Chateraise Gateaux Kingdom Sapporo Hotel and Spa Resort

There are signs everywhere saying no tattoos. Tourists shouldn't stay here. They'll kick you out, even though getting in costs so much. Absolutely ridiculous.

Traveling with kids in Sapporo? This place made it easy. The staff were so welcoming and helped with bags, taxis, tours, and things we’d forgotten. I had a little trouble using the website without Japanese, so here’s what I found on offer: There’s an indoor and outdoor waterpark, plus a spa and traditional onsen, all included with your stay. In winter, you can eat at two restaurants and a bakery; in summer, there are four restaurants. Some have play areas for kids. There’s also an outdoor playground in summer, and in winter the main lawn gets a sledding hill, snowmen, and smaller snow sculptures. Other handy extras include a video game arcade, a free shuttle to and from the train station every two hours, and a lending library with Japanese children’s books and toys. Swimsuits and pool floats are available to rent.

The room I had was one of the updated ones, and it was quite spacious, with a really nice bathroom. A few pieces of furniture showed some wear, but were still in decent shape. The onsen was lovely, with several kinds of bathing areas. My favorite was the path of stones you walk over, from hot to cold. There’s a pool with slides and an okay buffet, too. A classic resort hotel with the usual amenities, and definitely set up well for families.

The breakfast was truly delicious, and I loved this hotel. Our room was quite large, with a private room, restaurant, and toilet. The hot spring was lovely, and the swimming pool was warm. At check-in they gave us delicious cookies and wine, and we could borrow toys for the children from the front desk. Such a nice place!