Honoka Onsen

Looking for a relaxing day, I went to Honoka. 😊 Since I'd come all the way there, I decided on the Honoka Gozen for lunch. 😋 I was a little surprised when the Honoka Gozen arrived. 😆 It was quite filling and looked gorgeous. 😆 It was perfect for a slightly luxurious holiday. 😊 Everything I ate was delicious. 😋 The portions were so generous I was completely full. 😌 As for the hot springs, there are three indoor baths, two saunas, and one open-air bath. The hot springs were quite hot, and I personally think they'd be better if they were a little cooler so I could stay in for longer. By the way, they provide towels and loungewear, so you can basically just go empty-handed. There's also a rest area on-site where you can take a nap, and they have manga to read, so I recommend it for those looking to relax. 😊

Tomakomai Onsen Honoka I stopped by before boarding the New Japan Sea Ferry from Tomakomai East Port. Even though it was a weekday, the parking lot was quite full. It seemed that many locals were there for the sauna. There were a variety of baths, and the sauna in the men's bathroom was large, with a high temperature and a slightly cooler meditation sauna separately. The cold bath was also large, there was a rest area near the open-air bath, and the water dispenser was at the bathroom entrance. There was a large restaurant on the second floor with a wide selection of dishes, and I had pork steak and salted kelp french fries, which was the perfect way to get the salt you need after the sauna. There was also a spacious rest area with manga and internet access.

Rather than a day spa, this facility is more like a super-bathhouse. It's located along the national highway, with a large parking lot and easy access. It's listed as Tomakomai Onsen, but the source is apparently Itoi Onsen, or Itoi no Yu. It has a pH of 8.1 and is circulated, heated, and disinfected. Since the hot spring is naturally odorless, it doesn't really feel like a hot spring. The facilities are well-equipped, with a sauna with auto-loyly and a bedrock bath, as well as ample resting space. The restaurant also has a well-selected menu, making it comfortable for relatively long stays. I used the facility while waiting for the late-night Tomakomai ferry, and since night falls early in Hokkaido overall, it's a perfect place to kill some down time.

I went on February 22nd. There was a line at the reception desk. It was super crowded. Before I paid, I heard my husband and I talking about how there weren't any lockers available for women to change into, so I left. I thought it was incredibly unkind to think that the staff knew about the busy schedule and were just passing the time around without informing customers. 😡😡They made me pay, but then there was no place to change inside, and there wasn't even a place to wash before getting in the bath. I absolutely hated having to wait naked for a spot. 🤢 [I've had that experience] The staff should also be aware of available lockers and let customers know that there will be a wait. 😣😣

For a hot spring resort, the dining area was surprisingly spacious, and the menu offered portions comparable to a regular diner, making it difficult to choose what to eat each time (it was fantastic!). Furthermore, there was a manga and internet space to kill time, making it feel like a superior version of a typical internet cafe (though be aware there are no private rooms). (Personally, I appreciated the smoking area on each floor 👍). The hot springs were always bustling with people, and the sauna, open-air bath (with a TV), and two types of bedrock baths on the second floor made it an incredible facility. I would definitely like to visit again if I'm ever in Tomakomai. Thank you!