Kaze no Yado Soya Palace

**★★★★★ 5 Stars** **I stayed at Soya Palace for a week for work in Wakkanai!** The hotel had a large public hot spring bath and provided breakfast and dinner, which was fantastic. **[Location]** Getting around without a car is difficult, so I'd give the location four stars, but considering it's in Wakkanai, I suppose it's understandable. **[Room]** All the rooms are Japanese-style, and they are clean and well-maintained, but the ventilation is poor, so it can get stuffy. It was a bit tough on hot nights. **[The Food Was Amazing!]** Both breakfast and dinner were very satisfying! Breakfast had a variety of seafood dishes, as well as plenty of other side dishes like seaweed, omelet, natto, and grated yam. I ended up eating about three bowls every day! I only had dinner there for one night, but that was great too! I especially enjoyed a local dish called "kasube." I looked it up and it's actually "ray." It was my first time eating stingray, and I was amazed by its unique texture. It was similar to the texture of sea bass or anglerfish, but boneless and incredibly easy to eat! The firm texture was satisfying, and I would definitely want to eat it again. Also, the grilled salmon (perhaps Chanchan-yaki?) was delicious. The miso had a unique flavor unlike anything I've tasted in Kansai; it was quite sweet (maybe it was seasoned with sugar...), but the miso flavor was definitely there—another first-time experience! Thanks to all that, I ate about four bowls of rice and gained about 2kg, but the happiness of delicious food is priceless. **【The Hot Springs Were Amazing!】** I almost forgot, but the large public hot spring bath was also great! The temperature was slightly lower, just the way I like it—perfect for soaking for a long time. Apparently, it's a petroleum-based hot spring in this area (I only did a quick search...), and now that I think about it, it does feel that way...w It had a sulfurous, moist, and slightly slippery feel, and after soaking for a week, my skin was incredibly smooth. (It feels like the dead skin cells are being removed) So, it was a very good inn, worthy of 5 stars! I will definitely stay here again when I visit the northern region.

This hot spring inn is located near Cape Noshappu, away from the center of Wakkanai City. It seemed like a popular destination for business travelers. My room was on the second floor and was very clean and well-maintained. You could see the ocean from the window. The hot spring is on the third floor, and while it's not a free-flowing hot spring, it contains valuable petroleum-based ingredients that are apparently good for the skin. It felt a little slimy when I soaked. The baths are available 24 hours a day (except for cleaning between 8:00 and 12:00). Indoor baths only. When I checked in, I was told to come to the dining room on the first floor between 6:00 and 8:00 PM for dinner. The portions were generous, mainly consisting of seafood like sashimi and hairy crab, and I was very satisfied. When I checked in, I could choose between 6:30, 7:00, or 7:30 AM for breakfast. I chose 7:30 AM, but the dining room was empty, as business travelers tended to leave earlier. There is no elevator, so it may be difficult to get around with large luggage. Also, there are no convenience stores or supermarkets nearby, so it's a good idea to buy your groceries before you arrive. Even though there were quite a few guests, it was quiet and comfortable.

It can accommodate three people and three bikes on a motorcycle tour. Two bikes can be parked on each side of the entrance roof. The rooms are Japanese-style. There is no air conditioning, but it's cool in the mornings and evenings, so just leaving the windows slightly open is fine. There are Ezo deer roaming around the hotel! It's a surprise. The hot spring is boiled water, but it's spacious and slippery. It's a quiet and good place for touring the northern capes. There is a bus nearby, so it's convenient for going into town.

Kaze no Yado Soya Palace 1837-1 Fujimi 4-chome, Wakkanai City Available only to guests staying overnight. A smooth, bromine-containing, sodium bicarbonate, and salt spring water is poured from the frog. It's lukewarm. After soaking for about 10 minutes, you'll feel warm, perhaps below 39°C. There's a hot spring spout, but it doesn't feel like the water is coming out. It's strange.

I stayed there once in the middle of winter. I remember helping shovel snow on a day when there was a terrible blizzard. It's gone now, but I used to stay at a shop across the street with a sign that said "Friend." The owner was a unique old man. The lady made me delicious salt ramen. I think it was a shop with a noren (curtain) that said "Yu-chan."