Amenohi To Yuyake 雨ノ日と夕やけ 下雨天與夕陽

“Ame no Hi to Yuuyake” is a small, six-room hideaway perched on a hillside overlooking Lake Shikotsu in Chitose, Hokkaido. Although it sits just about 70 minutes by car from Sapporo and roughly 30 minutes from New Chitose Airport, the inn is surrounded by national-park forest and a quiet lakeshore, offering a retreat completely removed from the noise of the city.

The wooden building contains only six rooms, each with its own layout and personality—double rooms, twin-based standard rooms, slightly more spacious deluxe rooms, and even a mini-theater room equipped with a popIn Aladdin projector. All rooms are private with their own bath and toilet, and the interiors feature simple earth-tone palettes. Basic amenities such as Bluetooth speakers, electric kettles, in-room safes, loungewear, and Wi-Fi are provided. The entire property is non-smoking and limited to guests aged 13 and older, making it ideal for those seeking a quiet, adults-only atmosphere.

While the in-room baths are jetted tubs rather than hot springs, the inn offers complimentary access to the large public baths at the sister property, Shikotsuko Daiichi Hotel Suizantei, located about a three-minute walk away. Its silky “beautifying” hot-spring water is well regarded, and private onsen baths can be reserved for an additional fee. The combination of a lakeside boutique inn and the comfort of a full hot-spring facility gives guests the best of both worlds.

The shared lounge is a bright, open room with high ceilings and large windows framing the mountains and Lake Shikotsu. From check-in until the next morning, guests can enjoy complimentary coffee while reading, writing, or simply relaxing on the sofas. In the evening, a “happy hour” features house-made gelato made with Biei Jersey milk, which can be enjoyed plain or with a splash of liqueur. Listening to rain while savoring gelato is one of the inn’s signature experiences.

Just beyond the lounge is a small restaurant where both dinner and breakfast are served. Seating includes counter and table options, and on clear days guests can enjoy meals with views of the lake and sunset. Dinner centers around freshly baked pizza served with seasonal salads, soups, and simple dishes that highlight local ingredients such as house-made prosciutto, vegetables from the inn’s garden, and Hokkaido cheeses. The focus is on showcasing natural flavors through straightforward, thoughtful preparation.

Breakfast comes as a morning set featuring items like sausages from the Jozankei butcher, eggs from Sakai Farm, and onion soup. On some days, a smoothie made with sake lees from an Asahikawa brewery is also included. Compared to the hearty spreads often seen at traditional ryokan, the breakfast here is pleasantly light—more reminiscent of a lakeside café meal.

True to its name—“Rainy Days and Sunsets”—the inn invites guests to savor these moments. On clear evenings, the restaurant and lounge windows provide front-row views of the sun setting behind the mountains and reflecting across the lake. On still nights, stars may shimmer faintly on the water’s surface. Early mornings offer short strolls down to the lakeshore, where guests can walk among rising mist and quiet scenery.

For access, a reservation-only shuttle runs from JR Chitose Station, making the inn convenient even for those without a car. Travel times by car from New Chitose Airport or central Chitose are around 30 minutes, and about 70 minutes from Sapporo. Guests using public transportation can also walk from the Shikotsuko bus stop following the inn’s guidance.

Overall, “Ame no Hi to Yuuyake” is an intimate, adults-only retreat focused not on large-scale hotel amenities but on quiet spaces, quality ingredients, and time that flows slowly. With its small number of rooms and consistently peaceful atmosphere, it is especially well suited for couples’ getaways, anniversaries, or a solo “treat yourself” stay. Combined with nature walks or scenic drives around Lake Shikotsu, it offers the perfect setting for those who want to savor the luxury of doing nothing at all.