Hoshino Resorts KAI Poroto

The outdoor onsen was the highlight for me, especially the infinity pool looking out over the lake inside its beautiful traditional structure. The room was spacious, spotless and had everything we needed, with a gorgeous lake and mountain view. Dinner and breakfast were both delicious and plentiful. From the warm welcome to the quick tour, the staff made us feel looked after. They also handled our meal bookings and a fun cultural craft activity. A shuttle to the nearby station would be useful, though it's a short walk. Hoshino KAI Poroto made for an unforgettable stay.

I had such a wonderful trip here. The staff were friendly, professional and cute. The hot spring was clean and cosy, and fit right into the peaceful surroundings. The room was superb, the seasonal food was incredible, and the views were mind-blowing. Amazing, amazing, amazing!

The lake and trees outside our room's huge window looked like a living wallpaper. We had a long sofa on the indoor balcony, and the indoor onsen was wonderful, with reddish water. I don't know what minerals are in it, but it felt great on my skin. The one thing that might have made the room even nicer was bringing in some natural sounds from outside. We walked from the station, about 13-15 minutes with our 23 kg suitcases after a lot of shopping in Otaru and Sapporo. Coming in through the car park, the long hallway with a Japanese garden on the right immediately felt calm and Zen. Check-in was easy. The front desk staff were very polite, and another staff member showed us to the room and explained everything so gracefully. Dinner and breakfast were both excellent. My wife doesn't eat beef, and after we told the concierge on day one, they remembered and adjusted her meal the next day without us needing to ask again. Such a thoughtful bit of hospitality. The room did feel a little dated. There were visible stains on the ceiling above the indoor onsen, and the large curtains were beautiful but had to be operated by hand. A small renovation could bring the facilities up to the level of the service and food. We still had a very positive stay, with a lovely mix of comfort, nature and Japanese hospitality. Highly recommended!

It's one of the best hotels in the Hoshinoya chain in Hokkaido. For a relaxing stay, this is a quiet place in a small city with plenty of nice restaurants and coffee shops with desserts. It's not too far from Chitose Airport, around an hour by car or train. Upopoy Inu museum is within easy walking distance, and it's big, with a lot to learn about Inu culture.