Sapporo Park Hotel

I picked the Nakajima Park area this time for a change, after staying around Sapporo station and Susukino on previous visits. Since it was winter, being near a subway entrance mattered in case I didn't want to drive at night, so we chose Sapporo Park Hotel for its proximity to the station. It was the longest stay among the nine hotels on my 17-day trip, and also the one that fell shortest of expectations. I'd give it three stars. The lobby made an impressive first impression, almost like a five-star hotel. We arrived late in the evening, and nobody was available to help with our luggage. We understood the unusual timing. The room was dated and needs a major renovation, which I understand is planned for 2026. It was clean and well equipped enough for our needs. From the window, we had a magnificent view of Nakajima Park, a nice place for a morning walk before a full day of sightseeing. The front desk service was the letdown. The Japanese woman who checked me in spoke the best English of anyone I met during the 17 days, but she seemed complacent and eager to rush through the process. She didn't give me all the information I needed as a guest. For example, she never asked whether I had driven, so I wasn't told how parking worked. She seemed focused on getting the check-in done quickly and collecting the room fee. Only after reaching the room did I realize she hadn't asked for my car plate or explained parking. I called the front desk and was told to bring my parking coupon down the next morning. On the fourth day, I asked the front desk whether there was a lost-and-found because my kid had left an earmuff in the lobby the night before. The person there was the same staff member who'd checked me in. She called housekeeping while I was standing there, but when they hadn't answered after five seconds, she immediately said they hadn't found anything. Her attitude felt sloppy and let the hotel down. That service cost the hotel a star. If it had matched the standard at the other eight hotels I stayed in on this trip, I would have rated it four stars.

The booking site had our dates right, but the hotel showed us leaving a day early. When we raised it, they weren't helpful and told us to book and pay for another night through booking.com. Service definitely wasn't a strong point. The room and facilities felt stuck in 2006: an old, sagging mattress, dated furniture, a tiny bathroom with a cramped tub-shower, and a small 2010-era TV that only had free channels unless you paid for movies. The aircon was locked to warm, the window wouldn't open, and each room got one metal key. There was no keycard security for the lifts or front entrance. Breakfast for seven nights was quoted at $270 per person, nearly $40 a day, which is absurd. This isn't a five-star hotel, maybe three at best. For a place taking in millions from guests each year, it feels like the money just goes into someone's back pocket. This was the most disappointing part of my six weeks in Japan, and felt like a rip-off.

The breakfast room was surprisingly small for such a large hotel. During my five-day stay, I spent most mornings waiting for a table to open up. That was unlike my experience at other hotels, and it's a real hassle when guests have schedules or rides to catch. The building and rooms are showing some wear, though the hospitality was excellent. They should consider how much breakfast space is needed for the number of guests.

The location is hard to beat: turn left outside and you're at Nakajima Park, and the train station is less than 50 steps away. Breakfast comes as either a buffet or a traditional Japanese set meal. There's even free beer if you skip room cleaning. The room is spacious, though the bathroom feels a bit claustrophobic. I'm tall enough to reach the ceiling without any trouble. I could also smell cigarette smoke coming from another room.