Hotel berhampiran Empangan Asari, Otaru

We booked the best room on the top floor and spent 7 nights at this high end and extremely expensive ryokan/hotel. Here are the pros and cons: PROS: The food is amazing in terms of presentation, gastronomy and service. The place is immaculately clean. The views a fantastic! We got comfortable Yukatas and overall the place has a very nice traditional vibe.  CONS: They seem to be completely inapt in hosting people who don’t speak Japanese. No one speaks English at this place. None at all! They write that we can “press 9 and call the reception”, but once you do it – you can’t have any conversation with anyone at all. Even when you get down in person to the reception, no one can really communicate with you, even with Google Translate.  They exhibit zero flexibility. The approach is – it’s our way or the highway. All is extremely polite, but no left, no right! Can we have a laundry service arranged? The answer is “no!”. Can we communicate with you via WhatsApp or email? – No! Can we come later to breakfast? No. Can we have dinner at a later time, since we can’t come earlier just this one day? No! Basically, if you want to sleep a bit later during your vacation – forget it! Either show up at 8 or 8:30 am for breakfast, or go hungry! Can we buy your Yukata? – No! Also, we were asked to indicate every day what time we intend to go out – something that adds pressure, as  on vacation one may want to improvise, rather than plan ahead their outings.  Given that this place charges exuberant prices, the lack of the most basic hospitality features (communication, laundry, customer-focused flexibility) is astounding! We now staying at another Ryokan, 90 minutes away and see that everyone can speak some English and the place is much more focused on the needs of a foreign traveler, as opposed on preserving the holy rigidity of an existent system. 

This hotel is impressive, with great location (just opposite JR otaru station) and awesome onsen. The onsen is amazing. Indoor, there's a sauna, 2 hot pools and 1 cold pool. There are 2 additional hot pools outdoor. If you have a tattoo, you can ask the reception for tattoo stickers. The view is also beautiful. Will stay in this hotel again if i ever come back to otaru.

We had such a great time here even though we only spent one night here. The rooms were clean, and the service was really good. It's a bit of a walk from Otaru Station, but I would still consider the location as convenient because it's just right across Otaru Canal and walkable to many other sights and restaurants. The rooms were quite spacious by Japanese standards. Overall, we had a really great stay in this hotel and would definitely stay here again when we visit Otaru again in the future.

We had a wonderful stay at this hotel. We are a family of 2 adults and 2 children, and the room was perfect for us. The room had 4 beds and windows, which made it spacious, bright, and comfortable. The hotel is in a very good location, making it convenient to get around and visit nearby attractions. The beds were comfortable, and the room was clean and cozy. We especially enjoyed the bathtub. It was a great way to relax after a long day, and our children loved it as well. Overall, we really liked this hotel and had a pleasant stay. We would definitely recommend it to families looking for a comfortable hotel in a good location.

Kakitangan di kaunter penerimaan tetamu fasih berbahasa Inggeris, itu bagus. Sth dramatik berlaku selepas saya mendaftar masuk. Entah bagaimana beg pakaian saya tidak boleh dibuka, walaupun saya tahu nombor kuncinya. Jadi saya terpaksa menelefon penerimaan untuk mendapatkan bantuan, nasib baik mereka mempunyai alat untuk membuka beg pakaian, tetapi saya diberitahu untuk menunggu kerana orang lain menggunakannya dan saya sepatutnya dipanggil selepas penerimaan alat itu. Menunggu sepanjang malam, tanpa panggilan telefon, dan terpaksa keluar keesokan paginya dengan beg pakaian saya yang rosak. Jadi jika anda mendapati beg pakaian anda tidak boleh dibuka, pergi cari penerimaan dengan segera atau anda mungkin tidak berpeluang untuk menggunakan alat itu, haha

Honestly the only praise to give to this hotel is the staff attitude and the location which is near the canal. The staffs were-Helpful and dedicated .  I can accept the hotel is old and not so spacious. But one thing I really can’t take it is the level of the bathroom. I can’t understand why the level is so high. We need to step a big leap to climb in order to get into the bathroom. Also to get into the bathtub to stand to shower was dangerous too. It was unbelievable deep. I almost fell.  This hotel is really not suitable for elderly people. And need to pay extra careful attention when you climb to the bathroom and to the bathtub. Sometimes I do not understand why can’t just list out that you would need to collect onsen tax. If I know I need to pay for that I would not want to choose this hotel. Because I do not go for the onsen.

free parking, nearby grocery supermarket within walking distance. Room is big & easier for check-in & check out process. price is valuable.

This apartment offers a practical and comfortable stay, especially for those looking to explore Otaru on foot. We appreciated the basic utensils and cutlery provided, making it easy to prepare simple meals. The thoughtful inclusion of toothbrushes and toothpaste was a nice touch, and the microwave was handy for quick reheats. Comfort is well-addressed with one air-conditioner and a heater, ensuring a pleasant temperature regardless of the weather. The washing machine was a huge convenience, and we had options for drying clothes either on the hanger stand inside the room or on the balcony. The location is a major highlight, being within easy walking distance to both Otaru Canal and Sakaimachi Street. We also found it convenient to have a Lawson and various eateries nearby, though it's a good idea to check their opening hours as they can vary. Important Considerations for Your Stay While the location is excellent, it's important to note that the road leading to the building is steep. This could be particularly challenging if you're driving, and we would not advise driving during winter due to the road conditions. For those with a car, there are two parking areas available. The closer one has three slots, while a slightly further option offers approximately 12 slots. Keep this in mind, especially if you prioritize a closer parking spot.

You will feel comfy and relaxed, like sitting and slaying at your home. We're 4 pax and stayed 1 night, but feel hommy and humble in everything here. Our room can fit 4-6 pax. Pls enjoy here if you love English country style!!

The location is very convenient, within 15 mins of walking distance from the main train & bus station also to the canal. Host are friendly and accommodating. Room size is generous too but the only drawback is the compact size bathroom and no bathtub. Also the building doesn't have elevator so low floor is highly preferred