Outdoor hot spring bath with a view of the Sea of Japan! It feels so good~ After relaxing in the Iwanai Onsen, we enjoyed some light snacks at the corner. Located on a small hill, the view from the window is excellent! You can even see Tomari Nuclear Power Plant in the distance. I was happy to receive green beans with my beer. The soft serve ice cream we shared was made with Kurashima milk and was quite rich! The milk flavor really stood out and was delicious!! I would love to come back for another soak in the hot spring. Thank you for the meal, Iwanai-san♪

During the Bon period, it seems that they have limited-time menu items at this hotel restaurant. I come here every year, and it seems like the menu changes a little. It's a bit pricey, haha. I think Iwanai is famous for sea urchin, but here they only recommend abalone. I had the abalone tempura rice bowl for 1600 yen. It had abalone, shrimp, small shrimp, squid, shishito peppers, scallops, and horse mackerel. The abalone pieces were small. I learned that when you fry abalone, the crunchy texture disappears and it becomes just soft meat. It was my first time knowing that. The good part of abalone is gone. Overall, it was just average. The ramen had a subtle flavor. So, probably I will come again next year, haha.

This hot spring inn utilizes local ingredients and offers warm hospitality from the staff. Despite being located high above the sea, the salt content in the hot spring water is quite strong. It is a good hot spring where fatigue is relieved and there is little sluggishness.

"Waking Up and Morning Bath" As usual, I woke up early during my overnight stay. Without delay, I headed straight to the morning bath!! It's quite a luxury to awaken my still sleepy body with the hot spring water. I can't help but feel a bit anxious about returning to my normal routine of work tomorrow, as this time feels so luxurious. I leisurely made my way to the bathhouse. The distance from our room to the bathroom was just down the stairs. In no time, I arrived at the bathroom. I quickly went out to the open-air bath and took in the fresh morning air. The hotel is located on the mountainside, so the morning air is very refreshing. I immersed my body in the empty bath and felt like I was in paradise from the morning. My "casual hot spring treatment series," especially the accommodation edition, is really showing its worth. As for my health, I don't know if this "casual hot spring treatment" is working, but so far, my chronic condition is stable. I used to find morning baths bothersome and didn't like them. It felt like the day was over once I took a bath in the morning. But now, I don't feel that way at all, and it feels like I'm absorbing the nutrients that my mind and body need from the morning. Yes, I'm feeling more energetic, my stomach is getting more active, and I'm starting to feel hungry for breakfast. After letting my body rest for a while, it was time for breakfast. "Breakfast Edition" I waited for my body to cool down and then sat at the table, still feeling a bit dazed. It was time for breakfast, and the breakfast venue was the same as yesterday's dinner, the restaurant "Sankai" on the 1st floor. The table was set up in the same place as yesterday, with blinds separating us from the surroundings, making it look like a special seat. It's not like I'm a VIP or anything... When I sat down, the tray was already set with six side dishes (cod roe, seaweed tsukudani, whitebait, clam stew, etc.) in the familiar buffet tray. There was also a small dish of "fuki and fried food," a super bite-sized "grilled fish," "pickles," and "raw egg." As for the egg, there was a tabletop stove, and when I opened the lid of the iron pot, there was ham inside. The staff asked, "Would you like to have it raw or grilled?" I insisted on grilling it to make ham and eggs, so they lit the stove for me. I dropped the egg into the iron pot, covered it, and left it for a while. This alone might seem a bit lonely, but there was a small buffet area as a side menu. I wondered what was there and went to see. There were the usual hot spring hotel staples like "pickled plum," "flavored seaweed," "natto," and "salted fish," as well as salads, yogurt, milk, juice, and coffee. I quite like these staple side dishes, so I didn't hesitate to have "pickled plum," "flavored seaweed," and "natto." My wife also got "salted fish" and "misozuke" or something. It's not like there's anything fancy, but they've prepared proper side dishes in a subtly understated way. Alright, the table seems settled, so let's dig in. Yes, the rice is delicious here. The rice is deliciously cooked. As I ate the various side dishes, I found them delicious, so I ended up eating quite a bit of rice. Oh, but I forgot to mention, unfortunately, they don't serve bread here. As a result, I usually have both Japanese and Western breakfasts, but since there's no bread, I missed out on the Western side.

On the third Saturday of June, our final destination for the day was the Green Park Hotel Iwanai. This was part of our "Impromptu Hot Spring Series" and we chose Iwanai for its fresh sea urchin in season and the availability of accommodation. The hotel was located on a hillside with a great view of Iwanai town and even the Tomari nuclear power plant in the distance. Upon arrival, we were greeted warmly by the staff and offered a surprise menu of fresh sea urchin dishes. Our room was cozy and clean, and after settling in, we explored the hotel briefly before heading to the natural hot spring baths. The hot spring water was slightly murky but had a nice warmth to it, perfect for relaxing after a day of travel. Overall, our stay at Green Park Hotel Iwanai was pleasant and we enjoyed the local snacks provided in our room.

My hot spring-loving wife wanted to go to a nearby hot spring this weekend, but the ones near Sapporo are expensive and crowded. I searched online and found a place in Iwanai Town. We decided to buy dinner at a market in Otaru on the way and booked a plan with breakfast included. Iwanai Town doesn't have public baths, so there are a lot of day-trippers. We enjoyed the hot spring without the day-trippers, enjoyed the night view, and ate Otaru gourmet food we brought with us. The next morning, we had breakfast at the hotel's restaurant, where the table was already assigned by room number. The table was set with salmon, whitebait, seaweed tsukudani, pickles, shiitake delicacies, and more. The salad and Japanese dish were self-service. A young female staff member asked if we wanted raw egg or fried egg, and when we both chose fried eggs, she lit the solid fuel on the griddle. It wasn't a luxurious spread, but it included local delicacies like whitebait and seafood, which we enjoyed.

Until May 2013, there were many good hot springs in Iwanai Onsen, but I also like to use the baths at "Green Park Iwanai" because they are convenient and clean. It seems to be particularly popular with locals. The daily lunch special is 680 yen, and with bathing it's 1000 yen (bathing only is 500 yen). On this day, I had the "Ramen Fried Rice Set". You can choose from salt, miso, or soy sauce ramen, and I chose salt. It had a clear, all-purpose umami flavor with plenty of ramen-like taste. The noodles were medium-thin and slightly curly, making them easy to eat. It was a hot ramen, so it was just right for a slightly chilly day with light snowfall. The half-fried rice was a slightly seasoned fried rice type that was easy to eat. Considering the price, it was sufficient. After bathing, you can enjoy soft serve ice cream at the tea lounge next to the front desk. It's made with local Kurashima Farm milk and has a slightly rich taste, with a slightly firmer texture for soft serve. The lounge also offers a great view, so you can sit back and relax. They also have variations like corn waffles, cream soda, and small red bean white dumpling cup parfait. Cold treats after bathing always taste better. The service was adequate. Thank you for the meal. Ramen Fried Rice Set 680 yen, Kurashima Milk Soft Serve Ice Cream 280 yen. The baths are separate for men and women, with outdoor and indoor baths. You can even see the Sea of Japan in the distance. The hot spring water is sodium-chloride strong salt spring, 56.8°C, pH 6.7, and is pumped up with a power pump. There is added water and chlorine, but there isn't a strong chlorine smell. However, it seems that the town's hot spring source is under construction, so the water temperature may not be consistent. On this day, the hot spring water was very pleasant, and it warms you up nicely after bathing.

This hotel also offers day trips for bathing. I arrived around 13:00 on a weekday. The entrance fee for bathing was 600 yen for adults. After bathing, I purchased soft serve ice cream (in a cup, 350 yen). I paid in cash. It was delicious. Thank you for the meal.