2016 Hokkaido Winter Holiday - Otaru Kourakuen
- Thursday, August 31, 2017
- By Iva
- 0 Comments
Otaru is quieter and slower in pace compare to Sapporo. Most shops in Otaru close after 6pm or earlier, which means the whole town shuts down after 6pm. If you are coming here for day trip, make it early in the morning. Since there is nothing much to do at night here, the best entertainment would be spending a night in a ryokan here, enjoy their delicious kaiseki dinner then soak in an outdoor private in room onsen. So shiok.
Location
I found this ryokan, Otaru Kourakuen in tripadvisor.com when I was planning my visit to Otaru. We board the bus bound for Asarigawa Onsen from JR Otaru station Chuo bus terminal platform number 2 (bus number 13) and get off at Kourakuen-mae. Bus journey took about 23 mins with bus fare 210 yen. Bus stop is just in front of Kourakuen.
Kourakuen provides free shuttle bus service to Otaru station, Kitaichi glass Otaru at 10am and 11am.
Tatami mattress is actually very comfortable.
Kaiseki style dinner was served in our room. It was a traditional multi course Japanese dinner. There were appetizer, entree, dessert and some other dishes.
Location
I found this ryokan, Otaru Kourakuen in tripadvisor.com when I was planning my visit to Otaru. We board the bus bound for Asarigawa Onsen from JR Otaru station Chuo bus terminal platform number 2 (bus number 13) and get off at Kourakuen-mae. Bus journey took about 23 mins with bus fare 210 yen. Bus stop is just in front of Kourakuen.
Kourakuen provides free shuttle bus service to Otaru station, Kitaichi glass Otaru at 10am and 11am.
Room
I booked a Japanese style room with open air bath and floor area is about 50 - 60m2. I paid 58,664 JPY for the 2 of us, breakfast and dinner were included in the room rate.
The room was spacious, clean and neat. Television, fridge, kettle were provided.
Tatami mattress is actually very comfortable.
Our room comes with private in room outdoor onsen, that allowed us to enjoy onsen anytime. I used it after dinner and after breakfast the next day. Shiok!
Meal
Breakfast was served in the main dining hall.
Overall
Other than the location, it's a nice ryokan which worth to spend a night in Otaru. Kourakuen reopened in May 2016 after 1 and half year of renovation due to fire accident in December 2015. We were lucky that we could spend a night here. I booked the room directly from Kourakuen website so I can choose type of room I want.
Here is my Hokkaido trip video
