On December 10th, 4th year of Reiwa (Saturday), I had the opportunity to stay at a slightly luxurious room service plan at a price of 15,400 yen per person. I had been interested in Kogane-yu Onsen for a while and luckily found availability here. I checked in at 5:00 PM. The inn has a total of 10 rooms, but there was a spacious lounge area where day-trip visitors were bustling. Dinner was served at 6:00 PM, 6:30 PM, or 7:00 PM, and I chose 6:30 PM. The hot spring water was gentle and relaxing. Dinner was served promptly in the room, with dishes like duck hot pot, sashimi, and white fish ponzu. Later, tempura platter, pork miso soup, and beef steak were served. The dining experience lasted for 2 hours, during which we enjoyed our own beer and sake. After dinner, I went for another bath. The baths were open until 11:00 PM at night and from 6:00 AM in the morning. I wish they were open until midnight and started at 5:00 AM, but nonetheless, the morning bath was peaceful with a beautiful view of the Toyohira River and snow-covered mountains. Breakfast was served at 8:00 AM, with dishes like grilled salmon, bacon and eggs, and rice. The meals were not particularly unique or extraordinary, but the luxury of dining in the room during these times was truly appreciated. Considering the neighboring Jozankei Onsen inn was fully booked and more expensive, I am already thinking about revisiting this place. The fact that the accommodation price on Saturdays is the same as weekdays is also appealing.

One-day hot spring trip, what a great bath! The outdoor bath is also hot in some places, not too crowded, but the water is nice. After soaking in the bath, we had a late lunch. My husband had a generous portion of ankake yakisoba with scallops, shrimp, wood ear mushrooms, snow peas, cabbage, green onions, carrots, and plenty of sauce. I had a dish of sizzling hot pot udon, which I haven't had in a while! It might be the last chance to eat it this season. It was piping hot, topped with tempura shrimp in the center, egg, wheat gluten, green onions, fish cake, and lots of other ingredients. Despite being warned, I burned my lips because it was so hot... The udon had a nice chewiness, the broth was delicious, and the egg yolk was runny while the egg white was cooked through. I scooped up the yolk with a small dish and mixed it with the udon. All of this for only 800 yen, it was quite satisfying. I had a great time at the one-day hot spring trip.

Yumoto Kogane-yu Onsen Matsuno-yu is a favorite spot for me, where I can relax and enjoy the view from the outdoor bath. I often visit this onsen to unwind. I also look forward to having lunch after my hot spring experience at Matsuno-yu. This time, I ordered the large serving of Ankake Yakisoba. Since the tables were all full, I sat in the tatami room. It was nice to see people relaxing in various ways after their bath – some lying down and others just chilling in the corner of the room. The Ankake Yakisoba, with plenty of soy-based sauce, was delicious and not greasy. I managed to finish the large portion without getting tired of it. As I age, I find it harder to eat greasy food, so I try to stay away from it. With the cold season approaching, I look forward to relaxing and enjoying the view while warming up at the onsen. I will also share a picture of the Matsuno-yu Champon that I had during my previous visit. Thank you for the meal.

I have already become a big fan of Matsunoyu, and I was looking forward to enjoying the hot springs and scenery, as well as the food here. I had visited a couple of times before without leaving a review, but the last time I tried their limited-time takeout bento and it was delicious, so this time I decided to order it along with my lunch. I was happy to see that the bento had become a regular menu item. This time, the service was a bit slow due to other customers and phone orders, but I didn't mind waiting while enjoying the view outside. The tonkatsu set was perfectly fried, not greasy at all. It came with side dishes like kinpira gobou, hijiki, and a hot spring egg, so I could enjoy a variety of flavors. The takeout bento included 3 shrimp tempura, eggplant tempura, 2 pumpkin tempura, enoki mushroom tempura, green pepper, shrimp chili, fried tofu with grated daikon, and kinpira gobou, making it a great value. As the cold season approaches, I plan to visit frequently, looking forward to enjoying the winter scenery. Thank you for the meal.

On a certain weekday off, I happened to not know that my workplace was also closed, so I decided to visit Matsu no Yu since I had come all the way. I was impressed by the quality of the hot springs, the view and sound of the river from the outdoor bath, and the natural scenery. Now, it has become one of my favorite places. This time, I decided to have a meal while being healed. I ordered at the counter and waited for my meal at a table while looking outside. It seems like many people come here just for the food - they even offer takeout. The waiting time was around 15-20 minutes. I didn't feel it was too long as I was enjoying the view outside. The Zangi set meal I ordered this time had a crispy Zangi with a not too strong flavor. Personally, I wished there was a bit more mayonnaise for the vegetables, but I enjoyed it without getting tired because it came with potato salad, two mountain vegetable side dishes, and a hot spring egg. I would like to come back for some healing once it gets a bit cooler. Thank you for the meal.

On this holiday, I enjoyed playing board games internationally and then stayed at the Matsuno-yu hot spring inn. The Japanese-style room was calming, with a view of the Toyohira River from the window. After drinking a bit, I took a bath before dinner in the hot spring. The tempura for dinner was crispy and delicious! I enjoyed the dinner, soaked in the hot spring again, had a few more drinks, and then went to bed. The next morning, I had breakfast in the room at 8:30, enjoyed a hearty meal, and then soaked in the hot spring again. I checked out before 11 am. This was my first time staying here, and it was affordable. Both the room service and the hot spring were satisfying and the food was excellent!

Before the New Year, I visited a hot spring for purification. I was a bit scared of it being crowded, so I went later in the day. When I arrived, there were a few other customers, but they all left shortly after, leaving me with the entire place to myself. I enjoyed both of the outdoor baths and the beautiful views. I spent over an hour relaxing while watching the snow fall. After bathing, I found a shop selling original labeled sake. I bought a bottle of "Hiya-zake Matsuno-yu" for 760 yen and enjoyed it while watching a TV show. I had already had a lot of beer before opening the sake, so I don't remember the taste well, but it was sweet and easy to drink. They also had sweet potato shochu and wine, so I'll definitely visit again. Thank you, Matsuno-yu, for the wonderful experience!

Bath time in March 2020! There are only two inns in the area, and one of them, Yumoto Kogane-yu, is quite impressive. It's a small inn that might go unnoticed, but it's a great place to relax away from the crowds. I decided to take a break from my usual routine and head to the outskirts to unwind. Oh, I'm tired from having too much free time. I unexpectedly ended up with a 13-day holiday at home, and it's tiring. Just to be clear, there's no doubt about it. The day trip bath costs 650 yen, and there are hardly any customers here. The bath is nice and transparent, with a slightly warm temperature that I like. There's no barrier, and the outdoor bath allows you to feel the arrival of spring with the sound of the mountains and river. Sometimes, you can even see a fox. It's so relaxing. After the bath, let's relax even more! A classic beer in a mug costs 500 yen. It tastes caramel-like, which is quite strong and different from what I expected. Well, any drink is fine with me. I also ordered the homemade beef tataki for 750 yen. It seemed a bit watery, maybe because it was just defrosted. But it's still good with a sweet sauce, ginger, garlic, and scallions. The inn has a spacious resting area, and you can enjoy meals from 10 am to 9 pm. You can always enjoy a beer after bathing. Thank you for the meal.

We all took a bath together and had a meal. After the bath, I wanted to have a drink, but since the place was far from the city, you couldn't have alcohol without staying overnight. My brother-in-law doesn't drink alcohol, so I ordered a draft beer. Everyone ordered the same seasonal set meal for ¥1,380. We also ordered octopus tempura and potato fries. The alcohol arrived first, and as we were enjoying it, the set meals were served. I was pleasantly surprised by the variety of dishes at this price, especially the scallop butteryaki which was outstanding. The sand lance was also delicious. We all had a great time chatting and enjoying the delicious food. Thank you for the meal.

Usually it's room service. This is the Matsuno-yu at Kogane-yu. One of the hot springs located in Jozankei, Sapporo's backyard. Jozankei is a sodium spring, but Kogane-yu is a simple sulfur spring with a faint smell of hydrogen sulfide. The source temperature is low, so it is said to be humidified. Now, about the dinner at this inn. Originally, the "medical treatment plan" that can only be applied for stays of 3 nights or more is available for just one night for Hokkaido residents only! The medical treatment plan costs 7,020 yen (tax included) with two meals included. It's quite cheap! Since it's a medical treatment plan, a heating fee of 700 yen and a bathing tax of 150 yen are added. When you add them all up, it becomes 7,870 yen. If you can stay for this price alone, isn't it good? So, I used the remaining Hokkaido Reconstruction Discount Coupon (3,000 yen off) and points I had to stay for 3,000 yen in reality. As you can see, for dinner: there was shrimp sashimi, tough tuna tempura, and ordinary dishes. The simmered dish in the middle and the chawanmushi were nothing special. The miso soup was warm and good. The pickles were bad, and so was the rice. There was no dessert. For breakfast: the salmon was delicious. There was also cod roe, squid salted, a small amount of natto, whitebait daikon, fried eggs, and bacon? Both dinner and breakfast had a bowl of rice in a wooden rice container, which was satisfying. Whether the food is delicious or not depends on the environment in which you eat it. I was surprised at the lack of cleanliness in the dining area, where you were left to help yourself. I don't know if it was a plan for Hokkaido residents or a medical treatment plan, but I was surprised by the sloppiness. In the morning, when it was snowing, they cleared the snow off my car, which was nice. They were using heavy machinery to clear the snow in the parking lot, so I understand why there was no one at the front desk. However, overall, it wasn't very good. When checking out, they said, "Thank you very much!" cheerfully, but it didn't feel very good. This is just my personal experience, but I wonder if it was my fault for applying for the medical treatment plan (would it have been luxurious if it was room service?) It felt like the bath facility was just for staying overnight. Oh, I've written a lot, but I was satisfied with the room! The futon was comfortable, and I could use the TV and Wi-Fi, so I'm satisfied.

I stayed at Matsuno-yu at Ogushimatsu for one night. The hot spring quality is really good. I used the special hot spring experience plan for Hokkaido residents, and with the Hokkaido coupon, it cost 4,670 yen per person for one night with two meals and plenty of hot spring baths. However, the food was just average. I wish they had a small hot pot for dinner. But overall, Japanese people really love hot springs!

Family-friendly. The hot spring is simple but has a nice atmosphere. There is no sauna. Fried rice for 750 yen with miso soup, delicious and fluffy, no need for pickled ginger. Chinese rice bowl for 800 yen with miso soup, lightly seasoned with soy sauce and tasty. Also available is ankake yakisoba, served on a plate instead of a bowl. Ginger pork set meal for 1000 yen with potato salad, hot spring egg, and pickles, delicious and standard. Kamotsuke soba for 750 yen, a delicious countryside-style soba. Overall, all dishes are recommended for repeat visits.

On the second day of the consecutive holidays, I had soup curry at Destroier and then detoxed at "Matsuno-yu" after a long time. The outdoor bath had an amazing view, but it was too crowded to get in that day.

I love day trips to hot springs. I prefer this hot spring over Jozankei Onsen because the water quality is better and the food is delicious. It's a great way to spend a relaxing holiday. Thank you for the meal.

There are many items on the menu, but all of them were cold and disappointing. The staff were friendly though.

Tempura soba and teppan Napoliatan.

Adult admission fee is usually 800 yen, but during the outdoor bath renovation it is 700 yen (tax included). Seasonal set meals are available for around 1470 yen, and there is also Taiwanese-style shaved ice. Credit cards are accepted. Wi-Fi is available. Parking is available.

Tendon =========== A bowl of rice with tempura on top

I had the Zangi set meal and a draft beer (Ebisu) for a total of 1,350 yen. The cost performance here is unusually high for a hot spring area. The quality of the hot spring water is good, and the day trip bathing (with a meal) is perfect for passing time on a leisurely holiday. I had originally planned to go to Jozankei Onsen, but a friend recommended Kogan-yu Onsen nearby. I was planning to have lunch, so I chose this place for its good food. I wasn't planning to drink alcohol today, but the recommended dish here was Zangi. So, I reluctantly ordered a draft beer. I ended up drinking it despite coming here without intending to drink. The Zangi set meal costs 850 yen, but it comes with plenty of shredded cabbage and various side dishes, and the miso soup is also good. However, the rice was not good. It had a slight odor, probably because it was cooked yesterday and left in the rice cooker for a day. Other than the rice, everything was good, which was a shame. Overall, if you exclude the rice, this meal is quite cost-effective for 850 yen. Considering that this is offered in a hot spring area, I think it's fantastic. Thank you for the meal.

November, fourth Thursday. Labor Thanksgiving Day. Today, being a public holiday, I decided to go on the 58th installment of the "Casual Hot Spring Series" on a weekday for the first time in a while!! This time, it's a day trip to a full-fledged hot spring facility. Today, I visited "Matsuno-yu" in Kogan-yu. Kogan-yu is a hot spring resort near Sapporo. It is located before Jozankei when coming from Sapporo, and there are only two hot spring facilities here: "Matsuno-yu" and another large facility. I have used the other large facility before, but the hot spring quality at Kogan-yu is more suitable for my family. Today, I decided to try "Matsuno-yu". "Matsuno-yu" has a completely different atmosphere from the other facility, with a traditional hot spring inn vibe. It is located further back from National Route 230 compared to the other facility. However, due to today being a public holiday, both facilities were quite busy. I arrived at around 12:45. As soon as I stepped into the lobby, I felt a nostalgic atmosphere. It truly feels like an old-fashioned ryokan. There are game consoles lined up in the lobby, with a shop area right next to it. Towards the back, there is a dining area where you can have meals, more like an eat-in space than a restaurant. After observing the shop area, I decided to have lunch here since I came with that intention. I sat at an empty table in the eat-in space next to the lobby. Despite the parking lot being full, this area was surprisingly empty. At first, I thought, "Is this just a light meal corner, and is there a separate dining area?" However, seeing other customers having hearty set meals and soba, I was sure this was the right place. It felt a bit unsettling with people coming and going right next to me, but strangely, this feeling seemed to fit well with the overall atmosphere of the inn. I looked at the menu on the table. The menu structure was very traditional with categories like "Chinese noodles and others," "Udon and soba," "Nabe (seasonal)," rice dishes like "Donburi and Teishoku," "Curry and others," appetizers, and salads. I was torn between the noodle dishes, but today I felt like having a rice dish. My wife, who doesn't have a wide range of choices, quickly decided on the "Ginger Pork Teishoku" (1,000 yen tax included). I also went for the classic "Katsu-don" (850 yen tax included). Both of us made our usual orders, but the nostalgic atmosphere here added a sense of anticipation to the dishes. It seems we have to go to the front desk to place our orders. It's like a food court style. I wonder if the guests here also have this kind of experience? Maybe they have room service or something? We discussed the possibility of staying overnight at this traditional inn while waiting for our food. It's still lunchtime, but not many customers are coming in yet. Many people are heading straight to the bathing area. Maybe it's mostly local residents using the facilities. Our meals arrived in about 10 minutes. The serving style is self-service.