Sapporo was the first stop of my Japan 2023 winter trip. The journey from Singapore to Sapporo took around 12 hours, which included an overnight flight into Tokyo, where we transferred to a domestic flight on ANA. With such a long journey, we wanted to stick with something familiar to recharge. Hence the choice to book a room at ANA Holiday Inn Sapporo Susukino.
Overview
Room Number: 819
Booking Type: 2 Twin Beds Standard
Bedroom at ANA Holiday Inn Sapporo Susukino
We had booked a 2 Twin Beds Standard Room. At a glance, it was indeed a cookie cutter hotel room.
The bedroom itself was typical, with the 2 single beds facing the TV, mounted on the wall above a long built-in shelf. The room also came with a wardrobe that also housed the ironing board and in room safe.
What made this room very typical of a Japanese hotel room was its bathroom. The sink, bathtub-cum-shower and toilet was all packed into a compact space. So compact, a single person would also find it hard to move around.
The room also came with bathrobe, slippers, dental kits and hair dryer. Additionally, the shower gel, shampoo and conditioner were found in large, reusable containers, making them user and environmentally friendly.
Having said that, ANA Holiday Inn Sapporo Susukino ticked all major items for their guest rooms. The beds and pillows were comfortable enough for us to recharge after the long flight journey, as well as after our daily excursions.
Thoughts About the Bedroom of ANA Holiday Inn Sapporo Susukino
However, the central air conditioning was sort of lacking. Yes, since it was central air conditioning, it was impossible to adjust the room’s temperature. Additionally, the windows weren’t well insulated. Therefore, I could feel the cold draft from my bed that was near the window.
Speaking of the windows, if anyone thought of enjoying a view, he would be disappointed. The window was just meant for air circulation, therefore it could only be opened ajar. Nevertheless, my room was round the back of the hotel, which meant I would be looking into the windows of the neighbouring building. That made not being able to open the window big enough quite a non issue.
Space in Japanese hotels is a scarce resource. ANA Holiday Inn Sapporo Susukino was no exception. We could only open up 2 large suitcases; moving around would involve some prancing and sliding over the bed.
The lack of space was also apparent in the lack of coat hooks. Because of that, we hung our coats in the wardrobe, which left no space for other clothes.
That being said, the housekeeping did a very good job in cleaning up the space. They even left the old slippers while topping up the new ones. That gave guests the option of reusing the old slippers.
Bathroom of ANA Holiday Inn Sapporo Susukino
As mentioned, the bathroom was of a typical set up. That doesn’t mean the hotel couldn’t do something special.
For one, the toilet seat was warmed. Imagine waking up cold (remember the cold draft from the window I mentioned?) and sitting on a warm toilet! This otherwise great feature was evened out by the poor heat insulation of the bathroom. The bathroom would still be icy cold even after a hot shower, no thanks to the cold air seeping in from under the door.
Location and Neighbourhood
Location wise, ANA Holiday Inn Sapporo Susukino was located in the prime location of Susukino. The district was served by 2 subway lines, the Namboku (green) line and the Toho (blue) line. As such, the hotel was equidistant from Susukino and Hosuisusukino stations respectively. That made it easy for both getting around, and getting in and out of Sapporo.
Unfortunately, the one-block distance from the subway stations wasn’t so ideal during winter.
While Sapporo did a good job in clearing the snow off the streets, ice was inevitable. That made the walk to either of the train stations a challenge. Additionally, the city lacked sheltered pathways. During a snowstorm, which is normal for Sapporo during winter, the short 100m walk just seemed like an eternity!
That being said, on good days, the neighbourhood had much to offer. For example, the Seafood Buffet Nanda that served great seafood was just a block away. There were also plenty of restaurants, from budget (Matsunoya) to elaborate (Hyosetsu no Mon), for every palette and wallet.
For me, of course, a key indicator is the proximity to a convenience store or supermarket. ANA Holiday Inn Sapporo Susukino ticked this with at least 4 Lawson’s/Family Mart/7-Eleven within 5 minute’s walk from the hotel.
Staff and Service
I briefly mentioned about the nice gestures of the housekeeping earlier. When we left the hotel for the first day of sightseeing, the staff came to check with us, upon seeing us leave our room, to ask if we needed the room cleaned. That was a first for me, and the only experience in Japan.
The reception staff was also friendly, explaining about the hotel’s features and walking us to the lift after completing our check-in. There was a hint of franchise rote, but hey! At least they played their parts well.
I did leave a ranting complaint on their customer feedback form regarding the lack of recognition of my IHG Platinum Elite status. By comparison, the IHG hotels in Singapore and Malaysia threw in goodies like room upgrades or free breakfasts. However, I received none of that at ANA Holiday Inn Sapporo Susukino. It wasn’t a dealbreaker, but I knew they could do better.
Parting Words
ANA Holiday Inn Sapporo Susukino was a mixed bag of experience. All the good things about it, from the well maintained room to the staff and location, were aspects that you could expect from the IHG franchise.
But come winter, having to traverse icy roads to reach the hotel didn’t make the location appealing. The not so good insulation made for cold sleep. And the lack of external coat hooks, though minor, became a headache in winter when the layers we piled on needed to be hung somewhere to dry off.
That being said, it was a good stop for us to recharge after a red eye flight from Singapore. It also served a good base for our day trip to the northernmost part of Japan – Cape Soya. Of course, being centrally located, exploring Sapporo from ANA Holiday Inn Sapporo Susukino was also very enjoyable.
I would say ANA Holiday Inn Sapporo Susukino would be a safe choice when one is short of accommodation ideas or want to stick to a budget. But it lacked the wow factor, so I won’t recommend it as a “must-stay” when in Sapporo.
Till then, stay wanderlust!
All photos and videos were taken using Google Pixel 4a, and edited with Google Photos.
How to Get There
ANA Holiday Inn Sapporo Susukino
3-7 Nishi, 5 Jo Minami, Sapporo-shi, 01 064-0805 Japan
+81 115125533
ihg.com
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