Hotel Emion Sapporo

This hotel was so good that now, as I'm blow-drying my hair halfway through in a hotel in Osaka and feeling miserable, I suddenly remembered I hadn't left a review for the Sapporo hotel yet. First, the location. It's really close to Sapporo Station, so dragging luggage across the ice wasn't too much of a hassle. It's convenient for getting everywhere. Hokkaido University is just a 5-minute walk, and Tanukikoji Shopping Street is about fifteen minutes away. There's also Suwa Shrine, famous for its beautiful charms. It made me feel like I was living there. Check-in was smooth. I just showed my passport at the front desk, and it was done quickly. The person who helped me then was a short-haired girl (I forget if she had bangs, but I think so) wearing glasses and speaking Chinese. She was patient and gentle, explaining all the hotel services in detail, like where the public bath was, how to connect to the room's Wi-Fi, etc. Very thoughtful and thorough. Speaking of the room, it was a bit bigger than the triple rooms I've stayed in in Tokyo and Osaka. It was clean, pretty, and most importantly, bright. The TV could cast to devices, and it was easy to use. The bathroom had a separate wet and dry area with 24-hour ventilation, so it was never damp. The bathtub was large and clean, and I soaked in it for two days straight. Writing this makes me even sadder because I'm currently standing with wet hair in the cramped bathroom of my Osaka hotel. I'll be leaving Japan in a few days. Sigh, I really miss Hokkaido. It probably would have been better if I had made Hokkaido the last stop of my Japan trip. Actually, during my days in Hokkaido, I had many regrets. For example, my planned afternoon trip to Tengu Mountain was canceled due to strong winds and cable car suspension. Another time, I went out early, but the blue sky was mostly covered by dark clouds, with only occasional glimpses of sun. And then there were the cold, strong winds. Several times, walking down the street, the wind was so strong I had to duck behind a building while waiting for the traffic light, just to steal a few seconds of warmth. There were also countless moments when I almost slipped. Now, thinking back, I actually feel nostalgic for them. When will I experience those moments again? I can only wish that every winter in my future life includes a few days in Hokkaido. On the day I went to Otaru, the temperature was -0.6 degrees Celsius, so cold! Along the canal, everyone was like they were ice skating. I was wearing snow boots I bought for 127 yuan in Tanukikoji, carefully stepping in the footprints of the person in front of me. The sky was so blue, the water so clear, and the houses on the distant mountains looked like a tiny world. I wondered what kind of life the people living there led. Every step offered a picturesque view. The path along the canal was neither long nor short. Actually, even if I had slipped, it wouldn't have mattered. If it made my impression of Hokkaido more vivid, something I'd remember decades later, or when I'm old, then it would be worth it. The day before I left, I went to Hokkaido Shrine and Maruyama Park. The vast white landscape was so clean, and the bare trees made the snowy scenery even more beautiful. A small stream flowed through the park. Closing my eyes, I could imagine it as a waterfall, its sleep-inducing sound not knowing where it led. Landing in Osaka, the rain was heavy, and I didn't have an umbrella. I got drenched walking across the streets to the hotel. Everything felt so different. It made me think of the tree downstairs at *that* hotel. Day in and day out, it was always there, watching travelers from different countries come and go like Hokkaido's snow, accumulating and melting. Watching them open Google Maps every morning to check their route and return at night with bags of convenience store goodies. A happy tree, witnessing so many happy journeys in Hokkaido that began from that hotel. It's 1:45 AM Japan time now. My hair is almost dry. I'm not very sleepy, but I have to go to bed. Tomorrow I'm off to Kyoto. Usually, I think a lot at night or get anxious about various things, but during my days in Hokkaido, I felt surprisingly good. Even with unfinished plans, my mood wasn't dampened. Perhaps that's what a truly good trip is, haha, a journey for the soul? Anyway, I highly recommend this hotel!

You can reach the hotel directly from Sapporo Station via an underground passage, so you don't have to walk outside in the snowy and icy winter conditions. We booked a triple room; it was small but cozy. There's a public bath in the building, which was very relaxing. The supermarket next to the lobby made shopping convenient. Breakfast was simple but exquisite, and they replenished items promptly. The reception staff spoke fluent English and proactively asked if we needed any help. We could also store our luggage after check-out.

It was decent. The location is very convenient, close to the JR station yet surprisingly quiet. You don't have to walk through the underground passages all the time; a mix of above-ground and underground paths gets you there quickly. The service felt average; not bad, but a bit plain. I saw two female front desk staff chatting with each other, but the male staff were quite good and service-minded. Breakfast was okay, and having a 7-Eleven right next door was very handy.

The hotel is pretty good, and all the facilities are new. There's a large public bath on the second floor. For three people, they just add an extra bed, so it's not a true triple room, and the room itself is a bit small. It's about a 7-9 minute walk to JR Sapporo Station. Getting to Tanukikoji is a bit awkward, though; it's a half-hour walk and quite far from the subway, so you'll probably need to take a taxi.