Auberge Kitano Dandan

There’s so much to look at inside, with period pieces throughout the hotel, and the rooms have their own interesting style too. The garden outside is extensive, full of all kinds of plants and flowers. The gardener showed us around and let us taste some of the berries growing there. We really enjoyed our stay, and the French-style dinner was excellent. Highly recommended.

The onsen is excellent, and the hotel has a lot of history. For the price, though, the value doesn’t feel that high.

I came to see the drift ice, and as a food expert I’ll keep this review on the food. The classic French cooking makes good use of the ingredients. Bihoro beef was unforgettable, and the smoked salmon came in a really thick slice and tasted great. Each dish had a side that brought out the vegetables’ flavor. A few standouts from dinner: bamboo charcoal choux pastry, homemade bread, raw sea urchin with carrot mousse, homemade smoked salmon, whitefish milt soup, herb-grilled tantaka flatfish, Bihoro beef steak, and date brulee with strawberry ice cream. The homemade bread, sea urchin and carrot mousse, smoked salmon, and beef were especially good. Breakfast was Japanese-style and carefully made, with no tsukudani or nori seaweed. Everything tasted good, but the generous fillings in the chawanmushi and the dashi in the clam soup stood out. The staff had a very Hokkaido feel, and the dogs were adorable. I’d love to come back in every season! 🙂

The owner’s hobbies and garden were fascinating, and the service was warm throughout my visit. I’m from Abashiri originally and was in town to see family, so I ate at the restaurant. When I asked whether I could invite my mother to dinner, they readily said yes. Thank you very much.