Best hotels in Hokkaido

Sapporo is one of Japan's most liveable cities – spacious, grid-planned, and blessed with excellent food, craft beer, and easy access to both ski slopes and seafood markets. Opened in December 2025, the hotel sits just a four-minute walk from JR Sapporo Station, with direct access to the underground walkway that keeps you sheltered from winter's bite. The design threads Hokkaido's earthy tones throughout, and facilities punch above typical city-hotel weight: a grill restaurant showcasing local produce, a guest-only public bath, and a Premium Lounge with terrace views for those in higher-tier rooms. It's a polished base for exploring the city's ramen alleys, craft breweries, and – come February – the famous Snow Festival.

Perched on a forested hilltop overlooking the Sea of Okhotsk, this is a refreshingly relaxed base for exploring one of Japan's most extraordinary corners. The Shiretoko Peninsula – whose Ainu name means 'the end of the earth' – earned UNESCO status for good reason: brown bears patrol the coastline, orcas cruise the waters, and drift ice transforms the sea each winter. Back at the resort, the approach is decidedly Scandinavian-inspired, embracing 'hygge' – that cosy, unhurried contentment the Danes do so well. With all-inclusive drinks, a recently renovated onsen, excellent buffet dining and genuinely warm service, it's a comfortable cocoon from which to venture into the wild.

See why so many travellers make Mitsui Garden Hotel Sapporo their hotel of choice when visiting Chuo. Providing an ideal mix of value, comfort and convenience, it offers a quiet setting with an array of amenities designed for travellers and holidaymakers alike.