Minshuku Sakura House Annex

I made a last-minute visit and they let me stay that night. It was a comfortable place, and I could leave my motorcycle in a shuttered parking space.

The room was roomy and clean, and the big refrigerator and bright, tidy bathroom made the facilities feel comfortable. For drying clothes, there was plenty of space with a tension rod and hangers, even in winter or on a longer stay. In late June they had a fan, and when a little breeze came through the screen door, the sea air felt lovely. Being near the sea also made mornings feel refreshing. We paid 4200 yen a night for a room without meals, which felt like a great deal. Our infant could share the bed for free, and they provided a towel for the baby too. Since the public bath was slippery, they let us use the private bathroom in our room, which helped a lot. We'd put down an arrival time of around 6:30 PM when booking, but got there later. They called about 30 minutes after the scheduled time, and I should have let them know sooner. Check-in was listed until 11 PM and it was a room-only stay, so we had counted on some flexibility. We arrived around 8 PM. Somehow the toddler on our reservation, which showed in our booking history, hadn't been passed along, and that caused a bit of trouble. We also felt we had to keep especially quiet on the first floor, where there aren't guest rooms, because some guests were already going to bed or near the end of their stay. Still, arriving early was fine, and once we were checked in the staff were kind and helpful, even if the approach was simple. A couple of things may matter for late arrivals: other guests have mentioned being told not to use hair dryers in the bathroom around 8 PM, and the bathhouse closes at 9 PM. We only just got the last parking spot, so I wonder if the lot can fill up depending on how many motorcycles and cars are staying. We left on a Sunday, when the shops in front of the lot seemed closed, and I wasn't sure how parking works on business days. Maybe people leaving early, before the shops open, balances things out. The crab sculpture is about a 10-minute drive, and Seicomart and Satsudora are roughly five minutes away by car.

At minus 10 degrees Celsius outside, I expected the room to feel colder, but we stayed comfortably warm. It was clean and well kept, and the building didn't seem old. Our room was about 6 tatami mats, enough space for us, with a small but clean bathroom where we could soak and relax. Non-smoking rooms are available too. We'd come to see the drift ice at short notice, and the Monbetsu Prince Hotel was full. This place had a room even that day and welcomed us warmly. It was incredibly cheap at 4730 yen a night!! A good option if you're making a last-minute trip to see the drift ice.

There's a shuttered garage for motorcycles, with room for about 2-3 bikes.