouse. Tom Doc.