It's been about half a year since I visited Hokkaido. This time, I have a more relaxed schedule than usual. I was planning to stay overnight in a nearby place before heading to Obihiro, but I had difficulty finding a place to stay as my usual booking site, Jalan NET, did not accept the "Nationwide Travel Support" discount, and the accommodation I wanted to revisit had increased its rates significantly. So, this time I decided to go to Furano. It's still early for the lavender season, and since I used to live nearby, it's a familiar place for me to visit, but I thought it would be nice to go after a long time. There are some favorite shops there as well. I was almost decided on staying at "La Vista Furano Hills" near the station, but I ended up booking a place that had mysteriously high reviews on Google and other sites. It's located on a hill adjacent to a grape vineyard, a bit off the beaten path from the local road that people use when traveling from Furano Ski Resort towards Biei. The location offers a splendid view of the Tokachi Mountain Range and overlooks the grape fields. It seems like a great place to enjoy the city lights and starry sky at night. The kind and gentle owner who welcomed us created a heartwarming atmosphere with his friendly demeanor. He mentioned that we could use the "HOKKAIDO LOVE! Discount" now, and even though I had already paid for the accommodation online, he kindly helped me cancel the previous booking so that I could use the discount. Thanks to this, I received a 20% subsidy on the accommodation fee and also got a 2000 yen coupon because it was a weekday. It was very much appreciated. Additionally, although the toilet (separate for men and women) and bathrooms (two locations) were shared, there were only long-term staying construction workers as other guests that day, so the owner kindly allowed us to use one of the facilities privately for our comfort. There were free bath amenities like toothbrushes, razors, hairbrushes, and a hairdryer available at the counter. Free Wi-Fi was also available. The room was a simple Japanese-style room with a clean and spacious atmosphere, both in the room and the bath, allowing us to relax and unwind from our travels. Dinner was supposed to be served only from 7 PM. The dining area, including the impressive wooden tables, exuded warmth with its wooden decor. The menu consisted of healthy dishes made with homemade vegetables and local Furano ingredients. And the rice was delicious! I couldn't resist having seconds. When I asked about it, I was told that the rice was Yumepirika from Furano, which was polished at 5 PM that day. It was a very delicious home-cooked meal that showcased a sense of providing good ingredients in an even more delicious way. *I had planned to go to my favorite curry restaurant after dinner, but I was too full and had to give up! (laughs) In the morning, I had a pleasant walk. Breakfast time was flexible. We had three types of bread, scrambled eggs, hash browns, fresh vegetables, and most importantly, an excellent asparagus soup! The place was run by a couple and an elderly lady, and it felt really cozy. The owner was talkative and shared interesting stories. He seemed to love Hokkaido and Furano, and although it was tough with fewer ski tourists due to the pandemic, he values the connections with customers who have stayed during this challenging time, which is why many customers are repeat visitors. If there was a hot spring, it would have been perfect, but it was a place that made me want to use it again and come back. Thank you for taking care of us.

The food was delicious and the service was excellent. I highly recommend this restaurant.