Hoshino Resorts RISONARE Tomamu

The rooms are clearly a bit dated, but they are very well-maintained and spacious. Having a private Jacuzzi in every room is a huge plus. The staff are friendly and provide warm, welcoming service. I visited in October right around Halloween, so the hotel was decorated with various themed setups—great photo spots everywhere. There are plenty of dining options within the hotel, though some require reservations, so it's best to plan ahead. The most famous activity here is watching the sea of clouds in the early morning; seeing it in person is truly breathtaking and stunning, but it is freezing cold, so dress warmly. The hotel offers a free shuttle bus, and guests can catch the first batch at 4 AM to make it in time for the sunrise over the sea of clouds—an amazing experience. There are also different restaurant options for breakfast, and Sky Zora Restaurant is the top choice for dining with a view. The only minor drawback is that the central air conditioning temperature is pre-set by the hotel, which can make the rooms a bit stuffy and warm in winter. Overall, it's definitely worth a stay!

I booked the same room as eight years ago, which is 100-120 square meters. However, the room cleaning was just mediocre; they hastily tidied up the bedsheets and changed the towels, and that was it. The forest breakfast at NINIPURI ends at 9:30 AM, but they basically stop allowing entry at 9:01 AM. On the first day, not knowing this, we went at 9:15 AM and were turned away. We had to go down to HALU for breakfast, which was a 15-minute walk, and the food quality couldn't compare to NINIPURI. This hotel isn't suitable for those who like to take it easy; it's more for early risers and people who don't mind queuing. However, one thing I must commend is the excellent front desk service. On our last day, we checked out at 10:30 AM, but a package I sent from Shanghai hadn't arrived yet. I provided the address of our next hotel, and they arranged to forward it, handling everything very smoothly. They even called my next hotel in advance to inform them about the incoming package. Nevertheless, the room cleaning was indeed very sloppy, and the replenishment of toiletries wasn't as diligent as what I've experienced at the Tokyo Prince Hotel or The Ritz-Carlton, which doesn't justify the price. I probably won't stay at this Hokkaido hotel again. This time, we had a private car, so we didn't use many of the hotel's facilities. The hotel is also showing its age.

Will definitely visit again during the winter skiing season.

As an older resort, the facilities are a bit dated. However, it is kept impeccably clean and the overall condition is great. It's a wonderful place to visit with family. That said, there is no bottled water provided in the room, and you have to go down to the lobby to get water, which is quite inconvenient. Also, during check-out, there may not be enough staff at the front desk, which can lead to long waits. To avoid this, you can check out the day before, and simply drop off your keys at the scheduled departure time. Don't waste time on check-out day—just check out the day before. Thank you for such wonderful memories, and my family is already talking about coming back again.

It's great, but it's definitely an older property. You have to take a bus for dining and other amenities. So, I recommend choosing the colorful green tower; there are more entertainment options there and it's cheaper. This room was expensive, and they were very strict about the number of guests. Even a 10-year-old was charged IDR 11 million for 3 days, even though the room was quite large and there wouldn't have been an issue with kids.

Honestly, the service mindset of the staff is really lacking. Perhaps because Japan is getting tougher, the service for the price is truly poor, and everyone seems exhausted and unmotivated. It seems the Japan known for its excellent service has changed. It's a resort that's more expensive than a hotel, which is a big disappointment. Individual staff members are friendly if you initiate a conversation, but it feels difficult to strike one up. You know what I mean, right? The value for money is very disappointing here.

If you're not planning on skiing, definitely don't book this place. We stayed here, but since we don't ski, the value for money was extremely low. However, we did experience heavy snowfall while dining in the restaurant, which was absolutely beautiful and created a great atmosphere.

Second visit, and it still feels unique, but the price is quite high. They really should update the toilets and wallpaper. The air conditioning was a bit noisy, and the staff's solution was to cover it with a towel 😂