Biei Shirogane No Yu

There aren’t many places to eat nearby, though the hostel offers a meal for a small charge if you book a day ahead. Mine was curry pork from a ready-made pack with rice and miso soup. It was decent, but there are better options farther down the road. I visited in the autumn low season and had a tatami room to myself, with a portable heater. The hot springs are split by gender. The men’s bath was lukewarm at best, which a hot spring enthusiast probably wouldn’t like, but the temperature suited me. And if you’re out walking at night, you might get lucky and see wild deer.

I wouldn't go back. The open-air baths didn’t seem as dirty as the smaller ones, but the exposed water pipes and general lack of cleanliness bothered me. During the quiet season in Asahikawa, the price felt high when overnight stays can be found for around 3,000 yen. It also wasn’t especially attractive overall.

The photos were an honest match for what we found, without any of the usual photo magic. It looked the same in person. The area is beautiful, with Mt.Tokachi and Shirogane Blue Pond nearby, and it’s a good place to visit if you have your own transport. There isn’t a shop there, so get food in the town center first. The kitchen is large and set up for cooking. I’d thought it might be a nice one-night stop before Furano after seeing all the beautiful photos.

For someone keeping to a budget, this onsen is a good deal: 500 yen for adults and 300 yen for kids 13 and under. There’s an indoor and an outdoor bath, plus shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and a hair dryer. One thing to know is there are no lockers for valuables, so leave important belongings at home.