Otaru Kourakuen

My first visit to Otaru was truly unforgettable, all thanks to my experience at this wonderful hotel! Located just a pleasant 20-minute drive from Otaru Station, the hotel is nestled in a tranquil, private area that feels like stepping into a captivating wonderland. I was delighted to discover a bus stop right across from the hotel, making it effortlessly convenient to explore the surroundings. From the moment we arrived, the staff welcomed us warmly by name, and they were incredibly helpful with our luggage. Taking off our shoes upon entering the hotel created a feeling of comfort and cleanliness that made us feel right at home. After a smooth check-in process, during which they confirmed our breakfast time, the staff graciously guided us through the hotel, sharing helpful information about opening hours for various amenities. Our room was beautifully adorned in traditional Japanese style, complete with an open-air bath. Enjoying this serene experience during the winter was simply magical! We also savored a delectable Kaiseki dinner in our room, which was not only a feast for our taste buds but also left us delightfully satisfied. The onsens were a real highlight, featuring an adjacent sauna. With daily alternating access for women and men every other day, we were able to enjoy both during our stay. Families will find this hotel exceptionally accommodating, thanks to its variety of playrooms and relaxation spaces catering to guests of all ages. Plus, the complimentary refreshments and bar in the lobby until 10 PM added a lovely touch to our experience. Breakfast was a true delight, with a peaceful view of the snow outside the restaurant, enhancing the serene atmosphere. On our departure day, the hotel thoughtfully arranged a shuttle bus to take us to the JR station, making our exit seamless and convenient. Looking back, our only regret is that we stayed just one night—I can't wait to return and immerse myself in a different season's beauty. This hotel is now firmly on my list for future visits, and I’m already looking forward to the next adventure!

Really enjoyed our stay here - wish we had splurged in the private onsen and in suite dinner. Would stay again, my wife absolutely loved it.

We absolutely loved this ryokan experience! Stayed for 2d1n as a couple and absolutely loved the place! We booked the room with the private onsen and it was a lovely small space on the 2nd floor we could enjoy privately. The onsen is not too big, maybe 1.5 x 1.5 meters, but it was spacious for the two of us. We also found out that you can book a 45 minute slot for a separate private onsen for about ¥2200, which we may have done instead, had we known about it before booking. The japanese-style room was comfortable and had the usual amenities provided, alongside other nice additions like lotions and creams. The staff helped us to set up our futon (japanese-style bed) after dinner, and it was overall a very comfortable experience. The staff are super friendly and service was incredible. We got the dinner and breakfast package and the food was excellent. We had to choose both the dinner slot in advance, and it is first-come-first-serve. Dinner was served to us in the room over 1.5h and was a really amazing 12-course meal with instructions on the eating order. Breakfast was more standard, but still nice, we took it in the dining hall. The lounge is open till 10pm and we could take drinks and refreshment freely, including some small snacks and soft drinks. But they stop serving beer at 9pm. The onsens also have mini-fridges with free popsicles. There is also an outside area you can access from 3pm - 9pm that serves hot coffee and wine, with free marshmallows you can roast on the outside firepit. It was really nice. The garden is by far the nicest part of the hotel, it is really big and well decorated, with many nice places for photos and to enjoy a hot drink from the lounge. The space is quite large and might take about 20 minutes to fully explore. The only downside I can think of is that the location is quite hard to access. We chose to get to and from the ryokan by taxi, but there is also a shuttle bus service, from what I understand. When we arrived, the reception told us that there would be a shuttle bus leaving at 10:45 to Otaruchikko station. We still ended up requesting a taxi from the front desk though, which they were happy to help us book (I couldn't get any taxis by cab in the location). Overall a really amazing stay that we would absolutely recommend. The price tag might seem high for a "3 star" hotel, but the ranking is deceptive, we absolutely had a 5 star experience. Cheers! disclaimer: information is accurate as of 31 may, will try to provide info in as much detail as possible :)