Jozankei View Hotel (Granbell Hotels & Resorts)

This was my second stay.Last time I traveled solo and used a twin room as single occupancy, but this time I stayed with my partner (my wife) for 3 nights and 4 days.I booked a twin Western-style room for the first two nights, and a Japanese-Western style room for the third night because the twin was unavailable. However, thanks to the Hotel’s kindness, we were upgraded to a very spacious Japanese-Western style room for all three nights. Thank you very much.The main purpose of this trip was the Sapporo Snow Festival for the first time in six years. With hotel prices in central Sapporo rising sharply recently, we chose this Hotel again because we had a great experience before. When comparing rates, this Hotel with breakfast and dinner can sometimes be cheaper than central-area hotels with breakfast only (depending on when you make your Reservation).This time we rented a car from the airport, but if you are not used to driving on snowy roads, taking the bus is honestly recommended.Also, at this Hotel, if the schedule works out, using the free Shuttle Service bus is an excellent value.We used the Shuttle Service one-way from the Hotel to Sapporo Station on our second day (they were running five large buses).After enjoying the Snow Festival, we returned to the Hotel by taking Jotetsu Bus “Kappa Liner,” using its last service (departing 17:00 from in front of the station).On day three, we relaxed by visiting nearby Hoheikyo Onsen for a day trip bath and their famous curry, and took an easy stroll around town in the snowy hot-spring area.As for the Hotel itself, you can enjoy various baths at both an underground Onsen area and an observation bath & open-air bath on the top floor.That said—perhaps because there isn’t enough source water volume for baths of that size—the “Onsen feel” is slightly mild.Meals were buffet-style for both breakfast and dinner. Given that it was peak season at such a huge Resort Hotel, it gets extremely crowded in a massive dining venue, so it’s better to avoid peak times.The buffet selection may not match top-tier luxury resort standards, but it was satisfying—for example, breakfast included seafood bowls where you can add as much salmon roe as you like.If you’re visiting Sapporo for sightseeing, staying in central Sapporo is convenient; however, this Hotel offers great value with breakfast and dinner included plus Onsen access—and even free Shuttle Service buses from near Sapporo Station—so I may well return for a third stay.One extra note: the new wing has three glass elevators, and two regular elevators on the inner side of the building opposite them.The glass elevators have great views, but in midwinter (around -10°C), they are very cold inside, so we ended up using the inner ones most of the time.

I used the Shuttle Service. The pool and Onsen were excellent, and the Facility has been renovated with a sauna and a cool-down room, so I was able to fully relax. The food was tasty with a wide variety, but the roast beef was tough and I couldn’t eat it.