A trip to enjoy the nature of Hokkaido with loved ones. A cottage is the perfect way to support such an experience.

Traditional Japanese inns and hotels often have limited rooms that can accommodate large groups, and guests may feel constrained by the need to be considerate of others. With a cottage, however, these worries are eliminated. You can relax late into the night surrounded by nature; naturally, you won't get any complaints from wild animals.

But I have no idea which cottage is best. Do you have this problem? Because there are many public facilities, it's often the case that you can't book them through travel booking websites.

Therefore, this time, I've focused on cottages that can be booked online. I hope this is helpful and that you enjoy your trip to Hokkaido!

Table of contents
Features of cottages in Hokkaido
Winkel Village
Alice's Village
Elm Highlands Family Travel Village
・Auto Resort Tomakomai Alten
·in conclusion

Cottages come in many forms. Some are provided by hotels, others are part of a cottage village run by private companies, some are operated by local governments, and some are located within campgrounds. There's a wide variety.

While most accommodations are room-only with no meals provided except for those attached to the hotel, cooking utensils, including electrical appliances, are available. Some cottages even offer a complete set of ingredients and a grill, catering to Hokkaido residents' love of BBQ. Buying local ingredients at nearby supermarkets is also part of the fun.

For those who prefer not to cook for themselves, cottages with a wide selection of takeout options or attached restaurants offer a convenient way to save time and enjoy your stay.

Winkel Village is located in Otaru City, in the Asarigawa Onsen area, which is famous as a secluded retreat.

There are a total of 10 wooden villas, including condominiums with private open-air hot spring baths and independent cottages. They have a woody design that blends into the natural surroundings and can accommodate 6 to 14 people.

Many of these accommodations feature lofts, offering a great sense of openness. Unlike condominiums, they don't have open-air hot spring baths, but some buildings have bathrooms with windows that offer views of the outside scenery. If you prefer a larger bath, there are many hot springs nearby that offer day-use bathing, ensuring a comfortable stay.

Enjoy a BBQ on the covered terrace while feeling the refreshing summer breeze from the Asarigawa River. At night, you can hear the sounds of insects. Not only in summer, but in winter, there are many ski resorts nearby, so you can enjoy activities to your heart's content.

The cottage is fully equipped with a kitchen, dishes, and cooking utensils. They also offer rentals of all kinds of equipment, including BBQ supplies. Because it's privately run, you can easily book various plans through travel booking websites, making it a very convenient option. Highly recommended.

Address: 2-686 Asarigawa Onsen, Otaru City, Hokkaido 047-0154
Phone: 0800-800-3074

Winkel Village
Price: Per building. Meals not included (room only).
Regular season: ¥28,000 (6 people capacity) to ¥57,400 (14 people capacity)
Peak season: ¥30,300 (6 people capacity) to ¥62,700 (14 people capacity)

Photo courtesy of Winkel Village

Iwanai Town is located midway between Niseko and the Shakotan Peninsula. It is a town overflowing with tourist resources, including mountain produce, seafood, scenic views, and hot springs. Alice no Sato is situated in the mountainous area of ​​Iwanai.

All the indoor baths here use hot spring water. There are also rooms with private open-air baths. And the prices are reasonable. It's the perfect environment for spending a fun and lively time with friends.

You can enjoy watching the fishing lights floating magically on the pitch-black sea from the second-floor terrace. Or, you can relax in the hot springs while gazing at the Milky Way in the complete absence of other lights. It's an environment where it's easy to see why so many people become repeat visitors.

For meals, you can have a BBQ on the terrace, or if you're not into the outdoors, you can order delivery from a Bib Michelin-starred sushi restaurant in town. It's such a famous restaurant that some people even travel all the way from Sapporo just for the sushi. There isn't a shop on the premises, but there's a large supermarket in town about a 5-minute drive away, so you shouldn't have any trouble finding anything you need.

The hot springs are quite hot, but they warm you to the core, and there are also accommodations nearby that offer day-use bathing, making this a cottage village that can be enjoyed in many ways. It's a place that gets fully booked during Golden Week and other holidays, making it difficult to get a reservation.

Alice's Village
Address: 258-92 Nozuka, Iwanai-cho, Iwanai-gun, Hokkaido 045-0024
Phone: 0135-62-2661
Per building. No meals included (room only).
From 14,000 yen (for 4 people) to 28,000 yen (for 12 people)

Photo courtesy of Alice no Sato

Akabira City, located in the northern part of Sorachi, is also known as a coal mining town. Elm Highlands Family Travel Village is located in this plateau area.

The main facility is "Yuttari," a hot spring facility. Next to it is Cottage Nijinoie. It's part of the auto campsite, but the biggest advantage of the cottage is that you can fully enjoy the rich natural environment of the plateau without having to prepare too much.

The family resort village boasts a plaza equipped with athletic equipment and long slides that kids will love, as well as a petting zoo perfect for a leisurely stroll, offering plenty of facilities for a relaxing day out. It seems like you can enjoy an active yet laid-back holiday here.

The biggest appeal of this place is undoubtedly its price range. Because it's similar to a public facility, it's very reasonably priced. While this does mean there are some drawbacks in terms of service, working together as a group or family to prepare and deepen your bonds is surely part of the charm of travel.

However, there is a restaurant at the neighboring hot spring facility, and there are supermarkets in Akabira city, so you should be able to make all the necessary preparations. The breeze blowing across the plateau is refreshing, and the blue sky stretches endlessly into a clear azure. There are hot springs where you can feel like you're having the perfect holiday just by breathing the air, and you'll surely realize what a wonderful place it is.

Elm Highlands Family Travel Village
Address: 375-1 Horooka-cho, Akabira City, Hokkaido 079-1102
Phone: 0125-34-2177 Elm Kogen Onsen "Yuttari"
Per building. No meals included (room only).
12,000 yen (for 6 people) 15,000 yen (for 8 people)

Alten is an auto campsite blessed with a wonderful location on the outskirts of Tomakomai.

Camping at an auto campsite can seem like it requires a lot of preparation and equipment. It might seem a bit intimidating, but Alten is attractive because of its excellent facilities and various activities. If you stay in a cottage, you hardly need to bring anything at all.

Moreover, you can choose from several types of accommodations, ranging from log cabins to cabins equipped with only the bare essentials. It's a high-quality campsite that's highly regarded by locals.

The magnificent scenery with Mount Tarumae in the background is sure to liberate your mind. There's park golf, horseback riding, a water play area, and a trim park with playground equipment. You can even enjoy canoeing, and it's conveniently located with easy access to the highway. It's definitely a highly worthwhile campsite.

However, there are no supermarkets or convenience stores nearby, so you'll have to travel quite a distance by car. There is a shop on-site, but it's probably best to prepare your own breakfast beforehand to avoid any inconvenience.

The magnificent scenery and star-filled night sky more than make up for any inconvenience. It's a place where you can truly feel that you've come to Hokkaido. You can enjoy it even on a day trip without staying overnight. Highly recommended.

Auto Resort Tomakomai Alten
Address: 421-4 Tarumae, Tomakomai City, Hokkaido 059-1265
Phone: 0144-67-2222
Per building. No meals included (room only).
6,300 yen (bungalow) to 24,000 yen (log house)

Final thoughts

Cottages offer more freedom in your travels. Not everything is serviced.

However, there's a real joy in creating your own trip. For experienced travelers, that appeal is irreplaceable.

A trip without hospitality. A trip where you immerse yourself in nature on your own. I think that's another way to enjoy a trip to Hokkaido. Please try enjoying a more free-spirited trip this summer.

*Prices shown are general rates as of June 2016. Please note that prices may vary depending on the time of year.

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