Dormy Inn Premium Sapporo

The rooms feel typical and show some wear, so they could use an update soon. Still, the staff were always friendly and quick to help, and there's a lot included for the price, like free late-night ramen and the hot springs baths, which were great for warming up after a day out. The location is hard to beat, right in the shopping arcade and within walking distance of the snow festival Park. Breakfast was top tier, especially the seafood bowl station, with lots of seafood as well as Sapporo favorites like curry soup, Genghis Khan, and other seafood dishes.

I've tried three Dormy Inns over the past two years, and this one's probably my favorite. The staff were excellent, and the room was warm and spacious, with blackout curtains, no moldy smell, working AC and heating, and enough room to open my suitcase and get ready. The public stairs were useful too. At the other two Dormy Inns I'd stayed at, stairs were for emergency use only. The setting is especially handy for the snow festival. You can enter from Tanukikoji and stay sheltered from the snow, and it's a short walk to both Odori Park and Susukino. Nijo market is nearby too. A bus to New Chitose Airport stops a short walk away. Breakfast was a great spread with kaisendon, curry, and Jingisukan (Genghis Khan). I booked it for my stay because I was worried about getting snowed in, something to consider. The hot springs and sauna were great. The indoor bath was plenty big, though I wouldn't mind a slightly larger outdoor one. A couple of practical things: if you've reserved breakfast and there's a line, customers are called by number, so it's useful to know Japanese numbers. The staff know some English, but knowing a little Japanese helps. The hotel's currency exchange machine isn't a good choice. There's an exchanger down the block in Tanukikoji with much better rates, or a bank in Aurora town with great rates if that one's closed. If snow cancels the trains and buses after you land at New Chitose Airport, you can take a taxi to Oyachi station, ride the subway to Odori, then walk to the hotel. Go along the surface streets, or through the underground Pole Town, come up at Don Quixote on Tanukikoji, then walk to the hotel under cover. I'd avoid taking a taxi through downtown Sapporo in winter. I've seen several cars get stuck in snow, and all the pedestrians slow traffic to a crawl.

The pillows were psychotically uncomfortable, but I'd still happily come back. The rooms are basic, clean, and cost, and for the money Dormy Inn is incredible value. Its public bath (public bath) was one of the best hotel baths I've used, with a sauna that's insanely hot and a cold plunge that's insanely cold. Sitting outside in a tub while it snows was amazing.

The location was great, and I loved the hotel. The Onsen was a highlight, and there were nice extras like popsicles, coffee, and ramen at night. When we arrived, the toilet smelled, though it eventually cleared. The pillows were among the worst I've had in a hotel, like medieval torture. You'll love staying here, but if pillows matter to you, bring your own.