One day in September. A business hotel about a 5-minute walk from Abashiri Station. Upon check-in, I was told that I had stayed here 12 years ago. The words of welcome didn't quite hit the mark, but there are hotels that have disappeared from around the station. I have no appetite due to staying up late drinking the night before. Breakfast buffet. It's like a school lunch, but the restaurant's overall appearance is very ordinary yet useful. Note: This review of Abashiri Royal Hotel may seem unrelated, but please forgive me. Um, the title of this song. It may require context to judge. After all, it's pop music. Rather than context, the emphasis seems to be on the rhymes that go with the melody. Which translation of the title feels more natural? My darkest light will shine (brighter). Or My darkest light, will it shine? A Zaffel song title. A mix of despair and hope. We used to listen to this kind of song when we were students, even after becoming working adults. And even now.

I stayed at the Royal Hotel in Abashiri for a business trip to Eastern Hokkaido from July 28th to 29th, 2022. Normally, I stay in Kitami, but it's difficult to secure a hotel during this time because of events like the National High School Sports Festival and summer training camps in Kitami, so this time I ended up in Abashiri. I was taken care of by the Royal Hotel, a long-established hotel in Abashiri. With a coupon for Jalan Gold members, I got a great deal of 6600 yen for 2 meals included! Dinner came with Moyoro Nabe, a local specialty in Abashiri. Moyoro Nabe is defined as follows: - The name shall be "Abashiri Moyoro Nabe" - A designated pot shall be used - Otsukuri salmon (Karafto salmon) shall be used - The soup shall be based on Otsuk salt - White fish soy sauce shall be used - Mashed fish shall be included - Local clams shall be included - Local vegetables shall be used - Common banners and in-store POP shall be used - The theme shall evoke the mysterious Otsuk person (Each store uses seasonal ingredients for the pot ingredients, so they may vary depending on the season.) In addition to that, there was whale sashimi, seafood bowl, and other luxurious meals that you wouldn't expect for under 10,000 yen for 2 meals. Thanks to that, the sake went down easily (laughs). The room and the bath were appropriate considering the age of the hotel. Thank you for the wonderful meal.

Hotel restaurant on the first floor of the accommodation. Used for dinner. Slightly old-fashioned, giving off a vibe of a wedding venue from the past. Personally, I like the retro feel as it is calming. The set menu is very reasonable. I had the set with Moyoro hot pot, seafood bowl, and whale meat sashimi. It cost 1800 yen. The seafood bowl had a large portion. I was surprised by the amount of rice. The rice was delicious, with a nice sheen. Despite being a set, the freshness of the seafood was very good and tasty. I had never heard of Moyoro hot pot before, but apparently it is a pot inspired by the Moyoro shell mound pottery. The hot pot ingredients included fish paste, which was very tasty and chewy. The staff also served as receptionists and were very friendly. The homely atmosphere made the dining experience comfortable. The location is good, about a 5-minute walk from Abashiri Station. There is also a large communal bath, making it a good place to stay.

- Usage date: April 29th to May 1st, 2019 - Usage amount: 24,000 yen (6,000 yen per night with breakfast for 2 people) A business hotel in front of the station where I stayed for two nights in Abashiri. It's about a 5-minute walk from Abashiri Station, and there's a convenience store about a 2-minute walk in the opposite direction from the station. Breakfast is buffet style. The venue has a bright and clean atmosphere. Since it's a reasonably priced hotel, I didn't have high expectations, but there were many homemade dishes lined up. It was nice to see a lot of vegetable dishes as I tend to consume less vegetables while traveling. The large communal bath is spacious with ample washing and bathing areas. However, all the baths were too hot to soak in for a long time, which is a downside. It's a simple business hotel conveniently located near the station, making it a good base for sightseeing. I recommend having breakfast included in your stay.

I sometimes stay in Abashiri, but this hotel is my first time. I chose this hotel because the price was cheap and they offer a buffet breakfast. It might be a bit inconvenient without a car. The room was fine considering the price. The service was okay and they had a public bath. The main event of this stay was breakfast. They open at 7 am, but I didn't like the crowd so I went after 8 am. The restaurant is quite clean. I sat by the window, but it was very cold in the middle of winter. Be careful of sitting by the window! They have a wide variety of dishes and they are trying hard. They have meat dishes and a mix of Japanese and Western food, including bread. They offer both classic breakfast dishes and some unique ones. I have no complaints about this accommodation at this price. The cod roe and salted fish were delicious. I wouldn't mind staying here again.

Moyoro hot pot was disappointing as it had very little seafood and the whale was frozen solid.

JR East Japan's "Winter Eastern Hokkaido Tour" includes a "Free Time in Abashiri in Eastern Hokkaido" package. The round-trip ticket between Sapporo and Abashiri on the special express train, one night stay, and a ticket for the Aurora limited express train are included for 20,000 yen per person. If you choose a twin room, it's 19,500 yen, but if you prefer separate single rooms, it's 20,000 yen each. Upon arrival at Abashiri Station, you can drop off your luggage, take the Aurora train, have some squid at an izakaya, sing karaoke, and return to the hotel by 10 pm. I stayed on the second floor, while Hanako stayed on the fourth floor, and we agreed to meet in the lobby at 7:50 am the next morning. My room was a semi-double, and Hanako's was a twin. Our bags were already in the room. The room was clean and comfortable. I turned on the TV, changed into a yukata, and headed straight to the bath. The communal bath was open until 11 pm, located next to the front desk on the first floor. While enjoying the bath, Hanako joined me. I finished first and said goodbye as she followed. The next morning, I woke up at my usual time, lazed around for a bit, and went back to the bath. The morning bath was available from 6 am. I bumped into Hanako again in the bath. It seemed like we were the only two women there. We had breakfast together at 7 am. Hanako, who eats lightly, was enjoying her meal. I, on the other hand, ate sparingly. We had rice, sausages, potato salad, simmered dish, and orange juice. Hanako mentioned they had whale meat, so I added that to my plate. It was delicious! If I didn't have a tour planned for the day, I would have made a second serving of whale meat rice bowl. The hotel also offers evening drink sets, which I didn't use but might be worth considering for those staying without meals. It takes about 20 minutes to walk to the bustling downtown area of Abashiri. I'm fine with the distance, but it's worth considering staying at a hotel closer to the downtown area or the station. I had stayed at Route Inn Abashiri before, which also offered a similar package. The second time I visited the onsen here, it was just as enjoyable. The dinner I had during my first visit was incredibly luxurious, even though I dined alone. When choosing accommodation, having a communal bath is crucial for me. I wonder if the prices are the same in the summer as well.