Onsen Ryokan Yano

We got there around 11:30 on a Saturday morning, and there was plenty of room. It’s a pleasant spot. The parfait was so good that I’d already eaten half before taking a photo. The roasted nuts were sweet and crunchy, with a nice cereal crunch inside. It was 800 yen. I’m not sure about the seaweed set meal.

The food changed every night we stayed, and it was consistently at a really high standard. The staff were lovely, gave us local tips, and even taught us a bit of the dialect. We came during the off season for a few nights, and they offered to move us to a better room. I also liked hearing the staff laugh and call each other “-chan”; they seemed friendly with one another, which made me think the management must be good too. I had such a great time here, I wish I could give it more than five stars. I’d love to come back during sakura season.

We stopped for lunch on a day trip from Hakodate to Matsumae, without staying overnight at the ryokan. The service was friendly, and they had a basic menu in English. The nabe set was the standout, tasty and nicely presented. Yano izakaya is worth recommending even if you’re not staying there.

The Matsumae Castle is right next door. The rooms are spacious and have their own toilet, but, as usual, there’s no bath or shower in the room, so bathing means using the onsen. Dinner was good, though not great. It’s a great place to stay in a quaint little town.