Oyado Ekuhashi

Breakfast was delicious, and the air conditioning (Corona) and FF stove kept the room comfortable. Staff were friendly, and the shared toilets and bathrooms were perfectly adequate. There’s a bus until midnight. I stayed in the annex, where you check in as well. The gravel parking has about eight spots, two covered spaces for motorcycles, plus another gravel space with stand plates. Maneuvering a large or heavy bike into the motorcycle spaces can be tricky, especially on the gravel. While I was relaxing in my room, I felt a tremor at intervals, probably from people walking heavily in the hallway. Outside sounds were quite noticeable in some areas, so it may depend on your luck.

We enjoyed a warm room and a tasty breakfast. Watching different wild birds and red foxes from the window made breakfast feel like a real treat.

I picked this place for my first stay because there aren’t many places that accept pets, and it was great. The room was clean, had air conditioning and a TV, and was a decent size. The shared toilet and bath were clean and close by. The price also seemed reasonable for pet-friendly lodging.

I booked on the morning of October 11, 2024, when I decided to extend my trip past Kushiro and visit Nemuro. The city’s hotels were all full, so I was relieved they could still offer me a room with breakfast or without dinner. I chose breakfast and arrived just before 5 PM. I got a little turned around looking for the main building and annex, and spotted a huge herd of deer in a nearby vacant lot before finding the place. After a quick hello, I rather rudely asked about restaurants nearby. They handed me “Nemuro Navi,” a Nemuro City tourist guidebook over 60 pages long. I looked through it in my room, settled on “Nemuro Fish Restaurant,” and immediately called to reserve dinner. There’s a lot of thoughtful detail here: guests can choose pillows and yukata, there are self-serve cafe lattes, tea, and coffee without limits, and even air freshener spray is provided. The reception room and corridors are packed with hundreds of stuffed deer, matryoshka dolls, and owl figures. There’s plenty to look at late at night. Breakfast made with local ingredients was delicious, though not especially lavish, perhaps because it was off-season. I heard that “Ekuhashi” comes from the first letters of the four Northern Islands: Etorofu, Kunashiri, Habomai, and Shikotan. Next time I’d like to book early in the season and try Hanasaki crab.