Asahikawa Hotels with Breakfast

This is my second trip to Hokkaido after nine years, and I really loved Asahikawa the first time around, so I made sure to stay there this time, followed by three nights in Sapporo. I originally planned to book a JR hotel but ended up choosing the Y's Hotel across the street, and it was such a comfortable stay! The view was fantastic, and the breakfast buffet was much better than the one at the Sotetsu Fresa Inn where I stayed in Sapporo. Plus, there's an Aeon mall right across from the hotel, so food and drinks were never an issue! 👍👍👍

Besides the separate male and female bathrooms, it's very thoughtful that the female shower rooms have an extra password lock, which makes you feel very secure. I tested them and they were all very clean 👍👍. The ground floor houses a restaurant, and the reception staff are quite friendly. The room space is a bit small; if you open two 20-inch suitcases, you basically can't walk around. Another slight drawback is that while the hotel has its own parking lot, it still requires an additional fee, which is the same as the parking lot next to the hotel. The main point is that the parking lot close to the hotel is more expensive than those across the street.

Due to high demand, our second night was in a smoking room, and it definitely had a strong odor. However, there was a spray bottle on the wall, and after using it, the air quality improved significantly. The hygiene was very good, and the room had amenities like a kettle and a fridge. Plus, it's very close to Asahikawa Station, which was great.

Hotel Route Inn Grand is a decent hotel that meets basic expectations. The 'Grand' version, being a step up from the regular Route Inn, fulfilled my minimum requirements for accommodation. I've stayed in at least four of them across Hokkaido, and they're consistently neither surprising nor disappointing. That day, I visited Shikisai no Oka in Biei, which was absolutely beautiful.

Hotel's about 10 minutes walk by the track on pedestrian walkway from the station. There's a 7-11 across. Quiet area. Great Onsen with jacuzzi and ishiburo (stone tub) as well as the usual hot and cold pools with sauna. There's no water in the room but they give each guest a coin for their own drinks at the Onsen. Every evening til 9pm, there's free sampling of sakes. Last night, there were five bottles and cos there are no staff, you can sample them unlimited! I think I had about 300ml total. There's free soup but I'd skip them.

It's an older business hotel, but the location is quite convenient. They also offer paid parking at 800 JPY per day with unlimited in/out privileges. Most staff were friendly and welcoming, except for one manager-like figure (in a black suit, rarely at the front desk) who seemed rather unwelcoming and didn't smile. The buffet breakfast wasn't overly extensive but was perfectly adequate. During the evening Happy Hour from 6 PM to 8 PM, they offered all-you-can-eat curry rice and one complimentary drink, including alcoholic options.

The breakfast was one of the best in our trip. It had fresh Sashimi seafood, grilled salmon and a lot of varieties of foods. The miso soup and corn soup was so delicious. I enjoyed a lot of ice cream and soft serve. The room was good, a little bit narrow for 3 people but it had everything we needed. The onsen was good and not so crowded. Overall, we like the hotel very much.

This is a traditional, family-run inn that truly excels in hospitality and personal charm. I booked a room with a private bath; it was exceptionally spacious at nearly 40 square meters, and we had the entire floor to ourselves. Our private bath was conveniently located directly on the rooftop, situated at the highest point of the small hill, offering an amazing soaking experience. The family operates their own restaurant, and both breakfast and dinner were delightful. This was our children's favorite hotel of the entire trip, providing fantastic value for money. They even have a nostalgic 90s-era arcade! It's definitely a top choice for travelers on a self-drive trip. The owner and staff were incredibly warm, enthusiastic, and kind. A huge thank you once again for their wonderful hospitality!

Hotel Crescent is one of my favorite hotels in Japan. Very professional and nice staff, even the cleaning people make an effort to manage their noise if they know someone is still sleeping in a room, which is above and beyond. The staff at Crescent kept my luggage for a long time when my return trip got delayed which was a huge relief. The lobby gives such a unique atmosphere, it's at once august and stately, like one of the grand art deco hotels of the past era, but it also has a fun little gift shop area and a cafe, so it feels relaxed. Crescent is just a really friendly place where you don't have to worry about anything. Their website explains their ”Kaizen” philosophy, which now is a famous Japanese management philosophy of continuous improvement in each area. It really shows at this hotel. This is the kind of hotel you end up becoming a better person because the staff is so professional and kind. Thank you for a great stay and for being one of my favorite places in Japan :)

It's a relatively simple hotel, but you have to carry your luggage up to the second floor, which is quite tiring.