2023.05.13 (Sat) 13:40 Revisited after about 20 years. Tokawa-cho is home to a hot spring inn in Tenninkyo, where the hot springs flow directly from the source. In the past, there were four hot spring inns here, but now only this inn remains. It is truly a solitary inn. On this day, I used the day trip bathing option. I confirmed by phone in advance, and the elderly man who answered exuded kindness through his voice. The day trip bathing fee is 800 yen. The bathing area is not particularly spacious, with one indoor bath and one outdoor bath, each appropriately sized for the amount of spring water. Of course, it is a hot spring with water flowing directly from the source. The spring quality is a salt-chloride type containing magnesium, which is my favorite type of spring water. There were no other customers. I soaked quietly for a generous hour. Afterward, I purchased the hot spring steamed bun that had caught my eye at the souvenir shop, called "Kikoshima Manju" (710 yen). It turned out to be unexpectedly delicious! The skin, wrapped around the sweet bean paste, had a moist and chewy texture. I have tried various hot spring steamed buns, but this one ranks among the best in terms of taste. The bite-sized portion was just right. Above all, the packaging bearing the name of the inn reflects the inn's dedication to quality. If this inn were to close down, Tenninkyo would lose its wonderful spring quality and history. It is a sad reality that many excellent hot spring inns in Hokkaido are closing one after another. Please support inns that offer genuine hot springs. When in doubt about where to stay near Asahikawa, consider this inn!

Dinner was a generous mix of Japanese and Western dishes. The Japanese dishes were more delicious. The horse sashimi was thickly sliced and delicious with a nice amount of fat. The other dishes were okay. The portion size was large, more than I could finish. The hot spring had a beautifying effect on the skin, with slightly milky white water that was warm enough for a long soak. Breakfast starts at 7 am, and you can also opt for a rice ball bento if you're in a hurry the next day. The rice ball pick-up is available from 5:30 am. It seems like a good place for hiking. The room had a refrigerator and a hot water kettle.

The cooking is very meticulous and the presentation is beautiful, regardless of whether it's for dinner or breakfast. In terms of price, it's fantastic. However, for those who are used to spending 20,000 or 30,000 yen on meals at drinking establishments, it may not be satisfying. With accommodation and two meals included, it costs around 15,000 yen. If you are accustomed to city life, you may enjoy the great outdoors and the traditional inn with a wide variety of dishes. There is nothing but nature and baths, making it a perfect place to cleanse your mind. They also offer shuttle service to the bus stop, making it easy to get to Asahikawa. Enjoy your stay to the fullest.

The overall rating for lunch (mainly breakfast) is as follows: [Lunch] Overall 3.8, Food/Taste 3.6, Service 3.6, Atmosphere 4.2, Cost Performance 3.7, Alcohol/Drinks - I stayed at this inn when I went to Hokkaido to use up my ANA mileage. About three weeks ago, I booked a plan through a travel agency website for "【Highest Grade at Our Inn】Kaiseki Dinner with a View of the Stunning Tenjin Gorge; Japanese-style Room 10 Tatami Mats (Standard Type) [Non-Smoking]; 1 Night with 2 Meals; 1 Room for 2 People; 12,500 yen per person (including tax, service charge, separate bathing tax of 150 yen)." I checked in around 4:50 p.m. on Friday and checked out around 8:30 a.m. on Saturday. The inn is located at the southern end of the Tenjin Gorge hot spring town. Although it is called a hot spring town, there are only three buildings, and only this inn is in operation! The "Tenjinkaku" where I stayed about 25 years ago was quietly buried in snow. Surrounded by cliffs and a river, it really feels like a remote place. The snow scenery is beautiful, but I imagine it must be even more beautiful during the autumn foliage season. The four-story (partly five-story) building stands out with its cream-colored walls. There were about 30 parking spaces around the building. The interior is Japanese-style, with a calm atmosphere. It feels relatively new and well-maintained. On the first floor, there is the entrance, front desk, lobby, souvenir shop, two large communal baths, on the second floor, there is a dining hall and banquet hall, and on the third and fourth floors, there are 10 guest rooms each (with an elevator). I was served by several male staff members who were friendly and polite. On the second morning, they helped clear the snow off my car, which I really appreciated. On the day of my stay, there were about 3-4 other groups of guests besides us. They were middle-aged couples and male groups, all Japanese. Other than during meal times, we hardly saw any other guests inside the inn. [Room] I was assigned a Japanese-style room on the third floor. It consisted of an entrance, a 10-tatami mat room (with a low table, empty refrigerator, safe, air conditioner, electric kettle, etc.), a washbasin, and a shower toilet. There was no bath, but since we don't use indoor baths anyway, it was not a problem for us. From the window, we could see the river, mountains on the opposite bank, and cliffs. The room provided was a yukata (Japanese robe), which was greatly appreciated as I am not a fan of yukata. [Bath] As mentioned earlier, there are two large communal baths on the first floor (Japanese cypress bath and marble bath), and the men and women switch during dinner time. Both baths consist of an indoor bath where about a dozen people can bathe and an outdoor bath where 3-4 people can bathe. Both the indoor and outdoor baths are fed by natural hot springs. The outdoor bath is surrounded by a fence, so the feeling of openness is not great, but bathing in the crisp cold air was very pleasant. The hot spring is at a suitable temperature, slightly cloudy, with a slight metallic smell and a salty taste. The mineral content is high, and there was plenty of precipitation attached to the edges of the bath. It was a slightly rough feeling but warmed me up well. After bathing, I didn't sweat for a while. I really liked this hot spring. I bathed three times before dinner, before bed, and before breakfast. [Dinner] We had dinner with other guests in the dining hall on the second floor. The dining hall had 6-7 tables for 2-6 people each. Our meal time was from 6:00 to 7:15 p.m. The meal consisted of an appetizer, assorted sashimi, salmon with vinegar, grilled fish, fried river fish, simmered dish with sauce, beef teppanyaki (tabletop grill for one person), pickles, and dessert pudding were lined up on the table, and rice and soup were brought later. The meal was quite generous and had a good amount of food. The names of the dishes are random. I wish there was a menu. We had draft beer and chilled local sake, "Kokushimuso," to drink. The food was decently delicious, with some thought put into it, but it lacked impact and didn't leave a lasting impression. Also, since most of the dishes were served all at once, there wasn't much of a freshly made feeling.

As I get older, the quality of my meals has become more important than quantity. Here, each dish is small in portion but there are many dishes, and they are all delicious. The hot springs were also warm and relaxing. Breakfast had a wide variety of dishes, all of which were delicious. I was very satisfied.

It is a small inn in Tenninkyo with only 20 rooms. Despite being in the peak season during the summer holidays, there was no significant price increase, which was appreciated. The food was not extravagant, but it was delicious and satisfying. The presentation was thoughtful and visually appealing. While there were no unique delicacies or processed foods like kamaboko that can only be found there, the variety of dishes with moderate portions kept me satisfied until the end. Considering the total cost of the stay, I think it was reasonably priced.

In Higashikawa Town, Kamikawa District, there were four hot spring inns in Tenjin Gorge. However, Tenjin Gorge Grand Hotel closed in 2012, Tenjin Gorge Park Hotel closed in January 2014, and Tenjingaku went bankrupt at the end of 2009 before changing management. The last inn I stayed at, Shikishima-so, has 20 rooms and is a small hotel that was renovated 9 years ago. I booked a luxurious room with a hinoki bath for my birthday celebration. The inn is located in a secluded area, and the room has a hinoki bath with a view of the river. The TV has a rough analog signal due to the remote location. For dinner, we had a multi-course meal at Keiryuan, which included dishes like wagyu beef tofu hot pot, tempura, vinegared dish, sashimi, grilled dish, and more. Breakfast was a half-buffet with various dishes like simmered saury, mountain vegetable stew, sweet beans, and scallop miso grilled. I overate because most of the dishes were my favorite. Despite the challenges like road closures and inaccessible tourist spots, the inn is making efforts to attract guests. It was a place worth supporting, Shikishima-so.

I visited as part of a group. Tenninkyo, located in the center of Hokkaido, is known for its three secluded inns and natural hot springs. The hot springs are famous for their flowing source and beef stew. Tenninkyo in autumn is popular for its close proximity to Mt. Asahidake and its beautiful scenery. Due to recent heavy rain, some roads in the area are closed, but we hope for a quick recovery. Tenninkyo is a quiet place where you can relax and enjoy the hot springs. The banquet meal consists of a traditional kaiseki course, with beef stew served as the finale. We enjoyed the local sake, Kokushimuso from Asahikawa, paired with sashimi. It was a blissful moment to enjoy the hot springs and sake together. Since there are only two other inns nearby and no convenience stores, be mindful of that when visiting this hidden gem.

This is a review of a hot spring in Tokachi town, which offers a view of the Daisetsuzan mountain range and is blessed with natural spring water. The hot spring area, known as Tenjinkyo, has been plagued by natural disasters in the past. The walking path to Hagi no Taki waterfall has been under construction for the past five years due to landslides. The hot spring itself has one indoor bath and a small outdoor bath, with the water being a light green color and slightly lukewarm. The hot spring has a secluded feel to it, and the day-use fee is 700 yen, but I was able to get a discount with a special phrase. Unfortunately, there was no milk available after the bath, so I enjoyed the delicious spring water instead. The hot spring area seems to offer elaborate meals, making it a place I would like to stay overnight at in the future. However, due to the recent damage caused by heavy rain, the road leading to the hot spring has been affected, so I hope for a swift recovery and repair.