Overseas · Sapporo · Hotel comparison note
Sapporo hotel comparison: JR Tower Hotel Nikko Sapporo vs Onsen Ryokan Yuen Sapporo for the Snow Festival
Where to stay for the Sapporo Snow Festival:
a high-rise connected to Sapporo Station
or an onsen ryokan by Odori Park
In 2027, the Snow Festival (2/4–11) spans all of Korea's Seollal holiday.
This guide covers hot spring terms and construction notices at a high-rise hotel connected to JR and the airport, and an onsen ryokan next to the Odori Park venue.
Sapporo Snow Festival hotel location: choose between the venue route and the JR route first
- If the plan is to go back and forth to the Odori Park venue day and night first check the hours of the guests-only open-air bath at Onsen Ryokan Yuen Sapporo, just north of the park.
- If there is a lot of JR travel to the airport, Otaru, Biei, and elsewhere look at the station-connected route and construction notices for JR Tower Hotel Nikko Sapporo, a 3-minute walk from Sapporo Station.
- With Seollal on 2/6–9 falling entirely within the Snow Festival on 2/4–11 factor in rate spikes and sellouts at both properties, check the cancellation policy, and book early.
Before you read
This is not a review based on a stay. It compiles seller-provided information and each property's official information. Displayed prices are pre-tax amounts checked on the Myrealtrip listing on 2026-10-27 and may change at the time of booking, and rates fluctuate sharply during the Snow Festival. JR Tower Nikko's total room count and Yuen Sapporo's onsen fee for guests are not in official information, so check them before booking. Bookings made through affiliate links may earn a commission.
JR Tower Nikko vs Yuen Sapporo, Snow Festival locations at a glance
Compare them with the same dates, guests, and inclusions. In this table, A is JR Tower Hotel Nikko Sapporo and B is Onsen Ryokan Yuen Sapporo.
| Item | A.JR Tower Hotel Nikko Sapporo | B.Onsen Ryokan Yuen Sapporo |
|---|---|---|
| Listed price | Listed priceKRW673,187Checked · MyRealTrip listing, opens in a new tab Displayed price excludes tax · confirm the final amount at checkout | Listed priceKRW593,062Checked · MyRealTrip listing, opens in a new tab Displayed price excludes tax · confirm the final amount at checkout |
| Location | Kita 5-jo Nishi 2-chome 5 · 3-min walk from JR Sapporo StationPer official information · Station-connected high-rise | Kita 1-jo Nishi 7-chome 6 · About 8-min walk from Odori Station · About 13-min walk from JR Sapporo StationPer official information · North of Odori Park (not Susukino) |
| Rooms | All rooms on floors 23–34Total room count differs by source (330 or 342), so asking the hotel is recommended | 182 rooms · 27–39㎡Per official information · Opened August 2020 |
| Onsen | 22F natural hot spring 12:00–23:00 · Guests only 06:00–09:00 · Paid even for guestsNo entry with tattoos · Closed for repairs 2026-11-01 to 11-22 | Open-air bath and sauna 15:00–25:00, 06:00–10:00 · Guests onlyNo separate fee listed · Confirm at check-in |
| Breakfast | SKY J panoramic buffetBreakfast hours and price not in official information | Japanese set meal (hokke hitsumabushi)Per official information |
| Parking | About 500 spaces shared with the shopping mallFees differ by OTA, so ask the hotel directly | Paid per night · First come, first served from 15:00 · Few spacesPer official information |
| Check-in · Check-out | 15:00 / 11:00 (Executive Floor 12:00)Per official information | 15:00 / 11:00Per official information |
| Airport transfer | JR Rapid Airport, as fast as 37 min · Connected directly from the stationPer JR Hokkaido | Airport bus to the Hokkaido Government Office main gate or Grand Hotel stop, then about 8-min walkPer official information |
| Snow Festival route | Subway or walk to the Odori venueCheck the distance to the Susukino venue on a map | Right next to the Odori Park venueDistance to the Susukino venue not in official information |
| Construction · Notices | Possible noise and vibration from Sapporo Station redevelopment · Road in front of the main entrance restricted until 2031-03Per official information | Night construction at the neighboring building (11/1, 11/17, 12/2, 12/14, 21:00–03:00)Per official information · Check for further notices for February |
Stay dates checked: Feb 6–7, 2027 · 2 adults · Breakfast not included (assumed). Terms vary by room type and promotion. The amounts above are displayed prices at the time of checking and do not represent the actual rate or availability for that date.
JR Tower Hotel Nikko Sapporo
JR Tower Hotel Nikko Sapporo is at Kita 5-jo Nishi 2-chome 5, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, a 3-minute walk from the East Gate and South Exit of JR Sapporo Station. According to official information, all rooms are on floors 23 to 34, with check-in at 15:00 and check-out at 11:00 (12:00 on the Executive Floor). The total room count differs by source, at 330 or 342 rooms.
- Location
- Kita 5-jo Nishi 2-chome 5, Chuo-ku, Sapporo
- Location
- 3-min walk from the East Gate and South Exit of JR Sapporo Station · All rooms on floors 23–34, per official information · Total room count differs by source (330 or 342)
- Onsen
- 22F natural hot spring (sodium chloride spring) 12:00–23:00, guests only 06:00–09:00 the next day · Paid even for guests · No entry with tattoos, per official information
- To check
- Total room count · SKY J breakfast hours and price · Parking fee · Distance to the Susukino venue
The reason to choose this hotel is the route. According to JR Hokkaido, the JR Rapid Airport train from New Chitose Airport takes as little as 37 minutes and connects directly from the station. If JR day trips to places such as Otaru and Biei are on the itinerary, travel stays easy even during the Snow Festival. Sapporo ranked eighth among overseas cities in Agoda's 2025 hotel search ranking for Korean travelers, and 2027 is a year when the entire Seollal holiday falls within the Snow Festival, so competition for bookings is expected to start with station-connected hotels. However, official information says redevelopment work at Sapporo Station may cause noise and vibration, and partial traffic restrictions on the road in front of the main entrance will continue until March 2031.
The onsen is a 22nd-floor natural hot spring (sodium chloride spring), open 12:00–23:00, and guests only from 06:00 to 09:00 the next day. It is paid even for guests, and anyone with tattoos cannot enter. It is announced as closed for repairs from 2026-11-01 to 11-22, which does not affect a February stay, but check whether hours change after it reopens.
Breakfast is listed as the SKY J panoramic buffet, but hours and price could not be confirmed. Parking is about 500 spaces shared with the shopping mall, and fees are listed differently by OTA, so when bringing a car, asking the hotel directly is more reliable. The Odori venue is reached by subway or on foot, and the distance to the Susukino venue could not be confirmed.
One more thing before booking
The onsen is officially announced as closed for repairs from 2026-11-01 to 11-22, which does not affect a February stay, but check whether hours change after it reopens. Official information also says redevelopment work at Sapporo Station may cause noise and vibration, and partial traffic restrictions on the road in front of the main entrance will continue until March 2031.
Onsen Ryokan Yuen Sapporo
Onsen Ryokan Yuen Sapporo is at Kita 1-jo Nishi 7-chome 6, Chuo-ku, Sapporo. According to official information, it is about an 8-minute walk from Exit 1 of Odori Station and about a 13-minute walk from JR Sapporo Station, and it opened in August 2020. The point to watch is the location. It is sometimes introduced as a Susukino onsen ryokan, but its official address is just north of Odori Park, so this guide frames the comparison as "connected to Sapporo Station vs next to the Odori Park venue."
- Location
- Kita 1-jo Nishi 7-chome 6, Chuo-ku, Sapporo
- Location
- About 8-min walk from Exit 1 of Odori Station · About 13-min walk from JR Sapporo Station, per official information · Just north of Odori Park (not Susukino) · Opened August 2020
- Onsen
- Open-air bath and sauna using hot spring water transported from Noboribetsu Karurusu Onsen · 15:00–25:00, 06:00–10:00 · Guests only (no day bathing) · No separate fee is listed, so it appears to be free, but confirming when booking is recommended
- Rooms · Breakfast
- 182 rooms · 27–39㎡ · Breakfast is a Japanese set meal (hokke hitsumabushi), per official information
The reasons to choose this ryokan are the Snow Festival route and the onsen. With the Odori Park venue right next door, guests can see the evening illuminations and walk back. The onsen is an open-air bath and sauna using hot spring water transported from Noboribetsu Karurusu Onsen, open to guests only from 15:00 to 25:00 and 06:00 to 10:00, with no day bathing. No separate fee is listed, so it appears to be free, but this has not been confirmed in official wording. Rates are expected to spike during the Snow Festival, so book early and check the cancellation policy.
Official information lists 182 rooms of 27–39㎡, with check-in at 15:00 and check-out at 11:00. Breakfast is a Japanese set meal featuring hokke hitsumabushi. From the airport, take the airport bus to the Hokkaido Government Office main gate or Grand Hotel stop and walk about 8 minutes, which means one more transfer than the JR-connected Nikko.
Official information says parking is paid per night, first come, first served from 15:00, with few spaces. The official page carries a notice of night construction at the neighboring building (11/1, 11/17, 12/2, 12/14, 21:00–03:00) and an apology notice dated 2026-10-01 regarding unauthorized access to the reservation system. The construction dates do not affect a February stay, but check for any further notices before booking.
One more thing before booking
Official information says parking is paid per night, first come, first served from 15:00, with few spaces. Night construction at the neighboring building (11/1, 11/17, 12/2, 12/14, 21:00–03:00) has been announced; it does not affect a February stay, but check for any further notices before booking.
Choosing again by the shape of a Sapporo Snow Festival trip
Rather than ranking the hotels, pick the conditions that matter most for this trip.
| Travel style | Look at first | Check before booking |
|---|---|---|
| Going back and forth to the Odori venue day and night | Onsen Ryokan Yuen Sapporo | Open-air bath hours after 15:00 check-in · Availability over Seollal |
| Day trips by JR to Otaru, Biei, and more | JR Tower Hotel Nikko Sapporo | Station-connected route · Redevelopment noise notices |
| The onsen is the goal | Compare the two properties' onsen terms | Nikko paid for guests and no tattoos · Yuen guests only, confirm the fee |
| Late-night arrival | JR Tower Hotel Nikko Sapporo | Last Rapid Airport train · Onsen closes at 23:00 |
Booking in this order: five steps
Match the Snow Festival dates with the stay first
The 2027 Snow Festival runs 2/4–2/11, and Korea's Seollal holiday (2/6–9) falls within it. Enter the stay date and number of guests under the same conditions and book early.
Check the room and what is included
Look at room type and floor, whether breakfast is included, whether the onsen fee is included, and whether taxes and accommodation tax are included. At Nikko, the onsen is paid even for guests.
Cross-check construction and closure notices
Compare the Nikko onsen repair closure (11/1–22), Sapporo Station redevelopment work, and the night construction notice next to Yuen against the stay date, and check for further notices.
Compare cancellation terms and the final amount
During the Snow Festival, rates spike and many rates come with non-refundable terms. Check the free-cancellation deadline and the payment currency and total.
Keep the booking records
Save the confirmation and note the check-in time, airport transportation (JR Rapid Airport or airport bus), and onsen hours.
Where to stay for the Sapporo Snow Festival — common questions before booking
Where is the best place to stay during the Sapporo Snow Festival?
The 2027 Snow Festival runs 2/4–2/11 and spans all of Korea's Seollal holiday (2/6–9), so rate spikes and sellouts are expected; book early. For going back and forth to the Odori Park venue day and night, Onsen Ryokan Yuen Sapporo, just north of the park, is closer, while for frequent JR travel to the airport, Otaru, Biei, and elsewhere, JR Tower Hotel Nikko Sapporo, a 3-minute walk from Sapporo Station, is more convenient. Yuen Sapporo is next to Odori Park, not in Susukino; for the distance from either property to the Susukino venue, look up the route from each one in advance.
Is the large public bath at the Sapporo Station hotel free for guests?
JR Tower Hotel Nikko Sapporo's 22nd-floor natural hot spring is officially listed as paid even for guests. It is open 12:00–23:00, guests only from 06:00 to 09:00 the next day, and anyone with tattoos cannot enter. It is closed for repairs from 2026-11-01 to 11-22. Onsen Ryokan Yuen Sapporo has a guests-only open-air bath and sauna with no separate fee listed, so it appears to be free, but it is not explicitly stated as free, so ask when booking.
Now, with your own dates
Check the listed price for your dates
Enter your dates and guests, then check the inclusions and the final payment amount again.
JR Tower Hotel Nikko Sapporo
Check prices on MyRealTripOnsen Ryokan Yuen Sapporo
Check prices on MyRealTripAffiliate disclosure: if you book through an official affiliate link, staydiary may receive a commission. No extra cost is charged to the buyer.
Basis date and sources
- JR Tower Hotel Nikko Sapporo · Official website, opens in a new tab
- JR Tower Hotel Nikko Sapporo · Spa and onsen, opens in a new tab
- JR Tower Hotel Nikko Sapporo · Onsen closure notice, opens in a new tab
- JR Tower Hotel Nikko Sapporo · JR Hokkaido airport access, opens in a new tab
- Onsen Ryokan Yuen Sapporo · Official website, opens in a new tab
- Onsen Ryokan Yuen Sapporo · Onsen information, opens in a new tab
- Onsen Ryokan Yuen Sapporo · Sapporo Snow Festival (official tourism), opens in a new tab
Photo credits
- JR Tower Hotel Nikko Sapporo · exterior — Photo: JR Tower Hotel Nikko Sapporo (published on the official website) · Original page, opens in a new tab
- JR Tower Hotel Nikko Sapporo · room — Photo: JR Tower Hotel Nikko Sapporo (published on the official website) · Original page, opens in a new tab
- JR Tower Hotel Nikko Sapporo · facilities — Photo: JR Tower Hotel Nikko Sapporo (published on the official website) · Original page, opens in a new tab
- Onsen Ryokan Yuen Sapporo · exterior, room — Photo: ONSEN RYOKAN YUEN SAPPORO (published on the official website) · Original page, opens in a new tab
- Onsen Ryokan Yuen Sapporo · facilities — Photo: ONSEN RYOKAN YUEN SAPPORO (published on the official website) · Original page, opens in a new tab
Sources are JR Tower Hotel Nikko Sapporo official pages (spa, notices), Onsen Ryokan Yuen Sapporo official pages (onsen), official Sapporo tourism Snow Festival information, and JR Hokkaido airport access information. Facility operations and sales terms may change after the date of compilation.