3-9-1 Inaho, Otaru, Japan | (618) 248-8274
Across the street from the train station and surrounded by dining options and shops
Homey rooms have flat-screen TVs, mini-fridges, and electric kettles
Japanese-style rooms have tatami-matted sitting areas
Capsule-style rooms available (for men only)
Indoor hot spring baths and a sauna
Free ramen supper served daily
Breakfast buffet includes Japanese and Western fare (fee)
Free Wi-Fi throughout, plus business corner with computers
Vending machine room with microwave
Guest laundry facilities
Parking available (for a fee)
Simple, no-frills decor that's a bit dated
Rooms are small and have tiny bathrooms
Breakfast incurs a fee
The Dormy Inn Premium Otaru is a simple mid-range hot springs hotel that's conveniently situated right across from Otaru's train station, with plenty of dining options and shops nearby. It offers a handful of room categories, from standard Western-style rooms to Japanese-style rooms with tatami mat sitting areas. Rooms are all small and homey, with tiny bathrooms, but offer a decent set of amenities, including flat-screen TVs, electric kettles, mini-fridges, and free Wi-Fi. Capsule-style dorm rooms are also available, but for men only. The communal hot spring baths are pleasant, with several baths and a sauna. Free ramen suppers are a nice perk, but the breakfast buffet incurs a fee. For larger rooms, check out Grand Park Otaru near the marina, which has three restaurants, but lacks hot spring baths.
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Scene
Simple mid-range hot springs hotel
Situated in a 10-story brick building, this mid-range hot spring hotel from the Japanese chain Dormy Inn makes a convenient base for a trip to Otaru, thanks to its proximity to the train station. Interiors are fairly simple and ho-hum, but they're clean and homey spaces. The lobby, with its floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the street outside, is full of natural light. Brown dominates, with tile floors, brick wall details, and wooden furnishings, but it's enlivened by pops of green courtesy of potted plants flanking the entrance and dotted about the room. The hotel's restaurant follows suit with the brown color scheme, furnished with wooden tables and chairs as well as booth seating. With its convenient location and hot spring baths, it offers a good value that attracts a range of travelers, both leisure and business.
Location
Across the street from the train station, surrounded by dining and shopping, and within 10-minute walk of several attractions
The hotel is situated across the street from the Otaru train station, making it a convenient base for visiting this port city. There are plenty of dining options and shops nearby, and most of the city's top attractions can be reached on foot, like the lovely Otaru Canal (eight-minute walk), The Bank of Japan Otaru Museum (eight-minute walk), and the Otaru Taishou Glass Palace (11-minute walk). Sakaimachi Street, a lovely preserved merchant street, is about a 10- to 15-minute walk from the hotel. Other popular destinations that require a drive include the Otaru Aquarium (13-minute drive), Otaru Nishin Goten, also known as the Herring Mansion (13-minute drive), and the Nikka Whiskey distillery (half-hour drive). The Otaru Tenguyama ski resort is a 12-minute drive away, while the Asari ski resort is a 20-minute drive. Niseko is one of the island's most famous ski towns, and it's about 90 minutes away. Sapporo is about 40 minutes to an hour's drive away, or around 50 minutes by public transportation. Shikotsu Toya National Park, home to Mount Yotei, geothermal springs, and caldera lakes, is a two-hour drive away. New Chitose Airport is about an hour to 90 minutes away from the hotel by car, or an hour and 15 minutes by train.
Rooms
Small, simple rooms have flat-screen TVs, mini-fridges, and electric kettles, plus tiny bathrooms; Japanese-style rooms and capsule dorms available
There are a couple of different types of rooms available, both smoking and non-smoking. There are standard Western-style rooms, as well as Japanese-style with tatami mats. Both styles are simple and fairly no-frills, with carpeted floors and wooden furniture that includes desks, dressers, and headboards with built-in nightstands and lamps. Black-out curtains frame the windows and brown/bed runners top white bedding. Standard amenities include flat-screen TVs, electric kettles, mini-fridges, phones, irons/ironing boards, alarm clocks, and free Wi-Fi. Slippers and pajamas are also provided.Rooms are small, starting at 161 square feet (15 square meters) and capping at 226 square feet (21 square meters) for twin rooms. Twin rooms have small seating areas in front of the TVs. Japanese-style rooms have futon beds and tatami mat sitting areas with floor seating and small tables.Bathrooms are tiny, but clean and functional. Sink vanities are situated outside of the bathrooms, which are equipped with small showers and Toto toilets; some have shower/tub combos. Hairdryers and toiletries are supplied, including toothbrushes, hairbrushes, and razors.Capsule-style dorm rooms are also available, with stacked sleeping pods. These include a locker room for storage and shared bathrooms, but are for men only.
Features
Hot spring baths and sauna, plus conveniences like free ramen suppers, buffet breakfast (fee), and vending machine room
The highlight here are the hotel's hot spring baths (or onsen), with a couple of different pools/baths in a pleasant space. Birch tree trunks arranged by one of the baths are a nice, atmospheric touch. There's also a sauna. The changing room offers amenities like hairdryers and hairbrushes. Guests also receive slippers and robes.A breakfast buffet is served in the mornings and available for a fee, comprising both Japanese and Western fare. The hotel's restaurant also offers a free daily ramen supper for guests. There's a vending machine room that offers a choice of options, plus it has a microwave. Other amenities include laundry facilities for guest use, a smoking room for indoor smoking, and a business corner with computers and a printer. Wi-Fi is free throughout the property. Parking is available for a fee.
