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.

Hoshino KAI Poroto delivered an unforgettable stay. The staff greeted us with genuine warmth, gave us a quick tour, and took care of our meal bookings along with a fun cultural craft activity. Our room was roomy, spotless, and stocked with everything we could want. The lake and mountain view was stunning. Both dinner and breakfast were plentiful and delicious. The outdoor onsen was the star of the show, especially the infinity pool overlooking the lake inside a beautiful traditional structure. A shuttle to the nearby station would be helpful, but the walk is short. All in all, a brilliant five star experience.

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 ！

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

First, the goods: The hotel itself is top notch. Rooms are big, clean and modern. The outdoor onsen hot spring is magnificent and breathtaking. The cozy fire place in door also gives a nice warmth to the ambience. Now, the bad: Location is odd. Lake Poroto is a small lake, while pretty is not spectacular. Hotel is in the back end of a small, old town with limited activities or anything worth visiting. Its neither a truely nature-ish, serene place, nor a popular spot to discover anything. It's truly neither here or there. Finally, the ugly: I've read the reviews and managed my expectations on the food, but good lord this is by far the worst dining experience from an onsen resort out of the 50+ we've visited throughout the years. And the kids menu provided so little options. We asked for one more piece of the salmon dish (and we are willing to pay for it) but they are so inflexible that they wouldn't even bother making it. The dinner set for adults was unimaginative, bland, and feels cheap. For the price we paid, there was limited portion of seafood (like a sprinkle of crab meat), no wagyu, no oyster, no abalone. None of the delicacy dishes that one would expect. We were thoroughly disappointed, and nothing in the hotel can make it up for this terrible dining experience. They need to revamp the menu, change the chef, and stop skimming customers on their terrible, low cost food. While the onsen itself was great and the room was comfortable, the odd location choice and the substandard restaurant make it impossible for me to justify the price or recommendation. Spend your money elsewhere, there are plenty of choices in Hokkaido.

Visited in early Oct 2025. Not much to do in the vicinity nor onsite, but overall a very relaxing environment to kick back. Excellent service throughout, food was good but so so compared to other Hoshino properties. No in room bath was a bummer but the outdoor onsen early evening where you can see the moon rise just beyond the mountains across lake Porto was truly a sight to remember. Quick jog along the trails surrounding the lake in the morning was also nice