The SUNSET Shiretoko

Breakfast was very good at the nearby hotel, and it was included with the stay. Our traditional room was lovely, with a wonderful ocean view and sunset. It had a private toilet but no shower, so you have to use the onsen, which also looks out over the ocean. In that setup, I really don't think the hotel should leave guests without yukata. We had to walk between our room and the onsen in our own clothes.

The onsen was wonderful, and the views were great, but we couldn't make sense of the rates. For the price, the stay was far below expectations. There were no showers in the rooms, and yukata cost an extra 550 per person. The kitchen wasn't laid out well. If anyone cooked meat or fish, the smell spread through the whole hotel. Staffing was very thin too, with just one person at reception who also had to take out the garbage and handle other tasks. The lobby was freezing with the AC on.

The rooms were comfortable, and the staff were helpful. We could walk to a few restaurants, and the lobby and Onsen had lovely views. Breakfast at the hotel next door was great too. The one drawback was the soundproofing. Some noisy neighbors were five doors away, and we could still hear them.

The public bath was a real highlight for our group of six. It had hot water, a sauna, and a cold plunge pool that I especially enjoyed. We booked two ensuite rooms and one without a bathroom, and next time I'd choose a room without one. The location beside the famous Yuhidai Observatory was perfect for sunset lovers. We got different sunset views each evening. The common areas were spacious, with a living room and fully equipped kitchen. Since it was off-season, we had them almost entirely to ourselves. There was just one electric kettle for everyone, but the ice freezer was handy. Each guest also got a complimentary cup of instant noodles each day, and drinks were free-flow. One thing to keep in mind is the lobby isn't on the ground floor, so you have to carry your own suitcases upstairs. That could be inconvenient for some.