In April 2025, a new hotel named "Danxue Sapporo" opened in the heart of Sapporo. With the theme of warmth unique to Hokkaido and Sapporo, this inn offers an extraordinary experience. It's packed with features that both tourists and locals can enjoy, including a natural hot spring grand bath, a meticulously designed sauna, and a breakfast featuring local ingredients. This time, we'll introduce you to the newly opened hotel's interior.

Exterior of "Danxue Sapporo"

To get to "Danxue Sapporo," it's a 4-minute walk from Exit 6 of Hosui-Susukino Station. Located in the Sapporo/Susukino area, this 12-story hotel has a total of 136 rooms.

The impressive reception features an earthen wall handcrafted by Hokkaido-born plasterer, Josuke Noda.

"Danxue Sapporo" was built on the concept of "FIFTH SEASON HOTELS," which offers special experiences by capturing the unique climate and culture of a region as a "fifth season," in addition to Japan's traditional four seasons. The period from winter to spring in Hokkaido is considered its "fifth season," and the hotel aims to express the sense of anticipation, vitality, and beauty unique to this time.

A room with a touch of Japanese atmosphere

Let's start with the guest rooms, specifically the "Premier Twin with Sauna" on the high-floor club level. The bright, white-based interior exudes visual warmth through soft lighting, wooden furniture, and wall art.

A desk suitable for PC work as well as for makeup and getting ready

Inside, the 39-square-meter room features two 120cm-wide beds. There's also a desk large enough for a laptop, making it comfortable for business trips.

A private sauna you can enjoy at your leisure

With a sauna in the room, you can enjoy it whenever you like without worrying about time. Relax to your preference with self-löyly.

Next to the bathtub, there is also a chiller (cooling function).

The bathroom, with its separate washing area, is also spacious. It comes with a chiller to meet the needs of a cold plunge after the sauna.

The spacious and well-lit vanity area

The vanity area is also roomy. I was pleasantly surprised to find a Dyson hairdryer.

Now, let's introduce some of the other room types!

The Family Suite, with a spacious 62 square meters

The "Family Suite," which sleeps six, features a fun loft bed. With a kitchen and living space, it's perfect for family vacations or group trips.

A washer-dryer, a great convenience for trips with children

Equipped with a microwave and a washer-dryer, you can stay as if you were living there. It's also recommended for long stays. (There is also a coin laundry in the hotel.)

Spread out your luggage, relax on the sofa... a stress-free stay awaits

This is the "Suite with Sauna" on a high floor, which accommodates four people. At 63 square meters, it feels spacious even with two 120cm-wide beds and two sofa beds.

A sauna so spacious and authentic, you'd hardly believe it's in a guest room

The spacious private sauna is fun for group trips where everyone can enjoy it together. It also has a bathtub and a relaxation space.

The "Moderate Twin" for a relaxing stay for two

The "Moderate Twin" for two people is 20 square meters. In addition to a two-seater sofa, it has a desk, making it a functional room. The art on the wall serves as an accent, creating a sense of relaxation and warmth amidst its simplicity.

The sofa bed (right) serves as a sofa for two guests and a bed for three.

The 23-square-meter "Superior Twin" accommodates three people. A 100cm-wide sofa bed becomes the third bed. In addition to the bathroom, there's a sink in the room, which is especially convenient for a three-person stay.

The bathroom in the Premier Twin has a resort-like feel

For those who want a special bath time experience in their room in addition to the grand bath, the "Premier Twin" is also recommended. Located on the high-floor club level, it's 43 square meters. The spacious bathroom is equipped with a rain shower, and you can enjoy an artificial hot spring in the round bathtub.

A sauna space that feels like being in a forest

A major feature of "Danxue Sapporo" is its extensive sauna and grand bath. The sauna, supervised by Dai Matsuo, also known as Totonoé Oyakata, envelops you in the scent of wood from the moment you open the door. I thought it was aromatherapy, but it's the natural fragrance of the old-growth Western Red Cedar lining the walls. You climb steps made from logs to a bench that is over 80cm high. The sauna, equipped with an auto-löyly system, is warm even at your feet, allowing you to relax while enjoying the scent of wood.

The water in the cold plunge, which looks refreshingly chilly, was 16°C.

The adjacent cold plunge has a special design with charcoal embedded in the walls. Local materials are used throughout, such as peridotite from Hidaka around the sauna stove and Sapporo soft stone on the sauna's exterior walls.

The grand bath offers not just a sauna but also an enjoyable hot spring

The grand bath has a stylish and relaxing atmosphere with pleasantly subdued lighting. You can enjoy a natural hot spring, with water transported from a source within Sapporo city.

The chairs are large and comfortable. Indirect lighting enhances relaxation.

The relaxation space is spacious, with custom-made, ergonomically designed wooden chairs. The cool outdoor air feels pleasant, offering a uniquely Sapporo "totonoi" experience (a state of deep relaxation).

Toppings of corn, green onions, and back fat add a nice touch

Don't miss the nightly treat, "Oyasumi-so Ramen," available free for all guests from 9 PM to 11 PM. This miso ramen has a rich miso flavor and the aroma of fish powder, offering a deep yet refreshing aftertaste. Served in a large teacup-sized bowl, it's the perfect size for a late-night snack after drinks. It's also an ideal post-sauna meal (known as 'sa-meshi').

Plenty of local gourmet food. The soup curry is a must-try.

And for the much-anticipated breakfast, it's a buffet style served at the second-floor restaurant. The breakfast focuses on Hokkaido's dairy and livestock industries, utilizing rich local ingredients.

Colorful vegetables that could be the star of the show

At the entrance of the buffet, local vegetables were arranged like a flower garden. A variety of dressings are also available, including Hokkaido wasabi soy sauce, beet, and milk & honey.

The homemade bread corner, filled with the aroma of freshly baked goods

The hotel also offers a wide selection of bread baked fresh every morning, including croissants, pain au chocolat, baguettes, and potato focaccia.

Cheese fondue in a Staub pot

There are plenty of Hokkaido-esque ingredients like milk, cheese, yogurt, eggs, bacon, and sausages. The rich cheese fondue, served with steamed vegetables and bread, is also popular.

Cute TKG with a quail egg

My personal recommendation for a local menu item is the TKG (Tamago Kake Gohan - rice with raw egg) made with quail eggs from Muroran. You can top it with plenty of freshly shaved bonito flakes and season it with your choice of soy sauce.

The food menu changes depending on the time of day

Guests staying in the Suite with Sauna, Premier Twin with Sauna, or Premier Twin can use the 10th-floor lounge for free. It offers light meals like snacks and baked goods, as well as a drink bar and alcoholic beverages.

Enjoyable bite-sized sweets

You can also enjoy a snack time with donuts, muffins, and coffee.

Decorated with photos of Hokkaido landscapes taken by photographer Kei Maeda

The furniture spaciously arranged in the lounge is from Asahikawa's "Conde House." You can relax surrounded by simple, high-quality furniture that exudes the warmth of wood.

*Guests staying in Superior Double, Moderate Twin, Superior Twin, Family Suite, or Universal rooms can use the lounge for 3,300 yen per person (tax included).

The entrance has an atmosphere reminiscent of a traditional Japanese inn (ryokan)

Hotel "Danxue Sapporo" opened in Susukino in April 2025. As its name suggests, it's a hotel where you can feel the unique, wondrous warmth of Hokkaido. Relax in the simple yet subtly luxurious guest rooms and enjoy the extensive sauna and grand bath.