Sapporo Hotel by Granbell Japan
Where Winter Meets Modern Elegance ❄️✨
HOW TO GET HERE:
The best way to reach the hotel is via E-hailing services or Public Transport.
Hotel Address: 2 Chome-2-2 Kita 6 Johigashi, Higashi Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-0906, Japan
Directions from New Chitose Airport (CTS) to SAPPORO HOTEL by GRANBELL by car or public transport.
Travelling from New Chitose Airport (CTS) to SAPPORO HOTEL by GRANBELL is simple and convenient, with several transport options available depending on your budget and luggage.
The easiest and most popular choice is the JR Rapid Airport train, which takes around 46 minutes from New Chitose Airport Station to JR Sapporo Station, with fares starting from approximately ¥2,230 (around AUD$19–20). From there, the hotel is only about a 7-minute walk away, making it an ideal option for most travellers visiting Sapporo.
If you prefer a more relaxed arrival, airport limousine buses operate regularly between the airport and central Sapporo, taking around 75 to 90 minutes with fares from approximately ¥1,500 (around AUD$13).
For the most convenient door-to-door option, taxis from CTS Airport to SAPPORO HOTEL by GRANBELL typically take between 40 to 60 minutes depending on traffic and weather conditions, with estimated fares ranging from ¥13,000 to ¥16,000 (approximately AUD$115–140). With the Australian dollar currently strong against the Japanese yen, Japan remains one of the best-value destinations for Australian travellers right now.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS:
Sapporo Hotel Entrance from the streets
Building views
Other Lobby Entrance
One of the first things that stood out to me about SAPPORO HOTEL by GRANBELL was how modern and impressive the building looked in person. The hotel has this sleek glass tower design that instantly feels upscale, but it still blends nicely into Sapporo’s city vibe without feeling overly flashy.
Walking up to the entrance, the warm lighting, huge covered driveway and clean architectural details gave it more of a luxury lifestyle hotel feel rather than your standard city stay.
I also really liked the location. It’s close enough to JR Sapporo Station to easily get around the city or head back to the airport, but the area itself feels quieter and less hectic than the main station streets. There are heaps of restaurants, cafés and convenience stores nearby, plus shopping spots like JR Tower, Daimaru and Stellar Place are all within walking distance.
Even during winter, the area felt easy to navigate, and having metro and train access close by made exploring Sapporo super convenient. Overall, the first impression felt polished, modern and surprisingly relaxing for such a central location.
The Hotel Entrance
Hotel Entrance Door
Hotel Logo
Hotel Lobby Area
Reception Area - Automated Check in/out options
Lobby Waiting Area
A convenience store inside the hotel
Lobby Lounge
Complimentary Teas
Complimentary Skin Care Packets
Walking into the lobby of SAPPORO HOTEL by GRANBELL honestly felt more like entering a modern luxury apartment tower than a typical hotel. The whole space has this warm and polished feel to it, with soft lighting, massive stone pillars, timber finishes and designer-style furniture that makes it feel really calm after being out in Sapporo’s cold weather.
I also loved how streamlined the check-in process was. The hotel has automated self check-in and check-out kiosks alongside the reception desk, which made everything super quick and easy, especially after a long flight from Australia.
One of the coolest touches though has to be the 24/7 FamilyMart convenience store located directly inside the hotel lobby. It ended up being way more useful than I expected, especially late at night when you’re feeling peckish and want snacks, instant noodles, drinks or even a quick breakfast without needing to walk outside into the freezing Hokkaido weather.
The hotel also provides complimentary tea selections and skincare packets in the lobby, including cleansers, toner and facial creams, which felt like a really thoughtful touch if you forgot to pack your own or just wanted to freshen up after travelling. Small details like that really made the stay feel more comfortable and well considered rather than just another standard city hotel.
TWIN ROOM
Spacious Twin Room
Comfortable Beds
Standard 45” LCD TV and work table
Sofa Lounge
Standard Bathroom with automated heated seat
Hotel Informations
The twin room ended up being a really comfortable surprise, especially compared to a lot of other hotels I’ve stayed at in Japan where rooms can feel pretty tight once you open your luggage.
The layout here felt well thought out and noticeably more spacious than expected for a city hotel in Sapporo. There was enough room to properly move around, a long desk area that worked well for getting work done or planning the day, plus a comfy lounge-style daybed by the window which made the room feel a bit more relaxing and less cramped.
The design also matched the rest of the hotel’s modern aesthetic, with soft lighting, warm timber tones and subtle Hokkaido-inspired touches that gave the room a cosy but polished feel.
The bathroom itself was fairly standard for Japan, featuring a deep bathtub, compact sink area and one of the classic Japanese bidet toilets, but everything felt clean, modern and functional.
I also liked that the hotel provides a simple information pamphlet inside the room with all the important details clearly laid out, including breakfast hours, public bath access, gym information, laundry facilities and even taxi contacts, which made it really easy to figure everything out without needing to call reception.
BREAKFAST AT HOKUSAI RESTAURANT
Hokusai Restaurant Entrance
Restaurant Seating Area
Restaurant Window Seating Area
Eggs & Pickled Vegetables Station
Ramen, Assorted Meat & Vegetables station
Breakfast at HOKUSAI Restaurant was honestly one of the biggest surprises of the stay. From the moment you walk in, the space already feels premium and modern, with warm lighting, open seating and large windows creating a relaxed atmosphere despite how busy it gets during the morning rush. Breakfast starts from 6:30am with last entry at 9:30am, but it’s worth knowing that people were already lining up before opening time during our stay. Around 7:30am, the restaurant becomes extremely busy and waiting times can easily reach around 10 to 15 minutes. That said, the staff handled everything incredibly well, constantly resetting tables quickly, guiding guests efficiently and making sure the whole process still felt smooth and organised.
The buffet selection itself was honestly massive, easily one of the most extensive hotel breakfasts I’ve experienced in Japan. There was a huge mix of Japanese and western options, but the standout for me was definitely the fresh poke sashimi station. Being able to build your own bowl with fresh seafood, rice and different toppings felt more like a premium seafood restaurant than a hotel breakfast buffet. Another highlight was the rice station featuring different furikake seasonings and Hokkaido-style toppings, which paired perfectly with the freshly cooked rice. There were also assorted Japanese meat dishes, vegetables, pickled vegetables, soups, noodles and plenty of rotating hot dishes spread across multiple buffet stations, so it never felt repetitive.
The Hokkaido dairy section is also something you absolutely shouldn’t skip. Hokkaido is famous for its dairy products, and you can really taste the difference here. The fresh milk was incredibly creamy, the yoghurt tasted rich and smooth, and the soft serve machine quickly became one of my favourite parts of breakfast. It sounds simple, but the soft serve was genuinely delicious and honestly a must-try before leaving. On top of that, the dessert selection was surprisingly impressive for breakfast, with assorted cakes, puddings, fresh fruit and smaller sweet bites that felt more like a dessert buffet than a standard hotel breakfast spread.
Overall, breakfast at HOKUSAI Restaurant felt like one of the highlights. Between the huge food variety, quality Hokkaido ingredients and efficient service despite the crowds, it’s definitely worth adding breakfast to your stay.
Rice with different Furikake Seasonings
Hokkaido Soup Curry Station
The Famous Hokkaido Milk station
Dessert & Fruits station
My Breakfast Spread Selection
A little Hokkaido Soft Serve Ice Cream for treat
ROOFTOP GYM & BAR LOUNGE AREA
Indoor Gym Area
Cardio & Weights machine
Range of Dumbbells
The indoor gym and lounge area are both located on the upper floors of the hotel. The entire space feels modern, calm and incredibly relaxing, with floor to ceiling windows overlooking the city of Sapporo. Whether visiting during the day or at night, the views alone make it worth stopping by.
The gym itself is not massive, but it’s more than sufficient for travellers wanting to keep up with their workouts while away. There’s a good mix of cardio equipment including treadmills, exercise bikes and cross trainers, all positioned directly in front of the panoramic windows so you can enjoy the city skyline while exercising. The gym also includes a functional cable machine, benches and a decent range of dumbbells, which makes it suitable for both light workouts and strength training sessions. Everything felt clean, modern and well maintained throughout our stay.
What makes this area even better is that the gym sits alongside the hotel’s lounge area, creating a really cozy atmosphere overall. During the daytime, the lounge was surprisingly peaceful and quiet, mostly filled with guests relaxing, reading or simply enjoying the elevated views over Sapporo. The warm wooden interiors, soft seating and natural lighting make it feel more like a stylish living room than a typical hotel lounge.
At night, the entire vibe changes completely in the best way possible. The lounge becomes a cozy evening space where guests can order alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages while enjoying the sparkling city lights across Sapporo. It’s honestly one of those spaces where you can easily lose track of time, especially after a long day exploring the city or relaxing in the hotel’s spa facilities. The soft lighting and comfortable seating make it feel incredibly inviting both day and night.
Bar Lounge Area during the day
Views of Sapporo City
Lounge Area During the night
Bar Area
Bar Menu
ONSEN AREA
Onsen Waiting Area
Shoe rack
The onsen and spa area at SAPPORO HOTEL by GRANBELL is one of the hotel’s standout facilities, offering a calm and relaxing atmosphere high above the city. From the moment you walk in, the warm timber interiors, soft lighting and quiet lounge spaces create a peaceful environment that feels far removed from the busy streets of Sapporo below.
Before entering the onsen area, guests remove their shoes and place them into the wooden storage shelves, which adds to the traditional Japanese experience. Like most traditional Japanese onsens, guests are required to fully shower and enter the baths naked, and tattoos are generally not permitted within the onsen facilities. The design throughout the spa is modern yet minimal, inspired by Hokkaido’s natural aesthetic and focused on comfort and relaxation.
The actual onsen area was easily one of the highlights of the stay. Sitting in the hot baths while overlooking the Sapporo skyline felt incredibly relaxing, especially during the colder weather. The baths are spacious and well maintained, and there’s also a sauna area for guests wanting to fully unwind after a long day exploring the city. Even though the baths are indoors, the semi open-air atmosphere still allows cool fresh air to flow through, making the experience even more refreshing.
During the daytime, the spa area felt really quiet and peaceful, with most guests slowly enjoying the facilities or relaxing in the lounge overlooking the city views. At night though, the onsen definitely becomes much busier, especially after dinner when many guests return to the hotel to relax for the evening. Despite the crowds, the facilities still felt organised and comfortable, and the staff consistently kept everything clean and running smoothly throughout the night.
The lounge area beside the spa was also a really nice touch. Looking out over the city lights of Sapporo after using the onsen created such a cozy atmosphere and became one of the most relaxing parts of the stay.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Looking back on my stay at SAPPORO HOTEL by GRANBELL, I would describe it as one of the more polished and well-rounded hotel stays I’ve had in Japan. The hotel manages to combine modern luxury with a really cozy atmosphere, while still feeling practical and comfortable for travellers exploring Sapporo. Its location near JR Sapporo Station makes getting around the city incredibly convenient, with shopping centres, restaurants, cafés and transport all within walking distance, yet the hotel itself still feels calm and relaxing once you step inside. From the stylish interiors and city views to the onsen facilities and impressive breakfast buffet, the overall experience felt thoughtfully designed from start to finish.
Customer Service: 9/10
Customer service throughout the stay was genuinely excellent from check-in right through to check-out. Despite how busy the hotel can get, especially during the breakfast rush and evening onsen hours, the staff always remained calm, friendly and professional. The automated self check-in system helps streamline the process, but there were always staff nearby ready to assist guests when needed. During breakfast service at HOKUSAI Restaurant, the team worked incredibly efficiently resetting tables, guiding guests and accommodating everyone smoothly even during peak periods. Overall, the hospitality felt warm, welcoming and very well organised throughout the stay.
Rooms: 9/10
The rooms felt modern, clean and surprisingly spacious for a city hotel in Japan. The twin room layout was well designed, with enough space to comfortably move around without feeling cramped once luggage was opened. The warm timber interiors, soft lighting and cozy seating area by the window made the room feel relaxing after long days exploring Sapporo. Amenities were also well thought out, with skincare packets, teas and detailed hotel information all provided to make the stay more comfortable and convenient.
Food: 10/10
Breakfast at HOKUSAI Restaurant easily became one of the highlights of the entire stay. The buffet selection was honestly massive, with an incredible variety of Japanese and western dishes available every morning. The fresh poke sashimi station stood out immediately, alongside the freshly prepared vegetables, assorted Japanese meat dishes, pickled vegetables and rice with different furikake seasonings. Everything tasted fresh and well prepared throughout our stay. The Hokkaido dairy section was also a must-try, especially the fresh milk, yoghurt and soft serve which genuinely tasted amazing. Between the quality, variety and overall experience, breakfast here felt more like dining at a premium restaurant rather than a standard hotel buffet.
Overall
SAPPORO HOTEL by GRANBELL is a fantastic option for travellers wanting a modern and comfortable stay right in the heart of Sapporo. With its stylish design, relaxing onsen facilities, impressive breakfast buffet and convenient location near transport and shopping, the hotel delivers a really enjoyable and memorable experience overall. Whether visiting during winter for the snow season or simply exploring the city, it’s a hotel that balances comfort, convenience and modern luxury really well.