After leaving Biei, we took the train to Asahikawa and then caught the bus to the Asahidake Onsen Yumoto Wakukomaso. The hot springs at the hotel were discovered in 1914, and the original hotel was built somewhat soon after to enable people to stay and enjoy the springs. It has 5 different mineral hot springs. We were there two nights, so we could take advantage of the hiking on Mt. Asahidake and enjoy relaxing in the onsen.
Right away the first afternoon, we decided to check out the onsen. There are separate men’s and women’s onsens, and they switch location twice a day so that everyone can enjoy all the springs. To use the onsen, you go into the changing area and take off your clothes, then you enter the bathing area and first shower yourself thoroughly so that you are fully clean when you enter the baths. The baths were various temperatures, and at this hotel we discovered the luxuriousness of soaking away the day’s aches and pains. This hotel has outdoor onsens with the indoor ones. The outdoor onsens were our favorite. It was so beautiful to sit outside with nature around you in the cool mountain air while you soaked in a hot bath! We took 2 baths a day to really take advantage of our stay. We were in heaven! When you finish your bath, you then put on a yukata, a type of robe, to return to your room.
For dinner we were treated with our first delicious Kaiseki multi-course meal. When we decided to head to dinner, we were hanging around our room in our yukata, so we thought, “Well, we better get dressed for dinner,” and we put on our regular clothes. We got to the dining room, and we were the only people NOT wearing yukata. So that was it! We wore yukata around the hotel and to meals for the rest of our time there.
The meals at the onsen hotel were amazing. So many beautiful little dishes that were absolutely delicious. The menu is set, so you just arrive and are given several courses of outstanding food to eat. Between the baths and the food, you really feel the hotel is there to take care of you!
For the full day we spent at Asahidake, we decided to take the ropeway up the mountain and hike around on the short loop trail near the ropeway station. Unfortunately, it was very cloudy and rainy that day, so there wasn’t a view of Mt. Asahidake. There were many beautiful flowers blooming, however, and we got to enjoy the crisp air while hiking through some snow.
After we did the loop hike, we decided to head back down via the ropeway and hike some more in the area closer to the hotel. We had a quick lunch in Sanroku station’s canteen, then took a meandering path around the swampy area behind the station. It was beautiful and green, with a number of flowers blooming. Again, we heard many birds, but weren’t able to see them. They are very good at hiding!
Next, we decided we were ready to head back for a soak in the onsen, so we took a hiking path that paralleled the road to get there. We again saw so many lovely wildflowers. Despite the grey day, it was a lovely time to focus on the small creatures along the path.
Back at the hotel, we took a soak in the onsen and then had another fantastic meal to round out a glorious day! The next morning we got up early for a last soak in the baths, then headed out by car back to Asahikawa to catch the train to Wakkanai and our next Hokkaido adventure: Rebun Island.
