2023.05.03 (Wed, holiday) 14:00 First visit during Golden Week and everywhere seems crowded, right? Today, I had decided to enjoy a nearby hot spring in my neighborhood. In the morning, I had my eye on Daigetsu-yama Shirakaba-so, but when I called, they said they were hosting a training camp and day trips were suspended. So, I called the next option, where a quiet man's voice answered. In a nonchalant tone, he confirmed that day trips were accepted. It's about a one-hour drive by car and today the weather is clear. There is still plenty of snow left, and the location overlooking Mt. Asahi-dake is perfect. It really feels like I've returned to Hokkaido. K's House is a hostel chain with 13 locations nationwide, catering to inbound tourists. In the lounge, there was coffee, tea, and toast available, but I refrained from touching them, assuming they were for guests. By the window in the lounge, a Western tourist was quietly reading a book. The other guests were probably out mountain climbing or enjoying winter sports. I paid the male staff member at the quiet counter 850 yen in cash and headed to the hot spring. The indoor bath was spacious with a high ceiling and a lukewarm tub in the center. It was quite nice! The outdoor bath had a wonderful open feeling with a view of the blue sky and white birch trees against the remaining snow - a quintessential Hokkaido view! The spring quality was sulfuric salt, and all the baths were naturally flowing. Despite Golden Week, I had the baths all to myself for over an hour (^ω^) Tourists probably opt for the nearby traditional inn "Yukomaso" or the La Vista Daisetsuzan. Honestly, I thought this place was a super hidden gem (´∀｀) After enjoying the high-quality spring to myself, I bought a ginger ale (180 yen) and Hokkaido venison momo slices (700 yen) at the shop. I had the venison at home in a yakiniku style. The generous 200g portion of fresh, flavorful venison without any gamey taste at this price point was a real treat. I would definitely like to use this place again when I want to avoid crowds and enjoy a natural spring.