Hoshino Resorts KAI Poroto

Lovely place to relax with excellent service and hot spring.the room is spacious and overlooks a lake which feel so serene. Love they try to blend the local cultures into this place, be it the amulet making or some of the Ainu dishes. The ohaw soup during breakfast and the porridge during dinner were amazing! While the place is a bit out of the usual touristy towns, it offers a great get away for people who want to escape the busy cities. The massage service is of limited capacity, seems only 1 person per slot, as the masseur comes to your room to provide the service. He is qualified and it was very good massage, but better book in advance. Would be great if they can provide shuttle service from the train station to the hotel, given there is limited taxi in this town. We have to call the hotel to call a taxi for us.

Beautiful hotel with stunning rooms and a fantastic onsen area — both for hotel guests and with a public option as well. We even had a room with a private onsen, which was a real highlight. That said, the hotel feels like it has a lot of untapped potential. The service didn’t match the price point. We arrived about 30 minutes before check-in, and there wasn’t much support offered — not even a simple coffee or suggestion on what to do while waiting. There is a self-serve coffee machine, but no real service around it, and a small gesture here would have made a big difference at this level. Unfortunately, dinner was also a disappointment — it was one of the weakest meals we had in Japan. Overall, a beautiful property with great facilities, but the service and dining need significant improvement to justify the rates.

No Taxi, No Shuttle, No Thank You. On a recent stay, I asked for a taxi for a companion who had an early flight the next morning. Fully aware that the town is small and taxis may be sparse, we gave the hotel almost a full day in advance notice. When a taxi couldn’t be arranged and I suggested a resort of this caliber should have a shuttle or any other solution, the resort staff informed me that the company considers the station close enough to walk. Granted, a 15 minute walk by most standards is not far, but during winter with several meters of snow and ice, and luggage in tow, the walk is anything but a stroll in the park. Furthermore, add-ons such as room charges could not be settled with the same credit card that was registered and charged when making the reservation. More of an inconvenience than a deal breaker, but for a resort that prides itself on customer service, please take note that the majority of the hospitality industry has a more convenient method of bill settlement for their customers.

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 recommended!

Last night’s stay at Hoshino Resorts KAI Poroto in Hokkaido was absolutely memorable. Stepping inside, I was immediately greeted by the warm glow of a bronze chimney stove—a truly cozy and welcoming sight on a winter's day. While the service and food were exceptional, the highlight was undoubtedly the outdoor onsen. Its design is unique, thoughtfully integrated into the surrounding Ainu "kotan" (village) heritage. Soaking in the hot spring while transitioning from the indoor bath to the open-air pool was an incredible experience. The serene view of the tranquil lake and mountains unfolded before me, immersing me completely in the breathtaking natural scenery. The morning brought another magical moment: enjoying a delicious breakfast while overlooking the beautiful lake, with white cranes gracefully flying right before my eyes. It was a stunning and unforgettable scene, leaving a deep and lasting impression. #HoshinoResorts #KAIporoto #Hokkaido #Onsen #JapanTravel #LakeView

Kai Poroto, quietly gorgeous! ||This is our 2nd time staying at Kai Poroto and this is the best Kai we have visited. The larger family corner room suited us well despite no in room onsen. Bathing at the public spa area and enjoying the onsen is the highlight. We used it at least 5 times during our 2 night stay. The outdoor onsen is the best, especially when snowing. The breakfast and dinner set is made with nice local ingredient but can be a bit dull after two full days. ||One of my good memories about Kai Poroto was the morning exercise. However, this time the venue is changed to lobby area instead of the onsen area. Lobby area is quite small. The hand craft activities is always fun by the firepit with nice view.||Kai Poroto is popular amongst Japanese / Korean / Chinese visitors but not sure why no western faces seen. The place is ideal to unwind given not a lot of things going on nearby. We went to a nearby farm to taste Shiraoi beef and it’s so tasty.||Till next time, Kai Poroto. Thanks for taking care of us.

There was a significant amount of mold in the tile grout, particularly in the shower room. It makes me question the thoroughness of the cleaning routine. This seems to be a recurring issue with Hoshino Resorts' 'Kai' brand, as I experienced the exact same problem during my stay at Kai Sengokuhara. Furthermore, staff should not drag luggage directly onto the wooden flooring inside the room. Suitcases should be left in the entryway to keep the living area clean. Finally, the housekeeping schedule needs to be more clear. 'Do Not Disturb' signs should be provided to allow guests more privacy and flexibility with their time.

Very nice environment. Hot spring. Delicious dinner & breakfast. Very polite waiters. Really appreciated they tried their best to explain the foods in English. Waiter can also chat with us. Ask how come to select this hotel. Highly recommended ！