Hotel Nikko Northland Obihiro

The hotel has a very elegant feel, and the location near the station is hard to beat. I liked the instant hot water and strong pressure, the bidet toilet, and especially the towels, which felt softer than ones at other hotels I've stayed at recently. The bed and pillows were comfortable too. The walls were noticeably thin, though. I could hear sounds from below and from the rooms beside me while lying down. I'm a light sleeper, but it didn't end up affecting my sleep. Breakfast was a mix for me. The range of food was great and the general quality was better than at many hotel buffets I've tried. The sweets were the standout: the small white cake cubes were excellent even though I usually don't like cake, and the rice pudding was delicious. The pineapple was fresh and well cut, and I liked the Hokkaido milk. Drip coffee was okay. I skipped the espresso machine because the same model had disappointed me at another hotel. The juice machine had a good selection, including orange and apple juice, oolong tea, sparkling water, and ginger ale. There was also a pancake machine, though I didn't try it. The fish was a letdown. I love salmon, but I barely ate the diced kind and didn't go back for more. I understand that cutting it into small pieces probably helps serve a lot of people, but longer slices would have made me want more. The grilled salmon was poor too, about as disappointing as the microwaved salmon my mother gave me as a kid or the batches I messed up while learning to cook. The bacon was edible, but I cut off the fat. That's partly personal preference: as an American, I'm used to it being cooked until the fat renders and the meat turns crisp. There's no on-site onsen, though a restaurant helps make up for that. The sake and wine tasting area came with two tokens, and the tasting was alright. I wouldn't buy more at 500 yen each; it felt like an incentive to buy a bottle. Signing up for this Nikko hotel as my selected "One Harmony" hotel got me a discounted breakfast for 1600 yen, which was a decent price, but I probably wouldn't do it again given my food preferences. I'd rather explore the many good places to eat in Japan outside the hotel. If you're staying in Obihiro, don't need an onsen, and can get a decent discounted rate, this is a good choice. I wouldn't choose Obihiro as a destination in general, though. I'd go west or farther east to Kushiro.