It was my first time traveling around eastern Hokkaido by car. I drove my own car up from Tokyo, taking a ferry along the way and enjoying the amazing scenery throughout the trip. In Abashiri, I stayed at Dormy Inn Abashiri, which was super convenient in terms of location.
Relaxing in the Rooftop Hot Spring with Views of the Okhotsk Sea and Shiretoko Mountains
Right after checking in, I headed straight to the large public bath Tento-no-Yu on the top (9th) floor. From there, you can see the Sea of Okhotsk and the Shiretoko mountain range – it’s one of those moments where you really feel, “I’m so glad I came on this trip.”
Soaking in the bath while watching the sun slowly set over the sea and sky is an unforgettable experience. The hot spring water is an alkaline simple spring brought in from Kitami City, with a slightly thick, smooth texture that feels gentle on your skin and warms you up to the core. There are indoor and outdoor baths, plus a sauna (note: the sauna is closed from 1 AM to 5 AM). They also provide plenty of amenities like cleansing oil and toner, so you can go in empty-handed and still feel comfortable.
A Cozy Tatami Room Where You Can Kick Off Your Shoes
I stayed on the 8th floor in a tatami-style room with a river view. Since you take off your shoes before stepping onto the tatami, it felt great after a long drive. The hotel also had a coin laundry, which was very helpful for me to be able to do the laundry that had piled up during my trip.
Free Perks That Make Your Stay Even Better
Dormy Inn is known for its awesome free services during your stay:
・Ice cream after your bath (3 PM – 1 AM)
・Probiotic drinks (5 AM – 10 AM)
・Welcome drinks (6 AM – 11 PM)
・“Yonaki Soba” late-night ramen (9:30 PM – 11 PM)
The Yonaki Soba is a half-sized soy sauce ramen – light, tasty, and perfect for when you get a bit hungry at night. Eating this bowl of noodles while traveling feels like a little reward for yourself.
A feast for the morning! A breakfast buffet that is typical of the eastern area of Hokkaido
Breakfast is buffet-style at the restaurant HATAGO on the 2nd floor. There were so many dishes lined up, including Abashiri’s local kani-meshi (crab rice), grilled fish, simmered dishes, fried shrimp, omelets, and more.
One thing I especially enjoyed was the “Mini Bowl Alley,” where you can try lots of small dishes and sample different flavors. It made breakfast really exciting. You can also make your own seafood rice bowl by topping sushi rice with sashimi and whitebait – highly recommended!
For drinks, they had local specialties like Katsugen (a Hokkaido cultured milk drink) and Yotsuba milk, letting you truly taste the region.
Dormy Inn Abashiri is the perfect base for traveling around eastern Hokkaido, with its great location and reliable services. It’s an easy, relaxing place to stay – truly a traveler’s best friend.
information and access to Dormy Inn Abashiri
Address: 1-1-1 Minami 2-jo Nishi 3-chome, Abashiri City, Hokkaido 093-0012
