Hoshino Resorts KAI Poroto — Attraction in Shiraoi

Wow, this place gets an A across the board! Luxurious new accommodations with a beautiful birch forest theme and all elements of the structures and furnishings designed as a homage to the indigenous Ainu people. Location is right on Lake Shiraoi with the volcanic cone and bucolic forested shores viewable from every room, and boating, paddle boards, and equipment can be rented a few hundred yards up the road. Only a five minute walk to the sprawling Ainu Cultural Center and museum grounds, where numerous exhibits, performances and audience engagement activities of this freshly opened sight made for a full day. ||The most distinguished features of this hotel, making it truly world class, are the onsens and the food. There are two onsen areas, one indoor/outdoor with spectacular architecture, open top and open infinity pool fronting the lake. You can stargaze directly at night (closes at 1 am and only accessible to hotel guests). The other onsen is indoors but also architecturally spectacular. Each has full bath and changing facilities and spa amenities as well as complimentary popsicles, tea, waters, etc. Very meditative and utterly quiet in a bucolic setting. In fact, guests are encouraged to roam the resort in plush Japanese robes provided in each room, so a very relaxed while decorous vibe.||The breakfast and dinners included in the room price were astonishing in quality. Kaiseki style, each meal has over a dozen courses or dishes, artistically prepared with local ingredients. The restaurant is set in a beautiful wooden artisan crafted dining area with wonderful private rooms and top notch service. Deserving of Michelin star!||Staff were uniformly helpful and attentive. There are a number of activities and tours available, so plenty to do even on a rainy day. We look forward to returning to this peaceful top notch...

We were truly impressed from the moment we arrived. We actually walked from the train station to the hotel — about 13–15 minutes with our 23 kg suitcases after some serious shopping in Otaru and Sapporo! When we reached the entrance through the car park, the long corridor with a serene Japanese garden on the right immediately set a calm, Zen atmosphere.

Check-in was smooth, and the front desk staff were exceptionally polite, as expected for this level of resort. Another staff member kindly guided us to our room and explained everything in detail with such grace.

The indoor onsen was amazing — the water has a unique reddish tone, and although I’m not sure of the mineral composition, it felt wonderful for the skin. Our room’s indoor balcony featured a long sofa and a huge window with a breathtaking view of the lake and surrounding trees — just like a living wallpaper. It would be even more perfect if natural sound elements from outside could somehow be integrated into the room experience.

Dinner and breakfast were both of exceptionally high standard. My wife doesn’t eat beef, and after we mentioned this to the concierge on the first day, the staff remembered it and kindly adjusted her meal for the following day without us having to remind them again — an excellent touch of hospitality.

The only minor drawback was that the room felt slightly dated. The ceiling above the indoor onsen had some visible stains, and the large curtains, while beautiful, were manually operated rather than automatic — perhaps a small renovation could bring the facilities up to the same excellence as the service and dining.

Overall, we had a very positive impression and thoroughly enjoyed our stay. A wonderful blend of comfort, nature, and Japanese hospitality. Highly...

Upon arrival, we were informed that our booking was made for only one guest, which may have been an oversight during the reservation process. We acknowledged this mistake and agreed to pay an additional 16,400 yen for the second guest to stay on the first night to avoid further issues.However, the situation escalated on March 4th when we decided to check out early, despite having paid for the room until March 5th.After dinner, the staff member who handled my check-in informed me that I could not be with my girlfriend after 3:00 PM, which I found to be an unusual and unreasonable rule. Nonetheless, I left the hotel at that time and returned later to help my girlfriend pack for an early check-out. Upon checking out, your staff member Miyu Misumi informed me that we would be charged an additional 42,000 to 45,000 yen to re-enter the room. This charge was unreasonable, as we had already paid for the room until the 5th and were simply moving our belongings.Meanwhile, my girlfriend, who was seated in the dining area, was stopped from enjoying the dinner included in our package until the additional payment was made. This caused her considerable embarrassment in front of other guests. Miyu seemed to take pleasure in this situation, laughing while we tried to explain ourselves, which made us feel uncomfortable, humiliated, and disrespected.Additionally, we felt racially discriminated against. A staff member assumed I was from China before I showed my passport, which made us feel unfairly treated. This incident has caused significant emotional distress. We have had difficulty sleeping since then and are still deeply upset. We are even considering seeking psychological support to cope with the emotional impact of...