Kurazou

Overview of Kurazou

Kurazou is a 16-room hot spring inn at 162 Kerimai in Mitsuishi, a coastal district of Shinhidaka Town in the Hidaka subprefecture of Hokkaido. On its own website the property goes by Mitsuishi Kombu Onsen Kurazou, and the "kombu" in that name is the key to what makes it different: the baths are built around Mitsuishi kelp, the seaweed this stretch of the Hidaka coast is known for across Japan. Traveloka notes that the listing was previously named Kurazo, so you may see either spelling on older confirmations or maps. Both refer to the same inn at the same Mitsuishi address.

The signature feature is the open-air bath. The inn describes it as shaped like a boat and facing the Pacific Ocean, so a daytime soak comes with a wide sea view, and after dark guests can bathe under the stars to the sound of the waves. Indoors, the main bathhouse has several tubs, including a kelp bath and a low-temperature jacuzzi, plus a sauna and a cold plunge. The same baths also welcome day visitors, which tells you something about the place: it is a local hot spring that also offers a small number of comfortable rooms for overnight guests.

Traveloka lists Kurazou as a 3-star property, and the inn's own site describes it as about 2.5 hours from Sapporo. That distance is part of the appeal. Mitsuishi sits well away from Hokkaido's busier resort towns, between the Pacific coastline and the pastures and peaks of the Hidaka mountain range, so the setting is quiet, rural and very much shaped by the sea. The inn itself calls its cuisine one of its strengths, with dinners built on Mitsuishi beef and seafood from the waters off the coast.

If you are looking for a single-night onsen escape on a Hokkaido road trip, or a slower few days on the Hidaka coast with good food and a long soak at the end of each day, Kurazou is a distinctive choice that is hard to swap for anywhere else.

Room Types at Kurazou

The inn's official site lists 16 rooms across four room types, ranging from traditional tatami rooms to a pair of premium rooms with their own outdoor bath. The property gives a size of roughly 13 tatami mats for each of its room types, and every room is non-smoking, with a designated smoking area elsewhere in the building. The room names below follow the inn's own descriptions; Traveloka's room cards may use slightly different labels, so match the details on the card when you book.

Western Twin Room

The Western Twin is the simplest style at Kurazou, with two standard twin beds for up to two guests. The inn lists two of these rooms and describes their outlook as facing the pastureland and the Hidaka mountain range rather than the sea. It suits couples or friends who prefer a conventional bed setup and plan to spend most of their time in the shared baths and restaurant.

Japanese-Style Room (12 Tatami)

The traditional Japanese-style room has tatami flooring and futon bedding laid out for the night, and the inn lists it for up to four guests, which makes it the natural pick for families or small groups. There are two of these rooms, and the property describes views of either the ocean or the Hidaka mountains and pastures, depending on the room.

Japanese Modern Twin Room

The Japanese Modern Twin is the most common room type at Kurazou, with ten rooms in total. It blends a tatami-style setting with two Japanese-style single beds, so you get the feel of a ryokan without sleeping on the floor. The room is listed for two guests, and up to three with an additional futon on the tatami. Views are of the ocean or the Hidaka range, depending on the room, and the inn mentions a ReFa hair dryer among the in-room items.

Ocean-View Japanese Modern Twin with Private Open-Air Bath and Barrel Sauna

The top room category is a sea-facing Japanese Modern Twin with its own open-air bath and a private barrel sauna. The inn lists just two of these rooms, so they tend to be the first to go. Each has two Japanese-style twin beds for two guests, with room for a third on a futon, plus a ReFa FINE BUBBLE shower system. If you want to soak while looking out over the Pacific without leaving your room, this is the room to look for.

Because room availability changes by date and some room types are very limited, check the Traveloka room cards for the exact bed setup, occupancy and inclusions before you confirm. In-room amenities beyond those mentioned here may vary, so see the listing for the per-room details.

Facilities and Amenities

Facilities at Kurazou centre on bathing, eating well and relaxing. Based on the Traveloka listing and the inn's official site, guests can expect the following:

• Kelp hot spring baths: the main bathhouse has several tubs, including a kelp bath and a low-temperature jacuzzi.
• Boat-shaped open-air bath: an outdoor bath facing the Pacific Ocean, used by both staying guests and day visitors.
• Sauna and cold bath: the Traveloka listing includes a sauna, and the inn's site describes a sauna and cold plunge in the bathhouse, plus barrel saunas.
• Restaurant: an on-site restaurant serving Japanese cuisine, with breakfast and multi-course dinners.
• Guest lounge: a lounge for staying guests, where the inn says coffee and herbal tea are complimentary.
• Shampoo bar: a selection of hair-care products that guests can choose from.
• Parking: on-site parking is listed, which matters at a property most guests reach by car.

The inn describes its water as a cold mineral spring that is clear, odourless and tasteless, with a circulation filtration system. Guests have bathhouse access in the afternoon and evening and again in the early morning, with a cleaning break in the late morning. Because the baths are also open to day visitors, the bathhouse can be livelier in the middle of the day, so early mornings and later evenings are usually the calmest times for a soak.

The inn also mentions some thoughtful ryokan-style touches. Guests are provided with work-jacket loungewear in a range of sizes and tabi socks to wear around the building. Bathing follows standard Japanese onsen etiquette, so wash thoroughly before entering the tubs and keep towels out of the water.

Location and Getting There

Kurazou is at 162 Kerimai, Mitsuishi, Shin-Hidaka-cho, Hidaka-gun, Hokkaido 059-3233. Mitsuishi is a seaside part of Shinhidaka on the southern Pacific coast of Hokkaido, east of the main Shizunai town area. The inn's own website puts it at about 2.5 hours from Sapporo, and the easiest way to arrive is by car along the coast, with parking available on site.

Most international visitors reach Hokkaido by air and then pick up a hire car for the drive down the Hidaka coast. If you are planning that route, you can compare flights to Hokkaido on Traveloka and then continue by road, stopping along the coastline on the way.

What to expect around the inn:

• The Pacific coast: the open-air bath looks straight out over the ocean, and the Mitsuishi shoreline is known for its kelp.
• Hidaka mountains and pastures: rooms on the land side overlook farmland and the Hidaka range.
• Shizunai town: the main centre of Shinhidaka, a drive west along the coast, has shops, other hotels and everyday services.

Public transport in this part of Hokkaido is limited, so a car gives you the most flexibility for reaching Kurazou and exploring the Hidaka region. In winter, allow extra time for snow and ice on the roads and check conditions before you set off.

Dining at Kurazou

Food is a big part of a stay at Kurazou. The restaurant focuses on fresh, seasonal ingredients from Mitsuishi, with seafood from the Pacific waters off the coast, local vegetables and produce from the surrounding hills. The inn names Mitsuishi beef, including A5-grade cuts served tagliata-style, as one of its highlights, alongside daily-changing sashimi platters.

Dinner is served as a multi-course Japanese meal in the kaiseki style, and the property offers more than one course level. Dishes mentioned by the inn include yellowtail with daikon, turban shell cooked in a hot stone bowl, and a soba tea panna cotta to finish. As the menu changes with the season and the daily catch, the exact line-up will vary.

Breakfast is described as half-buffet, built around a serving of grilled fish with self-serve stations for rice, salad, natto, eggs and yogurt. The restaurant is also open at lunchtime, though the inn notes a regular weekly closing day, so check the current hours if you plan a midday meal there.

Away from the inn, Shizunai has more dining options a drive away along the coast. If you would like to add tours or experiences to your Hokkaido itinerary, you can browse things to do across Japan on Traveloka.

Why Stay at Kurazou

The clearest reason to choose Kurazou is the bathing. A boat-shaped open-air bath looking over the Pacific, a kelp bath that draws on the area's best-known product, and a sauna and cold plunge add up to an onsen experience that feels rooted in this particular coastline rather than a generic spa.

• A coastal onsen with character: kelp hot spring baths and a sea-facing outdoor bath give Kurazou a strong sense of place.
• Private bathing option: two ocean-view rooms come with their own open-air bath and barrel sauna, ideal for couples or a special occasion.
• Food worth the drive: kaiseki-style dinners featuring Mitsuishi beef and local seafood, plus a half-buffet breakfast.
• Small and calm: with only 16 rooms, the inn keeps a relaxed, unhurried atmosphere.
• Flexible room styles: tatami rooms for families, Western twins and Japanese Modern twins with beds.

Kurazou also works well as a stop on a longer Hokkaido drive, splitting the journey along the Hidaka coast with a night of good food and a long soak. If you are still deciding where to base yourself, you can compare other hotels across Hokkaido on Traveloka before you settle on dates.

Tips for Booking Kurazou on Traveloka

1. Book the private-bath rooms early. Only two rooms at Kurazou have their own open-air bath and barrel sauna, so they can sell out first, especially on weekends and holidays.
2. Check the check-out time. Check-in is from 15:00. The Traveloka listing shows check-out before 10:00, while the inn's own site gives a slightly later time, so follow the time on your booking confirmation.
3. Look at the meal inclusions. Dinner and breakfast are a highlight here, so check whether your chosen rate includes meals before you pay.
4. Plan your arrival by car. The inn is about 2.5 hours from Sapporo according to its website, and on-site parking is listed, so a hire car is the simplest option.
5. Time your soak. Day visitors use the bathhouse too, so early mornings and evenings tend to be quieter for staying guests.
6. Search by either name. Older confirmations may show the previous listing name Kurazo; it is the same inn as Kurazou.
7. Allow for winter driving. If you are travelling in the colder months, build in extra time for road conditions on the Hidaka coast.

Traveloka shows the latest availability, room options and policies for each date. When you are ready to plan the rest of your trip, you can start from the Traveloka homepage.

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