Breakfast on the fourth day of GW. - Fried tofu - Salad - Pickles - Salted fish guts - Seaweed - Pickled plum - Cod roe & salmon & kelp - Miso soup with scallops - Milk The staff were even more efficient and pleasant than in the evening. Thank you for the meal.

On the third day of my trip, after the nature cruise, I went to Mine no Yu. I had tried to make reservations here twice before but had to cancel due to various reasons, so this was my third attempt! The meal included dried hokke fish and large scallops, shad roe with kombu seaweed and asparagus, taro, fu (wheat gluten) and scallop simmered together, pineapple for dessert, three kinds of sashimi, tempura, pickles, a clear soup with seafood, chawanmushi (savory egg custard), and sweet and savory simmered cod. When I was seated, the soup, dipping sauce, and rice were already laid out for me. The cod was cooked tableside, which was a relief! The hokke was not too cold and the scallops were delicious. The seasoning overall was on the sweeter side, perhaps reflecting the flavors of Eastern Hokkaido. It was great to enjoy plenty of seafood in the hot spring water full of mineral deposits.

I enjoyed a pleasant drive from Abashiri to the Shiretoko Peninsula. It was my second time visiting Shiretoko in my life! I had previously stayed in Utoro and explored the area, but this time I headed to Rausu, a place I had never been before. It was my first time crossing the Shiretoko Pass (by car, of course!). As I passed the 6th station, or around that area, I was enveloped in thick fog and could hardly see anything. The visibility was so poor that I couldn't see even a little ahead. As I approached the summit, the hairpin curves increased, making me feel quite uneasy. It reminded me of my visit to Shiretoko over 10 years ago. Back then, I had come to Utoro with the intention of climbing Mt. Rausu, but the owner of the inn told me, "The weather is not good, so I can't let you climb." At that time, Utoro was only slightly cloudy, and I couldn't imagine that the weather on the nearby mountain would be bad. Despite mentioning my experience climbing the Alps' Daikiretto, the owner insisted it was too dangerous to climb even if I wanted to. So, with great disappointment, I gave up on the mountain climb. This time, as I crossed the pass and descended towards Rausu, the fog gradually lifted, and I arrived safely at Hotel Mine no Yu. I relaxed in the open-air bath filled with white hot spring flowers. Dinner was served in a private room. There are different plans with either private rooms or shared rooms. I had the JTB Room Guarantee Plan (13200 yen), which seemed to offer medium-sized meals. This plan is managed by JTB, so the details were not listed. After inquiring about the meal contents, I was initially told that crab wouldn't be included due to its high price. I was disappointed, but JTB followed up and confirmed that crab would be included. However, in the end, crab was not included, and we had crab soup instead. The sashimi, yellowtail shabu-shabu, kelp, cheese, grilled hokke fish, crab soup, simmered dish, chawanmushi, boiled fish, tempura all had a refined taste, like dishes prepared by a skilled chef. The delicious food, Sapporo Classic bottled beer, and the ability to enjoy a leisurely meal in a private room made the experience very enjoyable.

I traveled alone and was able to make a reservation smoothly even during Golden Week. The hot spring water was good, but the standout was the food. The amount of food was incredible. For one night with two meals, it cost only 10,000 yen, and it was a room service. Two trays full of food were served, including a whole crab. There were simmered dishes, grilled dishes, sashimi, fried food, salad, and more, which was too much to finish. The taste was average, but with such a large quantity, beer goes well with it. I feel a bit miserable when surrounded by a lively atmosphere during solo travel, but with room service, I can relax without worrying. It doesn't have a luxurious feel, but it somehow feels calming. I think it's good for families or solo travelers. Oh, I just remembered! The young man at the front desk said, "I used to be in Fukuyama City."