Shiretoko Daiichi Hotel

The hotel is built on a mountain, and trying to walk around was quite tiring. The room was spacious, but housekeeping doesn't come daily. Currently, all of Japan is embracing eco-friendliness, so most hotels only clean every two nights, and some even every three nights. Those who sign up for tours or activities will be picked up directly at the hotel. The hotel also offers a free shuttle to the Utoro Bus Center. If you miss the shuttle, I believe the hotel can also arrange a drop-off. The buffet was extensive, but eating the same things every day got a bit boring. Personally, I still prefer set meals. I tasted something sour in the chawanmushi. At first, I thought my taste buds were off, but after smelling it, I confirmed it was indeed sour and informed the staff. The public bath has several pools. The open-air hot spring bath is a bit small, but it wasn't crowded.

The downside is that the hotel is far from the beach, located halfway up a hill, making it inconvenient to go down to catch public transportation. Breakfast was just average. On the plus side, the room was spacious enough – we were in 871 and the view was excellent. Although the hotel is a bit old, the hygiene was quite good, and the hot spring bath was incredibly large. Dinner was particularly lavish with free-flowing drinks. The front desk even had a VIP lounge with a Chinese-speaking staff member who helped us book our itinerary over the phone, which we were very happy with.

This Chinese New Year, I embarked on a solo trip to Shiretoko Peninsula, dubbed Japan's last unexplored region. The room was spotless, the views were absolutely incredible, and the food was among the best I've had on my many trips to Japan. The price was also a steal – three nights with breakfast and dinner included, right during peak CNY, for under 2000 [currency unspecified, likely RMB]. You'd be lucky to find a rundown hostel for that price in Europe! The only minor downside was that the onsen view was just okay, but at this price, who's complaining? I'd love to bring my parents here someday. Keep up the excellent quality!

The hotel is located halfway up the mountain, so getting around isn't super convenient. Luckily, I booked several activities that offered hotel pickup and drop-off, so I didn't have to worry about transportation. On my last day, the bus to Memanbetsu Airport had its first stop right across the street from the hotel, which was very handy. There are several indoor hot spring pools and one outdoor open-air one. The hotel has its own shop, which offers duty-free shopping and a great selection of food. Oh, and the breakfast and dinner buffets were absolutely delicious!!

The hotel rooms are spacious and the stay was very comfortable. Both dinner and breakfast were incredibly plentiful, and the staff were all very polite. Even with a slight language barrier, they politely explained everything. The hotel's hot spring was also fantastic. If you're visiting the Shiretoko region in Eastern Hokkaido, I highly recommend this hotel; you won't be disappointed.