Abashiri Ryuhyou no Oka Youth Hostel

I had the room to myself and found it clean enough. Getting there without your own vehicle is tricky, though I managed on my e-bike, which they let me charge outside. I arrived too late for dinner, but the woman was kind and helped me order delivery from a nearby place.

No air conditioning, and the small water-cooling fan barely helps with the summer heat, so sleeping was awful. We had to leave the door open for ventilation. The room was sparse, there was no mirror, and you need to bring your own bedsheets. There’s one bathroom shared by men and women on an alternating basis.

Dinner and breakfast were homemade and delicious, with curry and rice available as much as you wanted at dinner. Meals are served in the big dining room, which becomes a shared hangout space outside those hours. Dinner is at 6 p.m. and breakfast at 7 a.m. The guesthouse has sea views from its hillside spot on the edge of Abashiri, and feels quaint and cosy. Room options include dorms for four or five people. Toilets and bathrooms are separated for men and women, though the bathroom itself is shared, so check with other guests if you want it to yourself. You can book breakfast only or half board. I’d stay again.

Clean, good value, and a nice option for families. The one thing I’d add is another electrical outlet, since there are plenty of devices to charge.