What's your price range for Noboribetsu? And what do you think your partner would value in a ryokan - traditional room, dining, onsen water, mega-onsen activities? Pick two.

What kind of foodies are you? Is there anything you don't eat? Are you up for street food and b-kyuu https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/20...of-the-people/ if that means you bypass Michelin stars at formal restaurants?

If you are into fish and sushi, I'd advise Kanazawa for the white fishes. Toyama, while a more modern city, also has good sushi not easily available in other regions. I don't favor formally served kaiseki so I'd pass in Kyoto and stay overnight in Akita, dine at Takamura for counter service in front of an open kitchen https://tabelog.com/akita/A0501/A050101/5000664/ There's a running joke that foreign tourists don't go to Akita but I like it. Normal city with a manageable amount of tourist activities makes it a nice break from seeing too many attractions. Plus I also like rice and Akita's rice is well regarded.

Japanese businesses tend to take off for the new year. I think many well regarded restaurants close around that time range, not sure about b-kyuu.