Hoshino Resorts Tomamu The Tower
Hoshino Resorts Tomamu The Tower things to do, attractions, restaurants, events info and trip planning
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Sapporo - TOMAMU Diary 🌨️✨
NadiaNadia
210
How to enjoy Japan in winter?
MiaMia
160
My family was here for a 5-day white Xmas vacation. The resort complex has so much to offer and absolutely is one of the best ski resort locations! You’ll never miss the four stunning tall towers in the middle of nowhere two hours on the way from Chitose international airport. We stayed in Tomamu towers where the skiing academy is located and next to GOA outdoor center. Though Tomamu Tower has been for a few decades, the room is very clean, well maintained and of reasonable size. All staff complies with the Japanese high standard of patience and thoroughness. The resort management has excellent shuttle bus service running among various restaurants, indoor beach, gondola station and the relatively newer Risonare Towers at the hill. The Snow Academy is a very comprehensive skiing school with various levels of ski and snowboarding lessons catered for different needs. Good conditioned ski equipments like boots, jackets, helmets, goggles are all available for rental. Our Cantonese speaking instructor Siu San and his assistants Kuma and Sora San were excellent coaches in teaching my family. We all enjoyed our first ever skiing experience very much. The GAO Outdoor Centre offers a variety of outdoor activities at very reasonable costs and usually does not require advance reservation. We had wonderful time with the Banana boat ride and snowmobile. We also went for the ice river fishing in one afternoon and our hungry tummies were all well rewarded by the our own trophies: grilled saffron cod fish. My daughter loved her Xmas cookies baking the most as she could enjoy her own baked cookies! The Ice Village was also amazing with a long ice slides and igloos. Ice bar is one of the major attractions but my daughter would put her big thumb up for the roasted marsh mallow! After a day of subzero outdoor activities, weather, the famous indoor Mina Mina Beach was the most relaxing family fun! Unfortunately we did not try its outdoor onsen and definitely will try next time. Don’t miss the hill top! The glass bottom walkway might feel scary but it is unforgettably scenic! The last attraction was Chapel on the Water, a creation by the famous Japanese architecture master Tadao Ando. My 8-year old daughter surprisingly seems to understand A do’s concept of integrating nature and divinity! Regardless you are a Christian or not, this is highly recommended! Tummy is unquestionably important! Every restaurant we visited has its own delicacy to please our palate: Hal for our daily breakfast, Afuri Ramen, Genghis Khan BBQ, The Forest buffet dinner and the Kanemaru seafood hotpot. Tips: Long advanced online booking for restaurants and skiing lessons. We made this mistake of not making advanced reservation and therefore, could only sign up one skiing lesson and not experience the most said high value shabu shabu and Hal buffet. Having said this, we still had very memorable fun! We already plan to come back for 2019 Xmas!
Margaret LeeMargaret Lee
10
Stayed a night at the Tower I. The room: ordinary, not luxury. Rather a small bath. A bad thing was that the room temperature cannot be controlled. As it was too hot and not finding a temperature controller, I contacted the front but to learn that it is centrally controlled. I was brought a circulator which helped but not much. Food: There are many food stalls which visitors can enjoy. Quite a distance so that it might not fit for the elderly. Be prepared for the long queue time. Only limited number of restaurants serve breakfast, and we had to wait for 50 minutes to be served. We were instructed to wear disposable gloves and masks and use trays to take food at the buffet corner. I did as instructed (I was quite wary of the coronavirus infection) but there were several visitors who were taking food without any gloves, mask, and trays. They were also talking loud while walking through the passages next to dining tables (I do wish the staff instructed the guests not to do so). Fine dining probably at only one restaurant, the dinner course menu of which is fixed. I wanted to enjoy fine dining but the menu was not friendly for a vegetarian. Several other food menus were also not vegetarian-friendly (It seems the only reservation option for me was "Tofu shabu-shabu"). The park: Really nice. The ice cream was also very good. Golf carts can be rent at 3000 Yen/ hour -- good for a drive around the park. The artificial beach: Nice as well. 3-4 guards are standing-by, so it seems it would be safe. Many people despite the coronavirus season. I just refrained from using this facility. The gondola ride: Nice, and 0-15 minutes waiting time. It was really, really hot at the Unkai terrace (one might not expect so from the descriptions at the HP). I checked the cloud condition at 5 am, which said "to enjoy the scenery" . Leaving my roommate who just wanted to see the clouds, I went for the ride. The clouds (the so-called "Unkai") were there!! Later, I noticed the HP post was updated (it seems it was updated every 15-25 min). Hotel staff: nice. Many of them were Chinese. We were sometimes spoken in Chinese. Perhaps they weren't just unsure if we speak Chinese (I would suggest they wear badges that mention the languages they speak). Overall: I was able to stay at a cheaper price thanks to the "go to travel" campaign. The offers (free gondola ride and the beach access) and facilities were nice considering the price. If to pay at the usual price, I would rank only ** or *** to the room and dining facilities. Nice for leisure, but not luxurious.
Khin ThaKhin Tha
00
First trip to Tomamu in Dec. Booked in March to enjoy promotional rate. Overall experience was good. Upon reaching Tomamu station, the shuttle buses were already lining up to pick us and the luggage up. They had a separate van for luggages so we don't have to carry them onto the bus ourselves. It was a short ride of 5 min to The Tower. (There is no ticket selling booth at Tomamu station. Remember to buy the train tickets out of Tomamu to your next destination after the stay before you depart for Tomamu.) Check in was smooth for me but because I was first in the queue. I can imagine the queue wait to be long because the receptionist has quite a number of things to go through, e.g breakfast options, skiing arrangements, gondola tickets. Do book your departure shuttle bus in advance at the reception, let them know your train timing and they can advice which shuttle bus timing to go for. Room was ok. Could be better if the double decker bed at the top can have better air flow. It's slightly stuffy and hot for the person sleeping above. Food choices were great. Try the hotalu street, most of the food options there are good. The Italian restaurant Altezzo serves particularly good cheese and pasta. Skiing was good too. The segmentation between training, beginner and advance was done pretty well so there wasn't a lot of "clashes". As for the lift tickets, I suggest for beginners to buy per trip instead of day ticket. Per trip is 1k JPY and day ticket is 6-7k JPY, unless you are confident to go for at least 6 runs. GAO outdoor centre is pretty good for families. Recommend snow rafting over snow mobile, more fun and exciting. Snow sled is also a good experience for the kids. Just need to keep reminding some kids to avoid the centre lane when they walk backwards. Ice village is worth a visit, remember to be there before 7.30om for fireworks. As for the Terrace, unfortunately we went at a time when it was closed. The mina mina beach was fun with the waves but the public bath there was not something to look forward to (just an open bath).
Jackson PhangJackson Phang
00
Very dated rooms (stayed 1N in Standard Twin Room), felt more like hostel settings in the room (ie centralised air con control, but i guess no one is really there for the rooms!). In autumn, place is great for families and funky experiences (sea of clouds via gondola cable car Unkai Terrace, getting up close with farm animals Farm Hoshino, horse riding GAO, restaurants / cafe amongst the forest Hotalu Street, nightly 7.30pm fireworks (5min only, can skip, not worth standing in the cold wind for), indoor XXXL wave pool cum 'hotspring' bath, ATV driving as latest activity). Free Shuttle Bus service 7 and 8 run about 15 - 20mins between various destinations, so don't need to walk too far. Pros > Free resort shuttle bus to / from JR Tomamu station > Very large expanse of land for walking, including through forested paths and covered walkways > Unique Unkai Terrace and surrounding features e.g. Cloud Walk (4.25am 1st bus timing, recommend to go after sunrise instead ie after 5.30am, where status clearer if sea of clouds is happening that morning) > Reservation required for shuttle to Tomamu Station (although hotel has deployed more than 1 shuttle for our timing) > Genghis Khan lamp / deer bbq restaurant is very nice (but lack of smoke vacuum pipe means you smell like bbq meat post meal) Cons > Still using physical keys, breakfast coupons, hotspring access pass. > 1 pillow per bed only (can request for more, but DIY pickup via front desk) > Room that would feel at home in the 1990s, but not today > Buffet breakfast service always packed (whether HAL or Nininpuri or Mikaku) > Unkai (Sea of Clouds) is not guaranteed event > Hotel seems very sticky about late checkout, keeps reminding guests to check out earlier, or go earlier to settle payment 1st, then express check out later without having to queue Overall, outside of ski season, nice place to chill for family with kids, couple looking for detox, 2N stay is more than enough, just don't expect too much from the room.
chEngchEng
00
Nearby Attractions Of Hoshino Resorts Tomamu The Tower
Club Med Tomamu - Hokkaido
Hoshino Resorts RISONARE Tomamu
Mina-Mina Beach
Chapel on the water
Ice Village
Unkai Gondola
Resort Centre
Hoshino Resort Tomamu Famu
Kirin no Yu
GAO Outdoor Centre
Club Med Tomamu - Hokkaido
4.7
(989)Click for details
Hoshino Resorts RISONARE Tomamu
4.3
(946)Click for details
Mina-Mina Beach
4.2
(643)Click for details
Chapel on the water
4.3
(355)Click for details
Nearby Restaurants Of Hoshino Resorts Tomamu The Tower
Forest Restaurant Nininupuri
ジンギスカン キング
Hoshino Resort Tomamu Hotarusutorito
Buffet Dining hal
Soup Curry Garaku
Altezza Tomamu
SORA
Camaro Steak Diner
麺屋 竹蔵 －TAKEZO－
cafe&bar つきの
Forest Restaurant Nininupuri
4.2
(549)$$$
Click for details
ジンギスカン キング
4.7
(238)Click for details
Hoshino Resort Tomamu Hotarusutorito
4.2
(199)Click for details
Buffet Dining hal
4.0
(198)$$$
Click for details
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Overview
4.1
(2.6K reviews)
Phone
+81 167-58-1111
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Website
snowtomamu.jp
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