2-Star Hotels in Hokkaido, Japan

"I initially thought that staying in a hostel/capsule hotel like this would be a terrible experience, but it turned out to be surprisingly good. Of course, I booked it because it was cheap. During the peak season of the Snow Festival, it was significantly cheaper, even half the price of other regular hotels. So, even if the experience was bad, I could tolerate it, but it actually wasn't. Plus, I got to experience the local (northern) sauna culture, which was quite new for me, a southerner. First, let's talk about the location. It's a straight five-minute walk from Susukino Station, and there's also a city tram stop right outside, so transportation is very convenient. Personally, I recommend taking the airport bus because you don't have to drag your luggage so far. In Susukino, it's naturally convenient for dining and shopping. There's a convenience store just across the street downstairs, basically solving most of your needs. There are 4.5 floors of hotel accommodation, with over a hundred beds on each floor. When I went, it was the peak season of the Snow Festival, but the occupancy rate seemed to be only about half, so there weren't that many people near your bed. There might be occasional noise, but guests from all over the world are generally well-behaved and consciously control their volume during quiet hours. So, staying here is pretty much like a school dorm. If you can accept a school dorm, then this place should be fine too. After staying, I realized that this place is essentially a three-in-one: accommodation is capsule (hostel) + internet cafe. You buy a bed, and the public area provides basic entertainment like comics. Showering is in a Japanese public bathhouse, which also has hot spring pools and a sauna area. I recommend that those who haven't been before should learn about the customs and etiquette in advance. The dining area is similar to an izakaya, operating from evening until 1 AM, offering basic staple foods and some drinks. The overall facilities and services are quite comprehensive, and I didn't feel any inconvenience during my four or five-day stay. If you think the bed is expensive, there's a sneaky trick (prerequisite: you need to understand Japanese and the billing rules). You can use it like a Japanese public bathhouse, just like the locals do. Go in and select the 'day trip' (日帰り) option on the machine. Sometimes, the final bill will be cheaper than booking a bed. However, the downside is that you won't have a bed, and you'll have to find a place to spend the night in the dining area or public lounge on the 7th floor. If there are too many people, you might not find a place to rest. So, judge for yourselves. This trick is recommended for those who are more familiar with Japan. Before staying, I saw some reviews mentioning two concerns, and now I'll address them based on my actual experience: First, female staff passing through the changing area outside the bathhouse. I did encounter this two or three times. I guess the front desk and dining staff took the stairs to the dining area to save elevator waiting time. They also tried to keep their heads down and avoid looking, so I personally don't mind. If you do, then I suggest you consider not staying here. Second, the air conditioning is kept at 18-20 degrees Celsius (64-68°F), which was perfect for me. After all, it's below zero outdoors, and too large a temperature difference can be uncomfortable."

"Excellent! First off, it feels very safe with separate dorms for men and women. Secondly, the bathroom facilities are well-designed and thoughtfully arranged. The only minor downside is that for light sleepers, earplugs are a must at night because there are many beds in the room. On the plus side, it's very clean. Also, it's close to the metro station, and there are plenty of options for food, drinks, and shopping nearby."

"Clean hostel with good beds and convenient location if you need to take the train. Reception was never open although I arrived around 6pm, they were offering a welcome drink that was not possible to get. It’s a pity that the curtains have big gaps that let people see inside your capsule on the side and above it. It would be easy to fix by adding some plywood but not a major issue."

"A small but charming accommodation. The staff at the front desk were very friendly. The room was just right for two people, with a standard double bed. It's a 5-minute walk to Wulinggang Pagoda. Clown Burger is next to Wulinggang Pagoda and is open until 9 pm. Parking is available right next to the hotel. It costs 660 yen per day. There's a large restaurant called Da Kuro-ya just around the corner. There are many places to eat nearby in the evening."

"The hotel is conveniently located near the Kita-18-jo subway station exit. There's also a cafe on the ground floor, which is a nice touch. Both the baristas and the accommodation staff are very friendly and welcoming. However, it's a bit inconvenient if you have large luggage as there's no elevator and the stairwell is quite narrow."

"It was a satisfactory accommodation for the price. Although it shows a bit of age, it is kept clean, and the staff are very friendly. I also enjoyed a delicious and affordable breakfast."

"⭐️ Stayed in a mixed dorm room & was a bit worried at first - but pleasantly surprised at the end 💚PROS + staff is very kind and helpful and there is someone at the front desk almost all the time (night excluded) + they organize summer festivals and get-togethers with their Odori Park Partner Hostel + real big and comfortable beds & a lockable drawer + towel & 2 clotheshangers + clean showers & bathrooms + great showergels + washer & dryer + washroom area on 10th floor that’s usable 24/7 + nice and comfortable common rooms, with fridge, cooking- & washing area & free tea/coffee + great subway & bus connections + great attractions in walkable distance + rooms get cleaned daily & your bedding gets changed every 4 days ❤️🩹 CONS - would’ve loved more storage space next to my bed! 🌱 Really loved this hostel & spend my 8 nights there very comfortably! Most of my roommates were nice and abided by the rules set by the hostel - if i were to travel to Sapporo again, i would choose to stay there again 💗"

"I stayed at this hotel for three nights at the end of April. I recommend it to anyone traveling to Hakodate. Advantages of this hotel: Location - Close to Hakodate Station and the Hakodate Morning Market (about a 5-minute walk), with many restaurants nearby. The hotel has parking, which is very reasonable at 500 yen per day. Rate - I booked a twin room. You probably couldn't find another hotel near Hakodate Station at this price. Free breakfast was also provided. Although it only included bread, eggs, coffee/tea/milk, it was enough to fill you up before starting your trip. Friendly Attitude - After communicating via email, the hotel owner, Mr. Toyosato, booked a restaurant for us that only accepts phone reservations. The hotel also provides handmade leaflets recommending nearby restaurants. Disadvantages of this hotel: The facilities are old-fashioned, and the bathroom is extremely cramped."

"The room was quite new, and the service was excellent. The room was spacious and well-stocked with amenities. The staff's attitude was also very good, making for a thoroughly satisfying experience. I'll definitely visit again. The stay was very pleasant, and everyone had a great time interacting."

"During my summer vacation in Hokkaido, I planned to stay in Biei's Furano for one night and two days to fully enjoy the blossoms. Seeing Hanafuji Ryokan's impressive 4.7 rating on Ctrip, I chose it without hesitation. Even though it wasn't available for cancellation, I paid immediately. A few days later, I saw it was fully booked, and I was so glad I'd made the booking. The hotel is conveniently located just minutes from Nakafurano Station. It's like a small villa, with new and elegant facilities. The surroundings are tranquil and the scenery is breathtaking. It's a ten-minute walk from the hotel to Hokuseiyama Lavender Garden (where you can take the cable car to the summit for a breathtaking view), and another ten-minute walk to Farm Tomita. If you're looking to fully enjoy the lavender in Furano, this hotel is the perfect choice. A superb soup curry restaurant and two convenience stores are also within a fifteen-minute walk. The owner and hostess are Chinese, so they can easily communicate in Chinese. They were very friendly and offered thoughtful suggestions for our itinerary. Finally, be sure to book the breakfast prepared by the owner herself. It's incredibly delicate and eye-catching. Waking up early and sitting in the cozy dining room with a view of vast fields and rolling hills outside the window is super, super nice. I even made an appointment with the owner to stay at his house during winter skiing trips!"