Marriott Rewards - Sapporo, Japan: Any experience?

Has anyone stayed at the Renaissance in Sapporo, Japan? If so, how is the location for tourism? Does the hotel upgrade platinums to the executive floor? How is the hotel overall?

I arrived at the Renaiisance Sapporo today. I flew into Chitose Airport from Hong Kong, an international arrival. The only ATMs in the terminal are in the domestic departure area, across from the ANA electronic check-in machines. You have to go upstairs and down the terminal quite a ways from international arrivals.

There are several alternatives to get to the hotel - taxi, train and bus. FTer Yasuki had graciously sent me information in advance on using the train. (This FTer is an amazing resource on any Japanese hotel.) I would have had a 10 minute taxi ride at the end, so I decided to take the airport bus. The bus picks up at stops 12 and 24 at the terminal. It is 820 yen to the hotel. It takes 75 minutes or thereabouts. The bus stops immediately in front of the hotel.

The hotel is a tall, impressive property. There is a bakery to the left as you enter, with delicious treats. There is also a large souvenir shop; I think the hotel must get a lot of tour groups.

The check in staff speaks English, yet it is very difficult to comunicate. I am platinum, and wanted to be sure of my club access. They had a room for me on the 11th floor; the club is on the 10th floor. There was an extended period where they thought I wanted to stay on the 10th floor. I simply wanted access. Once I actually saw the club, I really didn:t care. It was a smallish room with no snacks set out. Breakfast is served from 7 to 10am; there are complimentary drinks between 5 and 7.

I chose water and the cheese plate for my platinum amenity. The water was a very small bottle, and the cheese arrived with 5 saltine crackers.

The room is newly renovated and is pleasant. It has a shower stall separate from the tub. Use of the computer in the business center is 750 yen/30 minutes.

There is a courtesy van that goes hourly on the half hour to the nightlife area, and then to the train station. If you get off at the nightlife area and want to go to ramen alley, walk to the corner, cross the street, and turn left. Ramen alley is about one half block down. It is a fascinating block lined entirely with ramen restaurants. If you go to the train station, you are actually let off about 1 1/2 blocks away. Go to the corner, turn left, and walk straight ahead into the train station. If you want to take a bus tour, take the steps just before the train station that go to the right to the 2nd floor of the Big Camera building. You'll find the ticket office for Chao Bus, which offers excellent day tours of Sapporo as well as surrounding areas.

There is a Starwood hotel in Sapporo, the Sheraton Sapporo. I did not stay there, but drove past it enroute to the Historical Village of Hokkaido. If you are debating one versus the other, it is useful to know that the Sheraton is adjacent to the Shin Sapporo train station. This is a stop on the express train from Chitose, and is the stop before Sapporo. It is only a few minutes by train into the center of town, but it is at least a 20 minute taxi ride.

I have no personal opinion as to whether one hotel is better either in terms of service or location than the other.

It leaves from Renaissance Sapporo - Susukino - Oodori Park - JR Sapporo station(SEIBU-Hyakkaten) back to Renaissance Sapporo.

Hotel - Susukino - Oodori Park - JR Sapporo station
08:３０ ０８:３５ ０８:３８ ０８:４３
０９:３０ ０９:３５ ０９:３８ ０９:４３
１０:３０ １０:３５ １０:３８ １０:４３
１１:３０ １１:３５ １１:３８ １１:４３
１２:３０ １２:３５ １２:３８ １２:４３
１３:３０ １３:３５ １３:３８ １３:４３
１４:３０ 1４:３５ １４:３８ １４:４３
１５:３０ １５:３５ １５:３８ １５:４３
１６:３０ １６:３５ １６:３８ １６:４３
１７:３０ １７:３５ １７:３８ １７:４３
1８:３０ １８:３５ １８:３８ １８:４３
１９:３０ １９:３５ １９:３８ １９:４３
２０:３０ ２０:３５ ２０:３８ ２０:４３

A bus stop at JR Sappro station is on the south side of SEIBU Hyakkaten(shopping department that is about 100m apart from JR Sapporo station) For the hotel, it takes about 10mins. :)

Thank you, yasuki, I had forgotten the proper names of the stops. Susukino is the restaurant and nightlife area. Odori Park is a pretty city park that is one block wide and several blocks long. This is where the snow sculptures are at the famous Sapporo Ice Festival in February.

I am staying at Renaissance Sapporo now. I found a few changes, so I will report again.

Hotel Shuttle Bus

Hotel - Susukino - Oodori Park - JR Sappporo station (SEIBU) - Hotel
08:00 - 08:05 ----- 08:08 ------ 08:13 ---------------------- 08:30
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20:00 - 20:05 ----- 20:08 ------ 20:13 ---------------------- 20:30

The bus stop at JR Sapporo station is on the south side of SEIBU shopping department where it takes 3 mins on foot from JR Sapporo station.


Airport Limousine Bus

The bus picks up at stops 13 (JAL side) and 24 (ANA side) at the terminal. It is 1,000 yen to the Renaissance Sapporo hotel.


Room Facilities

The wired high speed internet is available in all rooms for free now and wash-let toilets ( Japanese high tech toilet) in all rooms as well. ^

There is a Starwood hotel in Sapporo, the Sheraton Sapporo. I did not stay there, but drove past it enroute to the Historical Village of Hokkaido. If you are debating one versus the other, it is useful to know that the Sheraton is adjacent to the Shin Sapporo train station. This is a stop on the express train from Chitose, and is the stop before Sapporo. It is only a few minutes by train into the center of town, but it is at least a 20 minute taxi ride.

I have no personal opinion as to whether one hotel is better either in terms of service or location than the other.

We stayed at this Sheraton 2 years ago. While it is nice enough (and we were very happy with the large rooms), I regretted staying there due to the location. It is in the middle of a boring suburb, and there is nothing to do. Also their business center couldn't cope with Westerners. Downtown is much better, and I will definitely try the Ren on our next trip.

P.S. I adore Sapporo. We are planning a winter ski vacation there. We had an incredible time (esp. the Sapporo brewery all you can eat and drink for 90 minutes meal) and, though I did all my living in Tokyo (1 year) I actually think Sapporo might be better! I am jealous of your upcoming trip. I hope it's for pleasure.