Ryokan Fujien

The nicest part was the woman at the front desk, who was lovely. I also had a great bath: it’s shared, but hot spring water comes out of the faucet, and it felt wonderful. There was a clean toilet with a washlet too. I paid just 2,500 yen for a stay without meals. From the window, the Ishikari River and Asahi Bridge looked beautiful. The bathroom and toilet were separate, and the room came with toothbrushes, yukata robes, and towels.

The room and bath both had amazing views. The inn has a strong Showa-era atmosphere, which made a perfect little accent for my trip. It’s within walking distance of Asahikawa Station, but there are lots of local buses too, so I recommend taking one. Reception is on the second floor. Mine was a non-smoking room, but the lingering cigarette smell was unbearable.

It had the atmosphere of a traditional Japanese inn. There seemed to be only a few parking spaces. I was glad there was a laundry room, and the lobby had a huge manga collection. Breakfast was a standard Japanese meal, and it tasted good. The website calls the bath a hot spring, but be aware that it isn’t a natural hot spring.

For around 5,000 yen, this is an unusual option if you need a proper private room rather than a dormitory, even when booking at the last minute. Places closer to the station can cost 6,000-7,000 yen for room only under those circumstances. The room was quite old. Loose weeds were blowing around on the tatami, and the air freshener was overpowering in the small single room. It was also hot. The underground bath had just one tub, like a battle in the countryside during the Showa era. The TV card cost 1,000 yen and said it covered adult channels from 3 p.m. until 11 a.m. the next morning, but it actually lasted less than five hours.