In response to the nationwide sauna boom, the Kitakobushi Shiretoko Hotel & Resort in the town of Shari in the Shiretoko region of eastern Hokkaido has opened ‘Okhotsk Club Spa Suite with Sauna,’ private rooms complete with sauna.
　
The hotel established the two rooms on the top seventh floor, and has been accepting guests since February 4. The rooms have 100 square meters of floorspace, including sauna and outdoor bath. In the sauna, guests can enjoy self-service ‘loyly,’ in which water is poured over hot stones to generate steam. A cold-water bath and outdoor relaxation space are also provided. Rates vary depending on the time of year, but the highest price is approximately 80,000 yen per person per night with two meals included.
　
In June of last year, the refurbished sauna room reopened in the hotel’s grand bathhouse and, in November of the same year, was promptly voted second on the ‘Saunachelin 2021’ to find the most popular sauna facilities nationwide. According to a hotel representative, “With the sauna boom and promotion of ‘workations’ (working vacations), we hope that guests will enjoy the private sauna space with views of the drift ice.”