Sapporo's Hidden Gem: Route Inn Kitayojo Hotel Review (You Won't Believe This!)
Sapporo's Secret Weapon: Route Inn Kitayojo - It's Seriously Better Than You Think! (Honest Review)
Okay, buckle up buttercups, because I'm about to spill the tea on one of Sapporo's supposedly "hidden gems" - the Route Inn Kitayojo Hotel. And let me tell you, "hidden" is right, because I nearly walked right past the damn thing on my first try! (Note to self: Get better at not being a tourist cliché.)
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- Keywords: Sapporo Hotel Review, Route Inn Kitayojo, Accessibility Sapporo, Wheelchair Accessible Hotel, Sapporo Spa, Free Wi-Fi Sapporo, Japanese Hotel Review, Clean Hotel Sapporo, Family-Friendly Hotel Sapporo, On-site Restaurant Sapporo, Hokkaido Hotel, Sapporo City Center Hotel
- Meta Description: Uncover the truth about Route Inn Kitayojo in Sapporo! This honest review dives deep into accessibility, amenities (spa!), cleanliness, dining, and service. Is it really a hidden gem? Find out! Includes personal anecdotes and all the messy details.
- Target Audience: Travelers to Sapporo, Japan; those seeking accessible accommodations; families; budget-conscious travelers; spa enthusiasts.
The Raw Reality: What's Good, What's Not, And Why It Matters
Right, lemme just say this: I'm not a "hotel reviewer" in the official sense. I'm just a regular traveler who likes a good deal, appreciates cleanliness, and really needs a good massage after lugging my suitcase around for a day. So, consider this a "real talk" review, not some stuffy, corporate jargon.
Accessibility: Hallelujah, Finally! (And Some Quibbles)
First things first: Accessibility.. This is HUGE for me. I, much like a lot of people, didn't go to the gym on time, and I'm not exactly known for my graceful leaps. So, finding a decent accessible hotel in Japan without breaking the bank feels like winning the lottery. Route Inn Kitayojo, thankfully, mostly delivers.
- Wheelchair Accessible: Absolutely. Elevators are plentiful, rooms are designed with wheelchair users in mind (spacious! Handles!), and the lobby is easy to navigate. My only minor gripe? The entrance doors could be a smidge wider, but honestly, it's better than most I've encountered. A+ for trying, Route Inn!
- Facilities for Disabled Guests: Tick! They clearly put thought into this.
- Elevator: Yes! No scary stairs to hike up.
- Getting Around: Easy peasy. The location is also fantastic - right near the subway. Plus, Car park [free of charge] is available, which is a steal in the city! Note: I'm not sure if this is always the case, so check ahead!
- Facilities & Amenities: Air Conditioning in Public Area, and Facilities for Disabled Guests.
Rooms: Cozy and Clean (Mostly)
Alright, the rooms themselves are… well, they're Route Inn rooms. Don't expect opulence. But they are clean, functional, and surprisingly comfortable. (And that's the most important thing in my book.)
Available in All Rooms: Okay, so this is your typical Japanese hotel room and the following is what you will get:
- Air Conditioning: Essential in the humid summers.
- Alarm Clock: Thankfully not too loud.
- Bathrobes: Nice touch!
- Complimentary Tea/Coffee: Yes! Caffeine is life.
- Daily Housekeeping: Amazing. Always appreciated.
- Desk: Perfect for catching up on emails (or, you know, avoiding them).
- Free Bottled Water: Important on a hot day.
- Hair Dryer: Yes!
- In-room safe box: to store your passport.
- Internet access – LAN/Wireless: Free wifi is great and there's even Free Wi-Fi in all rooms!.
- Ironing Facilities: They exist, but I didn’t use them. Ain’t nobody got time for that.
- Laptop Workspace: Good!
- Linens: Clean and soft.
- Non-smoking: Yes! (Thank GOODNESS!)
- Private Bathroom: Essential.
- Refrigerator: Handy for drinks.
- Satellite/Cable Channels: Meh. Don’t really care, But it works.
- Separate shower/bathtub: Nice
- Shower: Good water pressure.
- Smoke detector: Safe.
- Slippers: Provided. Cozy!
- Telephone: Who even uses this anymore?
- Toiletries: Standard, but fine.
- Wake-up service: Worked perfectly.
- Wi-Fi [free]: Praise be!
My Quirky Observation: The rooms are cleverly designed to maximize space. But be warned: if you're a super-sized person, you might find the bathroom a tad snug. I’m not saying I am, but… well, let’s just say I got intimately acquainted with the shower wall.
Cleanliness and Safety: Feeling Good, But…
This is where Route Inn Kitayojo really shines. Cleanliness is King!
Anti-viral cleaning products: Good to know!
Daily disinfection in common areas: Reassuring.
Hand sanitizer: Everywhere!
Hygiene certification: I'll take it.
Rooms sanitized between stays: Makes you feel safe.
Staff trained in safety protocol: Good.
CCTV in common areas: Safe.
Fire extinguisher: Safe.
Hotel chain: Reliable.
Non-smoking rooms: Praise!
Safety/security feature: Good.
Security [24-hour]: Excellent.
Smoke alarms: Vital!
Where I had a minor gripe: The hotel's website says "Room sanitization opt-out available," which you should ask about. I didn’t find out until after I stayed and I would of prefered no one in my room.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: Fueling the Adventure
The hotel has a decent breakfast buffet. Don’t expect Michelin-star quality, but it’s filling and convenient, exactly what you need before a day of Sapporo exploration.
Breakfast [buffet]: Good.
Breakfast service: Good.
Coffee/tea in restaurant: Great.
Restaurants: Decent.
Vegetarian restaurant: They did have options.
International cuisine in restaurant: Good.
Asian cuisine in restaurant: Good. and Western cuisine in restaurant.
Coffee shop: Good.
My Messy Reaction: The breakfast buffet, however, did feature some… interesting… items. I swear, I saw a "mystery meat" that I'm pretty sure was still looking back at me. But hey, it's all part of the experience, right? And at least there are Coffee/tea in restaurant and A la carte in restaurant
Things to Note: The Breakfast takeaway service is available.
Spa & Relaxation: Pure Bliss (And Worth It!)
This is where Route Inn Kitayojo really surprised me. They have a spa, and it's fantastic.
Sauna: Hot and steamy!
Spa: Excellent!
Spa/sauna: Yes!
Steamroom: Yes!
Massage: Yes! Do it. Seriously. Treat yourself.
The Pool with view is, well, what I could see, a pool with a view!
My Emotional Reaction: I spent a solid hour in the sauna, sweating out all my travel woes and all my calories from the mystery meat. The massage afterward was pure heaven. It’s worth the extra money. It’s worth every penny! I may have even let out a little involuntary sigh of pure bliss. Don’t judge.
Services and Conveniences: Helpful and Handled
Air conditioning in public area: Needed.
Cash withdrawal: Convenient.
Concierge: Helpful.
Contactless check-in/out: Very convenient.
Convenience store: Essential for snacks!
Daily housekeeping: Thank you! This is great.
Elevator: Convenient.
On-site event hosting: Good.
Safety deposit boxes: Recommended.
Smoking area: Good.
Laundry service / Dry cleaning/ Ironing service: Available!
Luggage storage: Good.
Wi-Fi for special events: Good.
Okay, buckle up buttercup, because this ain't your grandma's itinerary. This is my trip to Sapporo, and we're going to do it right. And by right, I mean with copious amounts of ramen, questionable decisions, and a whole lotta heart. We're starting off at the Hotel Route Inn Sapporo Kitayojo. Pretty standard, but hey, clean sheets are clean sheets. Let's see where the whirlwind takes us, shall we?
Day 1: Sapporo Arrival & Ramen Rage
14:00 - 15:00: Arrival & Room Debriefing (aka "Where's the damn AC?") – Dragged myself (and my giant suitcase that mysteriously multiplied on the flight) through Sapporo Station. Found Hotel Route Inn. Check-in? Simple enough, thank goodness. My room? A tiny box, but hey, the bed looks comfy. First, the AC situation. It’s 30 degrees outside and I’m pretty sure it's broken. Oh joy. Fine, I'll suffer.
15:00 - 16:00: Ramen Reconnaissance – Alright, hunger is hitting hard. Goal: FIND RAMEN. Specifically, amazing, slurp-till-your-face-is-numb ramen. I've read about a place a few blocks from the hotel, name of Ramen Dojoya (I think). It's a gamble, but I'm willing to risk it. Armed with my Google Maps (pray for me), I'm venturing forth.
16:00 - 18:00: Ramen Dojoya - The Holy Grail? - OH. MY. GOD. This place. Tiny. Crowded. The smell, though… heavenly. I ordered the miso ramen, the house special. It arrived. Steaming. A broth so rich, so flavourful… I think I actually moaned. Sippin and slurin'. I basically inhaled it. Like a ramen vacuum cleaner. The noodles, perfect al dente. I sat there, blinking, a slightly glazed look on my face and felt a pure, stupid happiness. This, my friends, is why I travel. This is the whole damn trip right here. This single bowl of ramen. I may never need to eat anything else again. The bill? Ridiculously cheap. I nearly wept. That was probably the broth. I feel slightly awkward but in a good way.
18:00 - 20:00: Hotel Recovery & Planning (or, the Art of Doing Nothing) – Back at the hotel. The AC is…still broken. My stomach is so happy it needs a nap. So I'm doing just that. I'm pretty sure I'm going to sleep through the night. Gotta figure out some sort of plan for tomorrow. Something about Sapporo Beer Gardens? Sounds good.
20:00 - 22:00: Minor Panic About Plans, and the Truth Behind Jetlag - Oh, god, it's the jet lag. I'm feeling awake. So awake. The beer garden seems like a lot, considering my stomach is still overloaded! I should probably check my email and ignore some work emails. Ugh. I'll just drink some water.
Day 2: Beer Gardens, and the Unexpected Joy of Snow…even in Summer
08:00 - 09:00: Breakfast Blues and a Bold Plan – The free breakfast buffet at the hotel… well, let's just say it's functional. Mostly beige food. But coffee is hot, so all is forgiven (for now). Bold plan? Embrace the day! I'm going to get out. No more napping!
10:00 - 13:00: Sapporo Beer Garden & the Bliss of Being Drunk on Beer - Time for the Sapporo Beer Garden! Because, why not? Took a cab (learned the hard way that Sapporo's subway map looks like a toddler's scribble). Massive place. Smoked meat. Huge steins of beer. This is living!! I’m not a big beer drinker normally, but this is different. This is experience. The atmosphere is electric, the music is upbeat, and I’m surrounded by happy, laughing people. I ate about 5 sausages. And I'm loving it. Already feeling slightly…warm.
13:00 - 14:00: The Unexpected Blizzard (in June!) & The Beauty of the Botanical Garden.
Okay, maybe not a blizzard. More like a gentle summer shower. But the change in weather inspired some sort of a trip, I think. The Sapporo Botanical Garden. It's beautiful there. And it's nice. And I'm so glad I went just to walk around.
14:00 - 16:00: The Chocolate Factory. This has to be on the itinerary. I went to Shiroi Koibito Park. The chocolate there is so delicious.
16:00 - 17:00: Dinner & Wind-Down (Maybe Not) – I swear, I'm going to find some okonomiyaki. Or maybe just another bowl of ramen. Or a large chunk of chocolate from the park. Or all three! I'll walk that off and drink some water.
17:00 - 19:00: The Karaoke Temptation – I walked past a karaoke bar. I hate karaoke. I can't sing. However, I'm still very drunk. This could go either way. Might be epic. Probably won't be.
19:00 onwards – The Great Unknown – See above. Pray for me. Or, you know, send more ramen.
Day 3: Goodbye Sapporo, and A Promise To Return
08:00-09:00: Departure Ritual – Repeat the breakfast, with less enthusiasm. Pack the suitcase (the mystery of the expanded luggage still unsolved). Check out. The AC in my room is still broken. I’m not even mad anymore.
09:00 - 10:00: Final Sapporo Sigh - One last wander around. Soaking it all in. I'm going to miss this place. The food. The vibe. The ridiculously polite people. And strangely, I'm going to miss my tiny, almost-too-hot hotel room.
10:00 - 14:00: Get out - Bye!
14:00 onwards: Future Planning - I'll be back. Sapporo, you've won my heart (and my stomach).
Evening: Review of the Itinerary - This may be revised, updated, and rewritten.
This, my friends, is a life in progress. So, in Sapporo, it's been amazing.
Escape to Paradise: Breakas Beach Resort, Vanuatu's Hidden Gem
Route Inn Kitayojo: My Love/Hate Letter to a Sapporo Sleeper Cell (Seriously, You Won't BELIEVE This!)
Okay, spill. Is this place *really* a hidden gem? I've heard that term thrown around, like, a LOT.
Alright, buckle up, buttercup. "Hidden gem"? That's the *official* line. But let me tell you, it's more like a slightly-worn, incredibly-efficient, surprisingly-charming secret weapon tucked away in the heart of Sapporo. I initially booked this place because it was cheap and close to the Sapporo Station, and my budget was… well, let's just say "austerity-chic" was my travel motto. I walked in expecting beige, expected bland, expected another cookie-cutter business hotel. Wrong. SO. WRONG.
You see, the "hidden" part isn't the location – it's right there, spitting distance from all the action. The "gem" part is the subtle efficiency, the surprisingly good breakfast (more on that later…), and the fact that it *just works*. No frills, no pretension, just a solid, reliable basecamp for your Sapporo adventures. Think of it like your dependable, slightly quirky, but utterly lovable uncle. He might wear mismatched socks, but he always knows where to find the best ramen.
Let's talk about the rooms. What's the deal? Tiny? Functional? Like a submarine?
Okay, the rooms. They're… compact. Let's be honest. You're not going to be hosting any dance parties in there. Think more "efficiently-utilized space." My first reaction? "WHOA, is this AND my suitcase gonna fit?" And the answer? Miraculously, YES! It’s a testament to Japanese design brilliance, honestly. Everything has its place, and everything *fits*.
The bed? Surprisingly comfortable. I'm a side sleeper, and I'm picky. But I slept like a log! The bathroom is a marvel of miniaturization. The shower? Powerful, surprisingly. It felt like a tiny spa after a long day of exploring. I actually found myself, dare I say it, *liking* the smallness. It forced me to be organized, you know? It gave me this strange sense of calm. Plus, the super-convenient outlets were a lifesaver for charging my phone and whatnot. (Because, you know, Instagram.)
But yeah, don’t expect a penthouse suite. Embrace the cozy. Think of it as a challenge: how little can you pack and still live comfortably? That's the game, and Route Inn Kitayojo is the referee.
The breakfast. I've read it's a highlight. Tell me *everything*. And be honest!
Alright, here's where things get… intense. The breakfast buffet at Route Inn Kitayojo? It’s legendary. No exaggeration. I'M STILL DREAMING ABOUT IT. Okay, maybe a little. The sheer variety! The quality! For a "business hotel," it blows everything else out of the water. Seriously.
First, the rice. Perfectly cooked Japanese rice. Fluffy, flavorful, absolute perfection. Then, the salmon. Fresh, flaky, and cooked to absolute tenderness. There’s usually some kind of Japanese breakfast side dish - maybe natto (fermented soybeans, which some people LOVE and others, well... let's just say they don't), pickled vegetables, miso soup. Then there are the Western options. Eggs, bacon, sausage, you-name-it. Fruit. Yogurt. Coffee – and it’s actually *good* coffee, not that dishwater stuff you get at some places.
I’m not even kidding, I went back for seconds (and sometimes thirds!) every single day. **This is the biggest thing!** I'm telling you, this breakfast alone is worth the price of admission. And it was the beginning of my Sapporo journey, which can be a lot to handle with jetlag and planning and sightseeing. So that meal was absolute gold, every single day. I actually got up *early* just to eat! That, my friends, is a true testament to a good breakfast.
Any downsides? Come on, there *must* be something you didn't love.
Okay, yes. Even paradise has a few… quirks. My biggest gripe? Sometimes, and this is random, the elevators can be a bit slow, with queues during peak breakfast and checkout times. It's just a minor inconvenience. The other thing? The air conditioning. It works great, but sometimes the controls can be a little… confusing. Like, I fiddled with them for a solid 10 minutes on the first night. But hey, that's a first-world problem, right? Also, the walls aren't *paper*, but you can hear the occasional giggle from somewhere else in the hotel. That shouldn't be a big deal, right?
Also, I would have loved a bit more natural light in general. But, you know, I came to learn that everything is really well-lit, and with the good design throughout the whole place, there was nothing to really complain about.
What's the vibe like? Is it just a bunch of business travelers?
Definitely not just business travelers, although they are there. It's a real mix! I saw families with small kids (who, by the way, seemed to have a particular fondness for the breakfast), couples, solo adventurers like myself, and even a few hardcore tourists. It’s comfortable, not stuffy. It's efficient, not impersonal. The staff are polite and helpful, even if their English isn't always perfect (mine certainly isn't!).
I felt… at ease there. Like I could really relax and recharge after a day of exploring Sapporo. And after that breakfast? Well, let's just say I was ready to face anything those snow-covered streets could throw at me.
Okay, final verdict: would you recommend it? And would *you* go back?
Unreservedly. Absolutely. YES. Seriously. Book it. Right now. Do it. It’s an *excellent* value for the price. You get a comfortable room, a fantastic breakfast, a great location, and a surprisingly pleasant experience.
Would I go back? Without a doubt. In a heartbeat. In fact, I'm already plotting my return. I’m craving that breakfast again, you know? The rice, the salmon, the whole shebang. Consider me a Route Inn Kitayojo convert. It's charmingly efficient, a little quirky, and an absolute steal. My Sapporo home away from home? Absolutely. Go! Have fun! And eat ALL the breakfast for me!
What about the location again? Is it really *that* good?
Location, location, location! This is the other selling point. It’s a stroll from Sapporo Station, which is huge because, let’s be honest, Sapporo is a sprawling city, especially when you’re bundled up against the cold. That means easy access to the train, the subway, buses, and everythingHotel Radar Map
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