Japan’s only herring palace inn that conveys the prosperity of Hokkaido – Ginrinso / Otaru Hokkaido

Japan’s only herring palace inn that conveys the prosperity of Hokkaido – Ginrinso / Otaru Hokkaido

I stayed at Ginrinso, a traditional Japanese restaurant and hot spring inn in Otaru, Hokkaido Japan.

The Inomata residence was a large mansion in Yoichi, a town next to Otaru. Inomata Yasunojo made his fortune in herring fishing and was a major businessman who played a key role in the development of Yoichi.

His mansion, the Inomata residence, was built in 1900 and moved to Otaru in 1938 as part of the city planning, and was renovated and opened as an inn the following year in 1939. It is still in operation as one of the few historic inns in Hokkaido.

Hokkaido has been visited by many immigrants since the Edo period. Herring fishing is one of the main industries that supported the development of Hokkaido. Every year, countless herrings flock to the coast, a sight that was called “Kuki” There used to be a luxurious mansion, the Herring Palace, built by someone who made his fortune in herring fishing along the coast. However, due to overfishing and other factors, herring disappeared completely after the 1950s, and the herring palaces also disappeared, with the exception of some that have been preserved.

Ginrinso is the only herring palace in Japan where you can stay overnight. Its gorgeous structure and furnishings are like a museum that conveys the splendor of the time. During the major renovation, they also succeeded in drilling a hot spring, and it continues to convey its charm as a traditional Japanese inn where you can enjoy hot springs and delicious food.

An original painting by Yokoyama Taikan is casually placed in the room. You can fully enjoy the splendor of the room as well as the beautiful interior of the building.

What surprised me was the open-air bath. Ginrinso, which stands at the top of Hiraiso Cape, overlooks the beautiful Sea of ​​Japan and the cityscape of Otaru, and the spectacular view of the sea from the large open-air bath is simply beautiful. It was a relaxing time to spend in the bath while listening to the sound of the trains running along the coastline, which is now a rare sight.

The food is a simple full course meal that makes the most of the ingredients’ flavors, and you can enjoy the bounty of Hokkaido. Although the ingredients are not particularly luxurious, you can enjoy a variety of dishes that you should try when you come to Hokkaido.

During the shoot, the staff were friendly and I felt that the warmth of their service was also a wonderful thing about this inn. On the way home, we got so excited that we ended up chatting for about an hour, which is a good memory.

A historic inn that makes you want to go back and see everyone again. There are also rooms where you can enjoy the hot spring, so next time I would like to stay in a room with a spectacular view.

■ Ginrinsou Ryokan
https://www.ginrinsou.com/

■ Hot spring details
Hiraiso Onsen
Sodium-chloride hot spring
Hypertonic neutral hot spring
pH 6.8

■ Accommodation fee (with 2 meals)
JPY80,000-120,000 /2 persons per night

* Some of the information in the video is based on information collected online.
* Permission has been granted to film the hot spring.
* Normally video/photo shooting inside bath is not allowed.

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