Fenix Furano (フェニックス富良野) — Hotel in Furano

Our stay at Fenix Furano Ski-In Ski-Out Condo was a colossal disappointment, marked by severe shortcomings that fundamentally undermine its claim to luxury.

The most glaring issue revolves around the ski area, a pivotal value as Fenix Furano markets itself as a ski-in, ski-out accomodation. The adjacent gondola, essential for ski access, consistently opens late in the season, often not until January. This means that patrons paying top-tier luxury prices in December are denied the ski-in, ski-out experience they rightfully paid for. Compounding the frustration, Fenix charges full peak-season luxury prices without making any effort to accommodate or rectify this fundamental shortfall. The only saving grace here was they had shuttles which we used to get to the Furano Ropeway (a 10 min drive away). While this was appreciated, it nevertheless was hardly the ski in and ski out experience they had advertised

Hospitality at Fenix Furano leaves much to be desired. In stark contrast to other Japanese resorts, the staff appeared inadequately trained. No one offered to assist with our bags upon arrival, and the staff merely observed as we shuffled from our taxi to our rooms. Despite four staff members behind the counter, only one seemed to be working, while the rest were engrossed in their phones in the office area. Seeking information about our stay was equally troublesome, with no direct access to hotel staff for specific inquiries. All questions had to go through Nisade staff, who proved uninformed and slow to respond—an egregious departure from the common hospitality standards in Japan.

The rooms, while boasting a new and modern aesthetic, lack the discerning touches expected from luxury properties. The laundry cupboard and closet lack lighting, pantry cupboards are inconveniently designed, there are insufficient power plugs in the bedroom and dining area (none in the dining area), and the absence of a dishwasher further diminishes the overall experience. The room design diverges from Japanese standards; shelves for dishes and cups are impractically built for someone at 175cm to reach. Additionally, the decision to combine the shower, toilet, and sink in one unit, unlike other Japanese facilities, reveals a lack of thoughtful design, with gaps in the shower design leading to water leaking into the dry toilet.

In conclusion, Fenix Furano Ski-In Ski-Out Condo fails spectacularly in delivering the promised luxury experience. We strongly discourage anyone expecting a premium skiing resort from choosing this establishment unless planning to visit during the absolute peak season in January or February. The bottom line is that you pay for luxury, but here, you don't get anywhere near the high standards expected. A resounding recommendation against choosing this property for a luxury...

This was our first stop on a family trip around Hokkaido. Arrived right at the end of spring, just before summer season. We will probably one of the few occupants in the hotel during our stay, there were no other vehicles in the car park and the hotel staff mentioned that there were only two rooms being taken. The hotel is also only staffed during office hours, and you would need to make arrangements for checking in if you are arriving late.||Its location is great if you are skiing, being right at the top of the hill, immediately next to the ski lift building. But that also means that it is furthest away from the rest of the facilities, with the closest being a Lawson convenience store at the bottom of the hill about 900 meters away. You would need a car to be based at this place if you're not skiing, as it's about a 10 minute drive into Furano town, where the rest of the dining and shopping options are. The car park immediately adjacent to the hotel is also relatively small, with about 8 to 10 spaces.||The building itself seemed very new, with a lot of industrial concrete and wooden design. We took a 3-bedroom unit with a dual-key setup, which was great in the sense that one of the rooms was separate with its own pantry and bathroom. After searching around for some information, it seems that each unit could be individually owned, and the management takes care of the short term rental and leasing.||The furnishings were very new and adequate. The living and dining areas were large enough for 6 people to gather around. The view was also not bad, overlooking the rest of the town.||It was a comfortable and spacious place to stay, just you would need a vehicle to get round in the...

We stayed here in August while passing through Furano on our way to Wakkanai, as part of a longer Hokkaido round trip. Our goal was simply to have a comfortable overnight stay, not to engage in any activities. For that purpose, the property was entirely sufficient – though I would not describe it as a “hotel” in the traditional sense.||For skiers, the location is excellent: it is situated right at the base station of the ski lift. In its concept, the property is closer to an Airbnb, with one important distinction – these are high-end vacation apartments usually used by their owners, and only rented out when they are away.||The big difference compared to typical Airbnbs is the extraordinary quality and elegant design of the building and rooms. From beautifully tiled bathrooms, fantastic beds, and a large flat-screen TV, everything was of an impressively high standard. In fact, I have rarely seen such quality even in upscale hotels.||The front desk staff were very friendly and answered all our questions in advance. That said, the “reception” is more of a key handover service rather than a full-service hotel front desk. It is only staffed from 7:00 am until 10:00 pm, and there is neither a bar nor a traditional restaurant. However, on the ground floor they do offer a choice between two set menus – Shabu-Shabu or Sukiyaki – which is a nice option.||For our needs – a comfortable and well-equipped place to stay overnight – this was perfect and highly recommendable. The quality of the room furnishings impressed me greatly and is something I have never experienced in quite this form elsewhere.||Overall very recommendable, if you don't expect lavish wining ad dining...