Hokkaido road trip activity and stay ideas

@ Luisjp
Thank you for the information, Will do the homework later.

@ frog1954
http://www.marukoma.co.jp/onsen.html
http://www.rvch.net/ginkonyu-yakumo-hokkaido/

Just returned from the Hokkaido trip, and visited both of the onsens, they are lovely and many thanks for the recommendation.

@ergo5,

Just returned from the Hokkaido trip, ended up visiting the Kohantei as well as the Nukabira Onsen Nakamuraya. We enjoyed the stay at both hotels, many thanks for the recommendations.
I had a recommendation from the staff of Nakamuraya, Yuyado-Daiichi onsen in Nakashibetsu, http://www.yoroushi.jp/. If you happen to visit the area, be sure to visit this onsen! You won't be disappointed.

Hi shinji,

Nice to hear you enjoyed the trip! Could you communicate with the staff in the ryokan? Did the earthquake affected your travel?

@frog1954,

Could you communicate with the staff in the ryokan?
Marukoma's counter staff spoke limited English, but no problem with communication.
Ginkonyu, the daughter-in-law, Ryoko used to live in Sydney, Australia, so English is no issue here.

Did the earthquake affect your travel?
This is an experience we will never forget. The day before the earthquake we were in Marukoma ryokan awoken at around 03:00 by a weird sound which turned out to be typhoon Jibi. We were on the third floor with the lake view, upon opening the blind we witnessed a heavy rain and very strong wind, the roof became a waterfall, and the lake was turned into a "washing machine". A scary moment indeed. The next morning we decided to drive to Obihiro, only to learn that we were unable to get out of the ryokan, the only and many other roads were blocked due to fallen trees and landslides. We waited until some roads were cleared and eventually managed to reach Obihiro that evening.
Coincidentally the next day after the typhoon, also at the wee hour of 03:00 our bed was shaken badly, we were awoken in complete darkness, immediately realized it was an earthquake, a big one surely. We ran downstairs, stayed in the lobby with others and got news from the staff that the epicenter was Tomakomai, a mere 100 miles away.
The next morning we decided to get away from all this and drove along the coast visiting Cape Erimo, Hiroo and all the way to Kushiro. Only upon arrival in the evening, we found out that whole Hokkaido was in total darkness, no electricity, no running water, and no food. All restaurants, supermarkets, combinies were closed due to empty shelves. We were lucky still to have booked our hotel, even though we had to stay in a dark room with merely a small battery torch; shower and also the in-room toilet were not working due to no running water. Toilets in the lobby were available and to be cleaned with a bucket of water after use.
We continued our trip following our itinerary with only minor hitch, long queue for petrol.
We have visited Japan many, many times, and often wonder what typhoon and big earthquake felt like. This visit answered our "curiosity", and we were lucky to have experienced all these in Japan when order and calm are social "norms" in the community.

This is an experience we will never forget.

Oh, what a story! But honestly it could be worse, so in a sense you are lucky. I also planned a business/sightseeing trip from 12th to 19th in Hokkaido, but the business part was canceled so I decided to cancel all of the trip this time. I hope you still enjoy something in Hokkaido.

@frog1954

I hope you still enjoy something in Hokkaido.
Undoubtedly, we enjoyed the visit very much, the "events", in spite of not being in our "itinerary", we would dearly cherish the experience. In fact, this visit was one of the best and most memorable of our many Japan visits in the past many years.
I understand you love onsen, please add Yuyado-Daiichi onsen in Nakashibetsu, http://www.yoroushi.jp/ into your bucket list. Plenty of surprises await you!

Dear shinji,

Thank you for your recommendation.

Yuyado-Daiichi onsen in Nakashibetsu

You traveled so far! I have heard of this ryokan which seems to be very nice. Actually I will retire in two years so I want to do a drive tour in Hokkaido, and I will visit Yuyado Daiichi for sure.

Yes trouble in the travel sometimes make it memorable. For me it was a lost baggage in Frankfurt. I flew from Kayseri, Turkey to Istanbul and then Frankfurt. The next day I flew from Frankfurt to Toronto and I found my suitcase at Toronto airport. But I remember a hotel staff at Toronto airport who supported me.

@shinji

You look like one of the luckiest tourists at that time. The roads around Marukoma Onsen was closed for a few days.
https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g298143-i5078-k11926813-o50-Eart...

Yuyado-Daiichi is rather famous. People call it just as Yoroushi Onsen, as the name of their website indicates. It could be a good base for Kaiyodai Observatory, a hike to Mt Musadake or Mt Nishibetsudake, Kaminoko Pond, and Lake Mashu for sure.

Kohantei in Lake Toya is the best place to enjoy the fireworks there. The Windsor Hotel TOYA is also famous in the area. It is the site of the 34th G8 Hokkaido-Toyako Summit.
http://www.toya-kohantei.com/
https://www.windsor-hotels.co.jp/en/

Thank you for picking up the name of Nakamuraya in Nukabira Onsen. I enjoyed the short movie on their site.
http://nukabira-nakamuraya.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwcHGPB4rJI

You look like one of the luckiest tourists at that time.

I have seen roads covered by sakura petals during the Hanami, and by Autumn leaves during the Kouyou, but first-time witnessed roads covered by green leaves, branches, and fallen trees the morning after the typhoon.
Yes, we were the few lucky ones. We were, in fact, escorted out from the Marukoma onsen for at least 45 minutes thru the roads blocked before making a detour and heading for Obihiro. I am not surprised if the road to Marukoma onsen was closed for a few days, no car was allowed in that morning, feeling really lucky to be allowed out and continued with our trip.

Yuyado-Daiichi is rather famous.

We were very fortunate to have the opportunity to visit the Yoroushi Onsen. Thanks to the recommendation from the Nakamuraya's staff. Did not know if Yoroushi Onsen was that famous until our arrival that afternoon. We noticed many cars parked in front of the hotel and learned later that they were day trippers. The rotenburos are really special, beautifully situated next to a river, and really very enjoyable. The dinner and, especially, the breakfast were outstanding despite the reasonable rates. The place is very remote, the access is probably by private or rental cars only, no public transport. By the way, I do not speak Japanese, was worried when had to make a reservation over the phone. Surprisingly, everything went smoothly, the person answered the phone not only understood but spoke English well.

Kohantei in Lake Toya is the best place to enjoy the fireworks there.

I incline to agree with you. The fireworks were better than what I witnessed many years ago. The Kohantei's sister hotel, No No Kaze, just minutes from Kohantei is worth considering if you are visiting the Toya lake in the future.

Nakamuraya in Nukabira Onsen

Upon arrival, the hotel impression was not very good. But everything changed once we entered the premises. Very different from the many, many onsens we have visited. Seems like unconventional onsen run by young people for the young generation. We are happy to have experienced this onsen, and again, many thanks for the recommendation.

@ frog1954
I will retire in two years

2 years seems a distance away, believe you me, it is not that far, it will be there before you realize.
Get ready, be prepared and congratulations on the coming retirement!

Oh, No no Kaze also uses a movie on their website. They use even a drone. Thanks for noting me this hotel.
http://nonokaze-resort.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZAeeEUE060