Dormy Inn (Abashiri, Japan): Reviewed

About Dormy Inn

Dormy Inn is a chain onsen hotel found across Japan. While it describes itself as a business hotel (no doubt to attract Japanese businessmen travelling for work), it is unlike other “business hotels”. Dormy Inn focuses on the natural hot springs that each Dormy Inn has and the services that come with it.

Dormy Inn describes themselves as:

More convenient and comfortable.
A business hotel where you can “live”
That’s what we’re aiming for.
What is the comfort of a business hotel?
Just like customizing the space in your own home,
Our first priority is convenience. We think it’s important.
You can charge your smartphone while lying down and use it.
Walking around the building in loungewear,
If you get hungry, there’s a midnight snack in the kitchen…
Until now, and from now on,
Imagine “living” in a business hotel.
We will continue to improve the small details.

Four points of emphasis:

Breakfast

Spa

Rooms

Free Services

The Spa (or rather “onsen” is the better term – like a Japanese version of a thermal bath) is the focus at every Dormy Inn and is covered as part of the room. All the amenities for the onsen are also covered, as are free drinks, snacks and leisure areas after you finish or when you want to take a break from dipping in the thermal water.

Location

Abashiri, a picturesque town located in northeastern Hokkaido, Japan, is renowned for its stunning natural landscapes and rich cultural heritage. Situated along the Sea of Okhotsk, Abashiri offers breathtaking coastal views and is particularly famous for its drift ice during the winter months. The town’s climate, characterized by cold winters and mild summers, creates a unique environment where visitors can experience a range of seasonal activities. In winter, the sea freezes over, and tourists flock to the area to witness the drift ice up close, often through ice-breaking cruises. In contrast, the warmer months reveal lush greenery and vibrant flower fields, making it an appealing destination year-round.

Beyond its natural beauty, Abashiri boasts a deep historical and cultural significance. The town is home to the Abashiri Prison Museum, which provides a glimpse into the life of prisoners during the Meiji era when the prison was originally built. This open-air museum is a major attraction, offering a fascinating look at the harsh conditions and the history of the region. Additionally, Abashiri is part of the Okhotsk culture area, with the Moyoro Shell Mound Museum showcasing artefacts from the ancient Okhotsk people who once inhabited the region. The town’s blend of natural wonders and historical intrigue makes it a compelling destination for those looking to explore a less-travelled part of Japan.

Dormy Inn is situated on the river between the bus terminal and the train station, so it has excellent connections to local and regional transport.

Dormy Inn Abashiri Gallery

About the room

There are various rooms available at this hotel, ranging from single to family rooms and Western-style (i.e. a bed with a mattress) to Japanese-style (i.e. tatami mats and sleeping on futons). The rooms come with all the amenities you would need to stay in a hotel in Japan: towel, hand towel, bath mat, toothbrush and toothpaste, hair dryer, bottled water, kettle, loungewear (top and trousers), shoehorn, etc.

I found the beds to be some of the most comfortable that I have tried in Japan so far, which is definitely saying something! They are still on the firmer side but due to the quality, there is a little bit of give that lower quality beds do not have.

Each room has a toilet, shower and sink – all in separate areas. There is also a TV, air conditioning/heating, and other standard appliances and electronics found in most Japanese hotel rooms.

The good

There is a lot of good points, so I will keep it brief.

Room:

Good bed – not too hard
Good amount of space for Japanese hotel rooms
Excellent internet connection – WiFi and wired speeds were extremely fast

Onsen:

Small but very clean
Two pools inside, one pool outside
Outside pool has a view over the river
Sauna – I did not use it but it looked decent from what I could see
Free snacks and drinks provided outside of onsen area

Free services:

In addition to the services that Dormy Inn provides at no cost, they also have an additional one that is definitely unique to this chain: yonakisoba (also known as night songbird soba).

Yonakisoba, Night songbird soba

Yonakisoba is a soya sauce soba that is served every night from 9:30 to 11 p.m. at Dormy Inn. It is a speciality dish from Muroran in Hokkaido, Japan.

Ingredients: Yonakisoba typically includes noodles, pork, vegetables (like cabbage and carrots), and a savoury sauce. At Dormy Inn, they provide half portions without the slices of pork. The idea is that you can go to sleep comfortably with someone filling in your stomach. Since Japanese people often eat dinner around 6 p.m., guests may want to have a smackerel of something before bed.
Origin: The dish originated in the mid-20th century when a restaurant in Muroran started serving it as a late-night snack for workers and students. Its name is said to come from the idea that the smell of the noodles cooking would make people cry out in hunger during the night.
Serving Style: It’s often served with a side of pickled ginger and topped with aonori (seaweed flakes) and bonito flakes.

I have to admit that I was hooked! I had yonakisoba every single night I stayed.

For those travelling on a budget, I also felt that this was a good way of replacing your evening meal with something that is filling but not heavy before bed, especially if you have a larger, later lunch than usual.

The bad

I would say that there isn’t anything! I enjoyed my stay here and would not change a thing about how it was.

Response to my review

I booked through Trip.com. Here is the review I posted:

The Dormy Inn is a chain 3-star onsen hotel that you can find across Japan. This is the first one I have stayed in but it certainly won’t be the last! The one in Abashiri is situated on the river between the train station and bus terminal, both of which will be useful for getting to and exploring Abashiri. Reception is on the ground floor and you need a keycard to access any of the higher levels of the building. The onsen and sauna are on the top floor and are split by gender. The onsen part has both indoor and outdoor parts.

The hotel rooms come with a comfortable (and softer, for Japanese standard) bed with a desk, telephone, television, reading light, etc. that you would expect in a Japanese hotel. It has slightly more space than other, comparable hotels. I stayed a week in mid-July 2024 and would happily stay here again! The staff were courteous, all the signs were in at least English and Japanese (and often also in simplified Chinese and Korean), and everything was very clear. I had no problems or issues of any kind. I did not eat breakfast at the hotel, so I am unable to provide any feedback on this topic.

Conclusion: I will happily stay at this and other Dormy Inn’s in the future.

Here is what the owners had to say:

(No response yet)