Kuriyasuizan

The food was a real highlight at Kuriyasuizan. The course menu was high quality, but the milk pudding at the end of breakfast was the best I’ve ever had. Hokkaido milk is good, of course, but the pudding maker’s skill must have mattered too. I also slept well here. With a limited number of rooms, the atmosphere felt calm and elegant, unlike places with large, noisy tour groups. The rooms were clean and modern, with a tasteful semi-outdoor tub. In the onsen’s outdoor pool, soaking in hot water while snow fell felt almost dreamlike. It was a quiet, exquisite stay, unlike anything else I’ve experienced in the general Jozankei ryokan scene.

The lounge was peaceful, the food was amazing, and the small, quiet setting suited us. Every time I went to the onsen, I was incredibly lucky to have it to myself. There was some confusion about dinner. Staff told us they’d serve it in our hotel room, and I checked that I’d understood correctly. They confirmed, but dinner wasn’t brought to the room. It was no harm done in the end, so it wasn’t a big concern.

I’m not a fan of bright rooms when I’m trying to sleep, and the morning sun comes up at 4:30am here. There’s no blind or curtain in the bedroom to block it, so this place definitely isn’t for me if you’re like that. The service was actually better than I expected from the other reviews. The apprentices were new, but attentive and at least seemed to be trying their best.

The one thing to watch for is that there are a lot of insects in the bathroom during summer. Apart from that, it’s quiet and relaxing, and I’d definitely like to return. We had a memorable night here, with very good service from polite staff who made the whole stay enjoyable. The room was clean and had a really nice interior, and dinner was amazing. There were also side dishes or little snacks in the pantry area alongside the meals. They offer a shuttle bus from their main hotel, jozankei Daiichi Hotel, to Odori Park, and they’ll help deliver your luggage to the hotel first.