Today, I took a high-speed bus for 3 hours one way to Shakotan. The round-trip high-speed bus only allows 1 hour and 40 minutes at the destination, so I had to rush in without being able to stop for a toilet break. There were quite a few customers despite it being a weekday near Cape Kamui. Although I was the only one who came by bus, the outdoor bath here has an amazing view, with Cape Kamui and the Kamui Rocks on the left, and the Sea of Japan in front. It's a waste to only visit for a day with such a great view. I think there are few outdoor baths like this in the Hokkaido region, so if you like hot springs, be sure to visit. After getting out, I tried to have lunch, but all the seafood dishes were sold out. I wonder if they don't serve them on weekdays, I wish they had at least seafood ramen... I ended up ordering fried rice in Shakotan, which was pre-made, but it was pretty tasty. You can eat on the terrace here, with the same view as the outdoor bath! You can take photos here without any problems. By the way, there is a gin distillery near the hot spring, and it is also sold in the shop. I hesitated to buy the cheapest 100ml for 1780 yen, but it's only enough for 2.5 gin and tonics, so I gave up...

Shakotan Onsen, which has been loved as a municipal facility for a long time, was closed due to aging and has been revived and reopened under private ownership. It is now quite popular due to its sauna and the view overlooking the Shakotan Blue. On this day, I visited because it was the open day for Shakotan Spirit at a nearby gin distillery. Inside, there is a dining area with dishes like sea urchin rice bowl, but unfortunately it was sold out, so I had a seafood rice bowl instead. The seafood rice bowl, which includes sea urchin that is only consumed within Shakotan, was of high quality and different from the usual day trip hot spring meals. #Shakotan #Hokkaido #gourmet #EnoLog

On a holiday, I visited Misaki-no-Yu in Shakotan Town on a hot spring drive. It had been quite a while since I last visited this hot spring, but when I checked their website, it seems that they have reopened after going through bankruptcy once. Thanks to that, the facility has been beautifully renovated and had a nice atmosphere. After enjoying the spectacular outdoor bath, I cooled down my heated body by having a "Soft Cream (350 yen)" at the facility's dining area. The soft serve had a slightly rich milk flavor and was simply delicious. Since it wasn't the tourist season, there weren't many customers, but bathing while looking at the sea was very refreshing. I hope they continue to operate for a long time.

Hello everyone, Sauna Grandma's cat Nyajichan didn't soak in the sea even on the day of staying in Shikotsu, but soaked in the bath! Although it was closed for a while, let's restart and go to "Misaki no Yu Shakotan" where the view from the bath is nice. I can't show you the view, so I got a soft serve ice cream for 350 yen. The taste is nothing special, just a cheap soft serve ice cream, but the terrace with a view of the sea and the blue sky is so nice! I feel happy. Thank you for the meal♪

Unagi donburi for 2,100 yen. If the weather is good, you can enjoy a beautiful view of the Shakotan Blue Sea while soaking in the open-air bath at my favorite hot spring. The texture of the hot spring is thick and I love it! I had it at the dining hall in the inn. Limited to 5 servings. It's a bit expensive, but it was a delicious bowl that made me feel the essence of Hokkaido.

After delivering the calendar to the boss who has been taking care of me in Otaru, I soaked in this hot spring to wash off the dirt. This is one of my favorite hot springs, with a great view from the outdoor bath. After bathing, I bought "jagari beans" as a souvenir for the lady boss at the shop. I ate about half of them on the way home (laughs). After the Cape no Yu, I parked my car at the parking lot of the Shiomui Coast and took a walk around the cape. Unfortunately, the promenade beyond the gate where women are prohibited was closed. Then Gon-chan greeted me. I walked about 4,000 steps with Gon-chan. I was really tired (; '∀')

I arrived at Jozankei and enjoyed the hot springs after a long time. The view from the outdoor bath is amazing ♫ It's one of my personal favorites. After soaking in the hot spring, nothing beats a "coffee milk", right? I also had a meal this time, ordering "squid and leek rice bowl", "fried potatoes", and "chicken skin dumplings". I ordered too much even though I was hungry (ﾟoﾟ;;) but all the dishes were delicious! It would have been perfect if I could have had a beer, but I hope to come back again. Thank you for the meal٩(๑❛ᴗ❛๑)۶

Today, the boss lady asked me to buy apples because she wanted to eat them, so I headed to the market in town. As I was admiring some shiny, beautiful apples in front of an apple orchard, suddenly there was an earthquake! And then, apples fell at my feet! It felt like a gift from the heavens. I pretended like nothing happened, got back in the car, and headed to Misaki Hot Springs. When I arrived at the hot springs, I soaked in the water to relax and unwind. After soaking, I checked out the souvenir corner and found my favorite "shrimp sablé cookies." I bought an 8-pack for a snack in the car. I enjoyed them slowly as I drove. They were crispy, and the perfect combination of shrimp salt and almonds was delicious. I ended up finishing all of them before I got home (laughs).

Having a drink after a bath is the best. It has a sweet and refreshing taste. Thank you for the meal.

Before there was miso ramen, there were also donburi dishes available. The ramen, soba, and udon here have a strong salty taste, leaving the skin feeling smooth. This evaluation is based solely on the food.

By showing my JAF membership card, I got soft serve ice cream for 100 yen. Post-bath soft serve ice cream is the best! The hot spring is salty, and the water is very smooth. I'm glad I'm Japanese.

Today is another day of hot spring therapy, it's been a while since I've been here. Soaking in the smooth hot spring water, and now enjoying the fantastic open-air bath with a great view. It's time to relax and relieve the stress of daily life. Let's see, anything catching my eye? Oh, these additive-free sun-dried shrimp are a must-buy! They are way tastier than the ones from ○ Hojunsei in Yoichi! What a good purchase! Sun-dried shrimp for 910 yen, thank you for the delicious meal! (^^)v

My 57th hot spring visit this year was at "Misaki no Yu." The hot spring was thick and relaxing, perfect for soothing my tired body. After soaking, I checked out the souvenir shop. The first thing that caught my eye was "Motemote ne" tomato juice, but I refrained from buying it as it felt like a personal jab. Next, I found "Maitake tsukudani," a pickled maitake mushroom which I love, so I bought it immediately. When I got home, I ate it right away without rice. It was sweet and savory with a great maitake flavor, and the texture was nice and crunchy. The 180g bag was almost gone in one sitting, but I plan to enjoy the rest with rice tomorrow.

After enjoying the sea urchin in Shakotan, I decided to take a bath. The hot spring is colorless and transparent, not a flowing type but a circulating one. However, there was hardly any chlorine smell, which was quite good. The highlight here is definitely the amazing view. You can see the Shakotan blue sea right in front of you. Depending on the time, you may even see small boats that seem to be sea urchin fishing. As a day trip hot spring with a view of the sea, I was impressed by Tamatebako Onsen in Ibusuki, but this place has a view almost as good as Ibusuki. It may not have an infinity edge, but it's quite nice. They had bottled cola as mentioned, which I found in the vending machine. Bottled cola, ginger ale, and more. I may be imagining it, but I feel like bottled cola tastes better than canned cola. Hokkaido has many hot springs with amazing views of the sea, such as Mizunashi Kaigan Onsen and Seseki Onsen, but it's great that you can enjoy the hot spring here regardless of the tide.

Watching the seals in Shakotan, there were 8 seals napping and 3 swimming, which is quite a lot for late March. To warm up our chilled bodies, we headed to this hot spring. The hot spring here is different from those near Niseko, with a thick and creamy texture that feels great. From the outdoor bath, you can see the sea clearly, including Cape Kamui. The temperature is around 5 degrees, and the water is warm, making it easy to relax. After soaking, while waiting for my companion, I took a break at the cafeteria. They had Hokkaido specialties like salmon roe bowl, and the squid legs bowl for around 400 yen, which I wanted to try, but I planned to have a seafood bowl at another place for lunch. So I settled for fried smelt and non-alcoholic beer. The smelt seemed a bit artificial, but it was affordable. I would like to try the squid legs or salmon roe bowl next time I visit. Also, the tomato juice they sell here tastes like fruit and is delicious.

"Hanako and Yoshiko" travel series 3rd edition. This time, on a day trip to Shakotan, we bought smoked products at Minamihorutarou Shoten in Yoshibi, salted salmon roe at Higashi Shakotan Fisheries Cooperative Production Department Direct Sales Office in Furudaira, and had a tricolor bowl at Nakamuraya in Shakotan. For dessert, we had Shakotan blue soft serve at Kamui Banya. After enjoying our meals and sightseeing, we headed to a hot spring. At 12:00, we paid 610 yen for admission to Misaki no Yu, which included body shampoo and shampoo with conditioner. The open-air bath with a view of the sea was a relaxing experience, although the cloudy sky prevented us from seeing the blue ocean clearly. After bathing, we enjoyed non-alcoholic beer and fried squid legs from the vending machine. The squid legs were freshly fried and delicious. We also learned about the famous tomato juice sold at Misaki no Yu, but we opted for non-alcoholic beer instead. After the bath, we went shopping at Misaki no Ichiba and bought fresh produce at affordable prices. Our guide kindly helped us carry our purchases to the car. Next, we headed back to Yoshibi for more food adventures!"

The Nagi no Nihonkai Onsen experienced a rare heavy rain, but it didn't have any impact. It cost 610 yen for a bath with rinse-in shampoo and body soap. The bath was hot, and I washed with soap before entering. However, my body felt slippery, so I made sure to rinse off the soap properly. Two other people noticed the slippery water too. I enjoyed the warmth of the bath and the view of the vast Sea of Shakotan from the outdoor bath. After sweating a lot, I toasted with a non-alcoholic beer for 320 yen. I also tried deep-fried geso which was delicious. On the way back, I stopped at a local market called "Okawa Shoten" and bought some local products such as Shakotan delicacy cheese squid for 520 yen, sun-dried seaweed for 630 yen, eggplants for 150 yen, garlic for 300 yen, and Andean potatoes for 100 yen. It's nice to support local products and help the local economy as a traveler.

Now, onto the second installment of the Shakotan series. After visiting Cape Kamui, we decided to head to Cape Shakotan. As expected from the "Niseko Shakotan Otaru Kaigan Quasi-National Park," this area also offers stunning views. Upon arriving at the parking lot by car, we passed through a slightly eerie tunnel and were immediately greeted with beautiful scenery. This place also boasts impressive views, being designated as one of Japan's top 100 beaches. You can also descend to the coast via a steep staircase walkway. Without much thought, we decided to venture down the walkway. However, upon realizing the daunting uphill climb we would face on the way back, we regretted our decision. The strenuous staircase, combined with the fatigue from our earlier visit to Cape Kamui, made the ascent challenging. We eventually made it back to the top, where we were met with another grueling staircase. Despite the difficulties, we persevered and reached the parking lot. Feeling exhausted and with shaky knees, we knew we would likely experience muscle soreness later on. Next, we headed to "Misaki no Yu Shakotan," a hot spring facility. We were staying overnight at a local inn, which offered a free pass to this hot spring facility. After checking in at the inn, we visited Cape Kamui and Cape Shakotan before heading to the hot spring. Although we had just visited Yochi River Onsen Uchu no Yu earlier in the day, the staircase at Cape Shakotan had left us sweating and in need of relaxation. The modern facilities at Misaki no Yu Shakotan impressed us, and we were eager to try the outdoor bath with its rumored view of the sea. The outdoor bath did not disappoint, offering panoramic views of the surrounding area. Despite the slightly overcast sky during our visit, we could imagine the stunning views on a clear day or at sunset. The hot spring water was slippery, as warned by the facility, but the overall experience was enjoyable.

Today, in March 2016, my father, son, and I went on a rare and enjoyable drive together. After having lunch in Yoichi, we visited this hot spring facility. The facilities were clean and well-maintained. We quickly made our way to the hot springs, which were clean and abundant, with a beautifully clear transparent water. The outdoor bath with a view of the Sea of Japan was amazing! The spring quality was said to be sodium chloride. You could also see the Sea of Japan from the indoor bath. The women's changing room had hair dryers available. The temperature of the water was just right, and I wanted to go in and out of the hot spring multiple times. In the resting area, I wanted a beer, but since I had beer for lunch, I decided to mix tomato juice with it. However, when I mixed the tomato juice with the beer, the foam overflowed, surprising me! I enjoyed some crispy fried potatoes as a snack. I wanted to go back into the bath once more, but my father insisted we leave before the sun sets. I reluctantly followed his lead. I would like to visit this hot spring again by myself next time. Thank you for the meal! ✿ฺ(๑´ڡ`๑)✿ฺ.

Return from Kamui Misaki to Shakotan Misaki, and visit this day trip hot spring facility. The building is quite impressive, and the inside is spacious. The view from the outdoor bath of the sea and the cape is breathtaking! In Kanto, outdoor baths often have barricades to prevent visibility from the outside. Here, there is nothing obstructing the view. In front, there is the sky and the horizon of Shakotan blue. On the left side, there is the Kamui Misaki that I just visited. (By the way, admission fee: 600 yen, towel set can only be purchased for 600 yen. There is also a round-trip bus package from Sapporo including admission fee.) The dining area has a wall facing the sea that is all windows, allowing a view of the sea and the courtyard. It operates on a meal ticket system, offering various menu items such as udon, rice bowls, and curry rice. At lunchtime, about 10 people were having lunch. It's enviable to be able to casually stop by such a wonderful hot spring. I noticed a tomato juice made from mini tomatoes from Shakotan Town at the shop. There are two types, red and yellow, depending on the variety. A bottle costs 1260 yen, but you can drink a cup for 300 yen at the dining area. So, let's try the rare yellow tomato juice. I bought a food ticket for "Channa's Thoughts" for 300 yen and... The lady took out a container like a milk bottle with tomato juice inside, and handed it to me saying, "Here you go!" I thought she would pour it into a glass cup, but... (laughs) This way, it's sealed, no need to wash a cup, maybe it's better. Now, it's incredibly delicious, especially after a bath. Fresh, no strong taste, you can gulp it down. I really liked it♪ It seems that it's only sold here, so I wanted to buy a bottle, but it's too heavy... Outside slippers are placed at the end of the balcony, and you can go from the dining area to the courtyard. It's also nice to drink there. =========== <Legend> Channa is the name of the daughter of the chief of Shakotan and Bikuni in Ainu legend. When she found out that her lover was killed by the chief, she decided to throw herself off Shakotan Cape to be together in heaven. Upon learning this, her lover also followed Channa and threw himself into the sea. The lover's helmet turned into a treasure island calling herring, and his sword became a standing rock, still towering. =========== It was much better than I expected, and I am very satisfied. Thanks for the amazing outdoor bath view and Shakotan tomato juice. * If you stop by the nearby Shakotan Cape, it has a different charm from Kamui Misaki. Mixing cobalt blue with emerald green, with white sandy beaches in sight... I felt like I could see Channa and her lover cuddling together.