Ginrinsou — Hotel in Otaru

We stayed at the Ginrinso for a night en route to Niseko. From Sapporo, we took a train to Otaru-chikko, about 30 minutes. The ryokan provided complimentary pick up and drop off service, and this was arranged through the Luxury Ryokan Collection. Exiting the train and entering the main hall of the Otaru-chikko station, we were met with the ryokan's driver.||||A short 10 minutes drive and we arrive at a beautiful historic building. Greeted at the door warmly, check in was swift and we were shown to our traditional Japanese room in the new wing. ||||This room was very spacious, beautifully decorated with views of the coast. Separate seating area and an equally large bathroom and private onsen facilities. Toiletries supplied were generous and well thought out, including a generous stack of clean white towels. Room was faultlessly clean and incredibly inviting. ||||We were served hot green tea and a sweet snack upon arrival, and after some explanations about dinner that evening and breakfast the next day, we were left to enjoy our room and the onsen. There is wifi at this ryokan and requires signing in just once.||||This is one of the ryokans where you are asked your height at reservation, so that they can provide you with yukatas that actually fit. This attention to detail is really much appreciated! ||||Dinner was an elaborate affair, comprising 8 courses of local seafood and served in a private room. Service was attentive and friendly, but never intrusive. Most staff speak minimal English, but made a lot of effort to try and communicate best as they could.||||Our futons were made up when we returned to the room, complete with a night light. Futons were comfortable, the duvets were fluffy as clouds, and afforded a good nights' sleep.||||Breakfast was served in another larger room, with a large variety of Japanese dishes. After meal drinks (coffee or tea) was served in a separate room with a large skylight roof. I would have preferred for breakfast to be served in room.||||After check out, a driver sent us to Otaru-chikko station, where we caught our train to Kutchan.||||Our stay at the ryokan was overall quite wonderful, great food, excellent service, and peace and quiet. Some guests had very young children with them and they could be heard screaming and shouting and running around the otherwise very tranquil premises, but I suppose the ryokan cannot be faulted for this. Highly...

This is an outstanding ryokan fulfilling all your wishes for Japanese hospitality. The rooms (with private onsen); the meals (breakfast and dinner); and above all - the genuine warmth and hospitality crossing all language barriers! We do not speak Japanese and English was not used at all...||||First the rooms. All our rooms had ensuite toilets AND a private onsen with constantly running water at around 40 degrees Celsius. The tatami mats smell like they are brand new, the lacquered low table polished with an inlay featuring a bouquet of flowers is a work or art.||The wifi works at all times without fail..Sleeping in futons was not a problem, but getting up in the morning needed getting used to, especially for the oldies.||The food - the quality and careful choice of seasonal delights featuring king crab, unni, fresh sashimi, and fresh summer garden vegetables could not be matched anywhere in Hokkaido during our visit!||After every breakfast, we were invited to adjourn to the adjacent sun-lit coffee room. The fact that 9 of us in 3 generations of the family descended upon them all at the same time at every meal did not intimidate them. Everyone's wishes were meticulously delivered without mistake. ||Best of all, the feeling of genuine hospitality pervaded through the entire establishment, whether to clean our dirty shoes, clear the walking cane of debris, etc. ||The greetings on our arrival by Supervisor Sakura and her team made us feel like we were coming home. Our dinner times were politely reminded when we were late. Temoko-san supervised our dinners, Junko-san, our breakfasts. Of course, the rooms were cleaned quietly and anonymously when we left for the day. On our return, not a speck of dust was visible, all used towels were replaced, and all toiletries refilled to the brim.||It was with a tinge of sadness when Sakura-san bade us all farewell outside the Ryokan and topped it all with a perfect group picture taken by her, both with cell phones or with a fancy SLR camera!||We will return, albeit that it was the most expensive hotel bill (per person) that I have ever paid...

We stayed at Ginrinsou for just one night in deep winter (Feb 11–12) — sadly too short a stay, due to our early departure the next morning. We had asked the staff if breakfast could be served a little earlier, which initially wasn’t possible. But to our delight, the restaurant opened ahead of schedule, and we left just in time. The staff remembered we were in a rush and served breakfast promptly. Everyone was kind, helpful, and attentive.||||The food was world-class. Dinner was breathtaking, including live abalone prepared right at the table — a first-time experience for us. We also enjoyed a beautiful sake pairing with the meal. Breakfast was light and elegant.||||The interior of the hotel is stunning. Classic, full of small artistic details — a real photographer’s dream. There's even a tower you can climb (if you’re not afraid of heights) for a beautiful view.||||The hot springs alternate daily between men and women, which we hadn’t seen before in Japan. The best part: we each had the bath entirely to ourselves — and could even sneak a quick visit across 😉. The sea view from the bath is magnificent. The facility is a bit aged, but clean, and absolutely full of character.||||Pricing was fair. We paid around €620 for two adults, including dinner, breakfast, and sake pairing. For this level of service, quality, and uniqueness, the price felt justified. This isn’t a budget stay, but it’s a refined, memorable ryokan experience.||||One thing to note: an intricately carved ship made of ivory is on display in the lobby. While we understand this is a historic piece and the hotel follows Japanese law, ivory objects can feel outdated to today’s guests. A small sign offering context, or replacing it with alternative artwork, might align better with global values in 2025.||||Finally, we must mention the lovely lady who welcomed us. A bit shy, but extremely polite and warm. She showed us the room, worked at reception, and even served dinner. Truly exceptional service — we were touched.||||We hope to return one day — and...