Hotel Global View Sapporo

Our room had plenty of space for four people, and the hospitality and kindness were top tier. Food and drinks were nearby, and the bus shuttle was convenient. Sapporo station was about ten minutes away. This hotel stole our hearts on our first visit to Hokkaido.

For the price, which was very competitive, the room was spacious and I’m satisfied. The staff were patient and helpful even though we knew almost no Japanese. It’s a quieter spot, a walk from the action, but the shopping street is a short walk away. The room could’ve been cleaner, the bidet didn’t work, and the coin dryer was terrible, though that seems common in Japanese hotels. One other thing: the luggage shipping waybills are cash on delivery only, so you can’t request delayed delivery. You could try Japan Postal at Lawsons across the street instead.

The rooms are unusually large, but this was the only hotel of the ones we stayed at in Japan that I can’t recommend. Our non-smoking room smelled strongly of cigarette smoke most of the time, apparently from someone nearby smoking a lot. It was also hot and stuffy, with no way to open the window and centrally controlled air conditioning. Then the fridge broke. When we checked out, we asked if the hotel could hold our luggage briefly until it was time to leave for the airport. A male staff member acted as though it was a huge bother and seemed reluctant. It was bizarre and unlike our experience at Japanese hotels in general.

Since we drove, the location worked well for us and we had reserved a parking space before our stay. The place was quiet and peaceful, with a famous ramen restaurant nearby where people queue for hours in the cold, plus a Lawson for basic needs. The rooms are larger than usual for hotels closer to Sapporo City and the JR Lines, and based on my experience the service was good. I was told by a slightly older male receptionist that housekeeping could only be done once every three days. That made it feel a bit like I’d paid for a service apartment hostel. Maybe they’re short on cleaning staff, busy with the cleaning schedule, or the room price only allows for that. Compared with hotels nearer the city, you might get better service there, but face other problems like noisy surroundings, washing and drying machines that are always full and dirty, or air conditioning that doesn’t work. Hope this helps anyone picking a place to stay in Sapporo.