The facility is designed with just a day-use hot spring and accommodation, but the dinner was incredibly delicious! There were dishes like lobster and high-quality ingredients that surpassed many hotels and ryokans in the area. Breakfast was average. I would like to visit again.

We used it for a family trip for two nights and three days. We requested the seasonal special set meal for dinner. We also ordered rice and miso soup for our daughter, but it turned out we didn't need it. There was plenty to eat and the portions were quite satisfying. The first day's meal was especially amazing. The sweet shrimp and tomato hot plate dish were delicious! The fried abalone was superb!! The final rice dish was also outstanding. My daughter couldn't stop eating, it was surprising!! The staff were very kind and almost everyone provided excellent service to the children. Thank you very much. It was a very enjoyable trip. The bath was also very pleasant. I would like to visit again. Thank you for the delicious meal.

Hotel in Higashikagura-cho. 30 minutes by car from Asahiyama Zoo. Booked a hotel close to the zoo to minimize the burden on my child. Wasn't expecting much, especially for the price, but was pleasantly surprised. The room came with a private outdoor bath, and the food was unexpectedly delicious! See the photos for the individual dishes served in the restaurant. They were all tasty, but my favorite was the mushroom-wrapped beef. They were also very accommodating with my 0-year-old, even allowing me to play YouTube to keep them calm. The staff were wonderful, and I would love to stay here again. There are plenty of luxury hotels with good food, but in terms of value for money, this place gets a high rating!

Finally, I visited the day spa at Hotel Hanakagura in the forest. Although it's a hotel, the prices are reasonable and it seems to be popular among local customers for day use. The hot spring water is a bit chlorinated, but the facilities are spacious and nice, and the outdoor bath was relaxing, so it was good to refresh here at the end. There is also a rest area where you can have light meals, so I decided to have dinner here as well. There weren't many local dishes, so when I ordered what the kids wanted and what I wanted, it ended up being mostly fried and junk food haha. The fact that they have craft beer is a good point. It goes well with beer.

Today I came to a hot spring to soak at Hanagaku Mori no Yu. After soaking for about an hour, I had ramen. I chose the Hanagaku ramen, which looked the most luxurious on the menu. It said it came with 10 slices of chashu. I bought a meal ticket from the ticket machine and handed it to the counter. Water is self-service, so after about 5 minutes, my number was called and I went to get it. My first impression was that the bowl was on the smaller side and the soup was not cloudy. First, I tasted the soup. It's not Asahikawa ramen. It's the type of ramen where the taste is consistent no matter who makes it. I tried the chashu next. It was soft! But the flavor was a bit light. I didn't really care if it was classified as chashu or more like braised pork. The noodles were nothing special, just a typical type. They had a good texture and paired well with the soup. I realized I had set my expectations too high before eating.

"Nanzutte Chappy easily won the debut race and continued to win smoothly, finally preparing to challenge the 3-year-old classics... Orfevre Bull: "Chappy, we are also ready to challenge the classics." Nanzutte Chappy: "I've only been drinking black label until now... I'm curious about the taste of the classics." Orfevre Bull: "Not about Sapporo Classic... By the way, how did Ageha do in the race?" Nanzutte Chappy: "In the Vomit Prize, Agehaiyagroove finished second to the female warrior Chiba Amazon." Orfevre Bull: "This author seems to be okay with any wordplay... Now, we are about to race in the Sanuki Prize, and the prize money is amazing!" Nanzutte Chappy: "Is it around 1 billion yen for the first prize and runner-up combined!?" Orfevre Bull: "That sounds more like a lottery! The first prize is a year-long all-you-can-eat ramen at 'Dashiro-BUSHI'!" Nanzutte Chappy: "Not that exciting... (;´Д｀)" On the day of the Sanuki Prize, many other top horses are also competing... Satochinai Diamond: "Hey Chappy, you look good. By the way, the Katsudon at 'Katsuya' is delicious." Nanzutte Chappy: "Satochina, you should also try the Katsudon at 'Hot Chef' (*´∀`)♪" Noguri Cap: "Long time no see, Chappy! Did you use the 'HOKKAIDO LOVE! 6-day Round-trip Pass' to ride the JR?" Nanzutte Chappy: "I couldn't ride all six days, Noguri... (^^;)" Bang! The gates are open. Nanzutte Chappy seems to be a bit slow to start. Orfevre Bull: "What are you doing, Chappy? The gate is open!" Nanzutte Chappy: "Hmm, maybe 'Tokumitsu-san is zooming in' would have been better..." Orfevre Bull: "You shouldn't be thinking about that now! Satochina and Noguri have already started!" As they round the final corner and enter the home stretch... Nanzutte Chappy: "Satochinai Diamond is in the lead, followed by Noguri Cap with a gap of one length. Orfevre Bull is coming from behind..." Orfevre Bull: "Why are you doing the play-by-play? Hurry up and catch up or you'll be left behind!" Nanzutte Chappy: "Alright, I'll use my final kick to overtake. Jockey, please use the whip!" Whip sound♪ Nanzutte Chappy: "Ah, that feels good... I'd like some candles too♡" Noguri Cap: "That's disgusting... (;´Д｀)" Nanzutte Chappy: "Ohhh, Nanzutte Chappy has an amazing kick! He's catching up to Satochinai Diamond. Will Orfevre Bull make it from the back of the pack? Can Nanzutte Chappy reach the finish line? Nanzutte Chappy is neck and neck with Satochinai Diamond at the finish line!" Orfevre Bull: "Why are you doing the play-by-play? Take it seriously!" Announcer: "After a photo finish, the winner is... Satochinai Diamond!! Nanzutte Chappy finishes second, just a nose behind! Noguri Cap takes third..." Noguri Cap: "There's an announcer here... (^^;)" Nanzutte Chappy: "Just a nose behind, hanasazu, hanasazu, Hanakagura, just kidding!! (laughs)" Orfevre Bull: "Why did you change from 'Gesu' to 'Zura'! And the jokes are getting desperate!" And that's the review of "Mori no Yu Hotel Hanakagura." Bath time is great. Umami..."

Every year, I go back to Chiba for New Year's, but this year I stayed at "Hanagakura" in Higashikagura Town, a neighboring town of Asahikawa. Usually, it's a popular inn that is fully booked during New Year's, but because the Go To Travel campaign was temporarily suspended on December 28th, I checked and luckily there was a room available with a private outdoor bath. The New Year's Eve dinner was a special menu, which looked fancy but there were many young children running around the dining area, making it a bit chaotic. It seems like parents who don't discipline their kids are becoming more common. We quickly finished our meal and left. The breakfast was also crowded like a zoo, but it was interesting with a variety of options for the buffet (although strangely, the rice wasn't that great. It's still common for accommodations and restaurants in Hokkaido to have subpar rice, even though the rice itself should be delicious). The private outdoor bath in the room was nice, and we were lucky to have it to ourselves in the public bath after the day-trippers left, both in the evening and the next morning. Overall, it was good.

Before evening, I finished all my errands and headed to the bath! I arrived at 3 p.m., a time when it was not crowded. I leisurely enjoyed the hot springs for about 2 hours, and then had dinner at a restaurant from 5 p.m. This time, I chose the pork cutlet rice bowl. I had a spacious tatami room all to myself (lol), and the TV was showing a variety show, making it a relaxing experience. The pork cutlet rice bowl that arrived was not topped with egg, but with sauce, and it had plenty of cabbage. The miso soup smelled amazing. The crispy yet tender pork cutlet was delicious, and the cabbage was crunchy. The rice was cooked perfectly, creating a great balance. As a side note, I tried the free health check health meter, and it labeled me as "obesity type." I thought about eating something low in calories, but when I looked at the menu, I completely forgot about it.

I went again because I wanted to eat tempura soba with maitake mushrooms. Just like last time, it was a meal after the hot spring. This time, I chose the cold soba. There were more maitake tempura than soba (≧∇≦) It was a laughably large amount again. My husband had the pork cutlet rice bowl, I think? It had plenty of cabbage and the pork cutlet was thin. It was tender. The sweet sauce was a bit too sweet for me, so I couldn't eat much rice. I thought a pork cutlet rice bowl with egg would be better. I will go again to eat freshly fried delicious maitake tempura♪

I went to the hot springs and had lunch at the dining hall. I ordered the popular mushroom tempura soba, and I was surprised by the amount of mushroom tempura! They must have used a whole bunch for it. The portion was huge! The tempura batter was crispy and delicious. I also tried the Hana Kagura ramen, I think that was the name. The amount of chashu (roast pork) was amazing! The chashu was tender and tasty! I think both dishes were ¥650. I definitely want to go back to the hot springs and dining hall again!

On the 5th day of our drive and trip to Hokkaido, we stayed at a hotel that we had booked about a month in advance. We were worried about heavy snowfall, so we kept our travel distance short, which turned out to be a good decision. The temperature was a high of -9 degrees, and we drove through a blizzard for the first time. The roads were completely white, with snow piled up on the sides marked by snow removal arrows. The speed limit was 70 km/h, adding to the fear of driving in such conditions. The hotel had a hot spring on site, and the staff kindly allowed us to take photos for our review. Dinner was a traditional multi-course meal using local ingredients, expertly prepared by the chef. The presentation was elegant, and the flavors were well-balanced, bringing out the natural taste of the ingredients. The rice dish was seasoned lightly and very enjoyable. The portion size was generous, but we managed to finish it all. The breakfast buffet offered a wide variety of dishes featuring Hokkaido ingredients, and some hot dishes were kept warm at all times. The coffee served here was freshly ground, and mixing it with just a little milk made for a delicious drink. My wife particularly enjoyed the tasty bread. Considering it was a pre-holiday stay, we found the price to be reasonable.

A colorful menu with sashimi and hot pot. Beautiful dishes with names I don't know. Clam rice cooked in a pot. Chicken and cartilage meatballs. Steamed Hokkaido beef, pork, and vegetables. Crab, fish ball, and fresh wheat gluten soup. For dessert, we had milk pudding and a vanilla ice cream daifuku with fruits. It was a feast, thank you!笑

First, in the morning, we went to Sugai Dinos as my son was being loud about wanting to go bowling again. We played two games, and my son got his first spare. Then we went to Hanakagura Onsen in Higashi-Kaguramachi. The first floor had a lobby, a proper restaurant, and a game corner, while the second floor had the hot springs, a self-service dining area, and a resting area. The hot spring water was a simple hot spring at 31.6 degrees Celsius, with added heating. It was colorless, tasteless, and odorless. The outdoor bath was a bit lukewarm, but the weather was nice and it felt good. The fee for a day trip bath was 600 yen for adults, 300 yen for elementary school students, and free for toddlers. After bathing, my son had coffee milk, and I had fruit milk (I really wanted to drink beer). For lunch, my son had fried pork fried rice (500 yen) and I had green onion and roasted pork noodles (soy sauce, 700 yen). In the lobby, there were fish in a tank that ate keratin when you put your hand in.

On Saturdays, the soft serve ice cream costs 200 yen. I couldn't resist and ended up getting one. Last time I had the shiitake mushroom tempura here, the portion was surprisingly large. This time, I opted for cold soba noodles. Once again, I left feeling full.

A self-serve stand that is convenient and easy to use. It's not a place to discuss flavors. It offers a nice selection for a drink after a bath.

I took a break at a rest area after soaking in the hot springs and it was just the right time for dinner. As a big fan of maitake mushrooms, I immediately responded to the soba with maitake mushrooms. The soba and maitake tempura were served on separate plates, allowing me to enjoy the crispy texture. The tempura was piping hot and very filling. I couldn't finish it all, so I had my husband eat half of the tempura. The hamburger set that my husband ordered was clearly made with frozen hamburger, which seemed overpriced at 850 yen. It felt more like a 580 yen meal...

Visited "Furoga" for the first time in June 2018. Located in a town adjacent to Asahikawa City called Higashikagura-cho. It is a beautiful town with abundant nature and views of the Daisetsuzan Mountain Range, only about a 30-minute drive from Asahikawa City. In the forest, there are campsites and cottages, making it a wonderful place to visit. While "Asahidake Onsen" and "Tenjin-kyo Onsen" in Higashikawa-cho are also great options, this hotel offers day trips for casual bathing. There are two outdoor baths with a height difference, and the higher one offers a view of the distant Daisetsuzan Mountain Range. The indoor baths include oxygen baths, low-temperature and high-temperature tubs, and are spacious and comfortable. The sauna is also spacious, and the cold water bath is made of cypress wood. On this day, soft-serve ice cream was only 100 yen, so I decided to have that instead of milk. It was my fifth one this year, I think. The shape may not be perfect because I almost dropped it and had to catch it quickly. The facility is operated by "Ambix," which is skilled in operating facilities built by municipalities, such as "Kuranoyu" in Naeho, Sapporo, and "Yurinkan" in Bibai. This hotel, although I'm not sure if it was built by Higashikagura-cho, is very large and lovely. If you have the chance, it might be nice to stay here overnight.

We go on a trip with my classmates 2-3 times a year. In winter, we travel far by JR or nearby by car. This time, I researched based on the availability of "non-smoking rooms"! In the past, I have accidentally ended up in a smoking room and had to endure it because it was fully booked on the day of... I learned my lesson (late! lol). Two years ago, we stayed at "Mori no Ryotei Biei"... ♬ There aren't many places like that nearby, and "Furano Houtouru" in Furano is fully booked... As long as it's non-smoking, I'm fine with anywhere, so I quickly made a decision! (It's a place I haven't been to before). So... we decided on "Hanakagura"! There is only one non-smoking room available, so I immediately secured it (lol). On the day of the trip, we will buy snacks and drinks. The trip has already begun from there (*^^)v Even though it's nearby, it's too close (lol) We've already arrived ♬ I've already decided on having ramen for lunch the next day at the restaurant in Hanakagura (I forced my classmates as a condition for me being the driver) ♬ Actually, I'm more interested in the ramen than anyone else (lol). Dinner and breakfast were probably as expected, right? Yes! The price was as expected (*^^*) We also enjoyed the hot springs twice ♬ The hot springs were as expected, just normal and good. The room was as expected, too dry (lol). Maybe I should have filled the bathtub with water? Now, the long-awaited ramen is finally here ♬ When checking out, I asked about the "rule" of using the restaurant... To use the restaurant only, an entrance fee of 600 yen is required (I think it was 650 yen? I was surprised and forgot! lol). Hotel guests can use the restaurant for 450 yen. Whether you stay inside the hotel or go out and come back on the same day, it's 450 yen. 450 yen entrance fee + ramen cost... (~_~;) I gave up on the ramen (lol). I will have a rematch at a day trip hot spring on another day! By the way, at La Tail in Nakafurano, they don't charge an entrance fee for using the restaurant only. So don't ask me why, okay? (lol)