Jozankei View Hotel

The hotel provides a shuttle bus pick-up from Sapporo Station (Bus Terminal), but reservations can only be made by phone call. Email requests are not accepted. We arrived on a Sunday, and the bus was already fully packed when leaving Sapporo Station, so it is best to book early. The hotel itself is a little old, though the public area toilets appear to have been recently renovated. The public onsen pools are large and relaxing, but the stone tile flooring can be slippery from long use, so be careful when walking in the bath area. The buffet has a good spread of dishes. I especially enjoyed the dinner scallop miso soup, handmade sushi, and desserts. The restaurant was lively and fully packed with both local Japanese families and overseas tourists. One minor downside was the seasonal fruit such as lychee. It would be better if the hotel ensured the fruits were properly washed before serving. Wi-Fi connection in the hotel is strong and stable unlike the big spa hotel in lake Toya which I just stayed a few days ago.

This is a huge hotel catered mainly for tour groups. Restaurant is huge but hotel guests are many and gets crowded during meal time. Hotel lobby is classy with a nice souvenir shop for the convenience of guests. Rooms décor are dated and carpet has seen better days. However toilet is new and clean. Onsen is good. Location is quite a walk to town but our rooms have nice views of the river and autumn colours.

The hotel offers a variety of onsen experiences, including a rooftop open-air bath, which was a highlight of our stay. The small indoor water park was enjoyable, though access to the slides required renting additional equipment, which felt unexpected given the room rate. The Western-style room, while functional, appeared dated, particularly the furnishings, and the pillows lacked adequate support. During our two-night stay, the breakfast and dinner buffet menus remained the same each day, which limited variety.