Assessment: ANA Crowne Plaza Sapporo, an IHG Resort

Upon arriving in Sapporo for my Eastern ski commute, I used to be looking for a brief one-night keep within the town.

Given the restricted resort choices to be had, I opted to take advantage of my IHG Diamond standing for the 12 months and selected to stick on the ANA Crowne Plaza Sapporo.

Whilst IHG houses generally tend to have restricted redemption alternatives and relatively modest elite standing advantages when in comparison to different loyalty systems, I’ve had some beneficial encounters with the logo up to now.

With this in thoughts, I used to be keen to look how the ANA Crowne Plaza Sapporo would measure up when put next.

ANA Crowne Plaza Sapporo – Reserving

Common money charges at this belongings fall within the vary of ¥14,000–20,000 ($120–175 USD, $154–220 CAD) in step with evening. Alternatively, reserving with issues must fall someplace between 28,000–40,000 IHG One Rewards issues.

On the time of my keep, money charges had been reasonably affordable, and I booked this one-night keep for ¥14,400 ($165 USD, $130 CAD).

It’s value noting that this belongings participates in IHG’s most well-liked spouse program, Luxurious & Way of life, which offers you additional advantages at no further value. Bookings will have to be made via a licensed shuttle consultant, and you’ll obtain elite-level remedy despite the fact that you don’t have IHG One Rewards standing.

ANA Crowne Plaza Sapporo – Location

The ANA Crowne Plaza Sapporo has a relatively handy location within the middle of Sapporo, in shut proximity to notable sights and transportation.

Each the Sapporo Clock Tower and Nijo Fish Marketplace are positioned only a 15-minute stroll clear of the ANA Crowne Plaza Sapporo. Certainly, I went for a fast stroll to the Clock Tower and visited some within sight meals institutions within the afternoon. 

Moreover, Tanukikoji Buying groceries Boulevard is a short lived 10-minute stroll from the resort, whilst, the Hokkaido Jingu Shrine is well available round 10 mins away by way of automobile.

The resort supplies easy accessibility via public transportation, with Sapporo Subway Station Go out 21, positioned within sight.

Moreover, an instantaneous go back and forth provider is to be had from Hokkaido New Chitose Airport, albeit with an additional price. The ANA Crowne Plaza Sapporo is roughly an hour’s adventure from the airport.

ANA Crowne Plaza Sapporo – Take a look at-in

The resort stands as a 26-storey concrete construction, boasting a major front that includes a porte-cochère decorated with the resort’s identify towards the wall.

Upon arrival, I used to be warmly greeted within the arrival foyer, which exudes a smart-casual environment with a small seating space nestled within the a ways right-hand nook.

A suite of escalators awaits, able to take you as much as the second one ground, which is the place the principle foyer and entrance table are positioned.

Throughout the check-in procedure, the entrance table affiliate graciously said my IHG Diamond standing and showed my reservation for a Usual Room with Double Mattress, which falls throughout the base-level room class.

With the entirety in position, I proceeded to the foyer elevators and as much as my assigned room, 1913, positioned at the nineteenth ground.

ANA Crowne Plaza Sapporo – Usual Room with Double Mattress

The elevators at the foyer ground sported an enthralling tree design, with colourful and vibrant orange tones. Then again, because the visitor room elevators opened, the hallway underwent a shift to a extra subdued environment, characterised by way of gray and white hues.

Upon getting into, there’s a small lobby that results in the bed room. To the left, a small closet gives some cupboard space.

The room exudes cleanliness and brightness, with impartial tones and considerable herbal mild streaming in in the course of the window.

Those rooms underwent renovation in 2019 and are in very good situation, even though they’re at the smaller aspect, which is relatively conventional for Eastern lodging.

Located alongside the right-hand wall, the double mattress is decorated with an upholstered gray headboard.

Nestled within the room’s right-hand nook, a small chair and aspect desk supply a comfy spot. A considerate welcome amenity within the type of Shiroi Koibito biscuits had been positioned right here – one in every of my favorite Eastern snacks.

A long table spans the duration of the opposing wall, serving additionally as a platform for a flat-screen TV and a minibar.

Two units of retailers, together with a USB-A charging port, are to be had together with the table. It’s value noting that the room gives a beneficiant array of plugs and retailers, a element that’s all the time preferred.

Adjoining to the minibar, you’ll discover a set of drawers housing a espresso and tea station with tea luggage, speedy espresso, mugs, glasses, and spoons.

Whilst the home windows are relatively huge, the view is proscribed to the various nondescript structures across the block. Then again, this isn’t unusual in Sapporo, because it isn’t specifically famend for its picturesque perspectives.

The toilet is compact and raised reasonably from the remainder of the room, a function frequently noticed in Eastern design. A good looking characteristic wall composed of black marble provides to the environment.

To the left is a bath/bath mixture, whilst the bathroom and a small vainness are situated at the correct. Once more, even though counter house is proscribed and the toilet may really feel relatively comfortable, that is beautiful in step with the spatial norms of Japan.

Whilst the room could be at the smaller aspect, its artful format makes the many of the to be had house. The selection of impartial tones and the considerable use of herbal mild create a comfy house.

ANA Crowne Plaza Sapporo – Breakfast

Probably the most exceptional facet of this keep was once the IHG Diamond breakfast get advantages, which gives a decision between a buffet on the resort’s all-day eating venue, MEM, or a set-plate Eastern-style breakfast at Unaki, the Eastern eating place positioned at the basement ground.

The buffet at MEM was once extremely complete, and I used to be a great deal inspired as I took a go searching.

There have been pastries and recent bread accompanied by way of jams and butter, in addition to a refrigerated phase which introduced an array of yogurts and puddings.

Various sizzling dishes, spanning Eastern and Western favourites, had been to be had. Significantly, there was once stewed beef and Sapporo ramen with an excellent collection of accompaniments. To my wonder, the buffet even featured Sapporo’s native specialties, like soup curry.

Some of the different to be had choices had been Western classics reminiscent of bacon, sausage, scrambled eggs, hash browns, made-to-order omelettes, and pancakes.

Regardless of the temptation and intensive choices of the buffet, my interest led me to the set-plate breakfast possibility at Unaki as a substitute, the place I indulged in a Eastern set meal that proved to be similarly as appetizing.

ANA Crowne Plaza Sapporo – Eating

ANA Crowne Plaza Sapporo has a complete of six distinct eating places, together with MEM and Unaki.

Situated at the twenty sixth ground, the absolute best point of the resort, you’ll discover a teppanyaki eating place referred to as Ishikari. The eating place makes a speciality of Eastern red meat and recent seafood, ready on an iron plate in entrance of visitors.

Additionally at the similar ground is a front room named Sapporo View. Right here, you’ll to find jazz tune and cocktails whilst taking within the charming evening scenes.

For the ones in the hunt for a extra at ease environment, Café Minamo, positioned at the first ground, serves as a really perfect spot for speedy bites. Freshly brewed espresso, tea, a collection of freshly baked muffins, and home made bread are at the menu.

At the basement ground, you’ll to find Kiyohira, a sushi eating place. This eatery gives a comfy environment the place you’ll take pleasure in unique sushi and Eastern dishes.

ANA Crowne Plaza Sapporo, an IHG Resort – Different Amenities

Throughout my keep, I headed all the way down to the health, which is positioned at the resort’s floor ground, for a fast exercise.

The health centre is open 24 hours an afternoon and boasts a spacious format. There’s a commendable array of exercise apparatus, together with power machines, unfastened weights, treadmills, and desk bound motorcycles.

Throughout my keep in March 2023, the health centre nonetheless required reservations, reputedly as a vestige of pandemic-era insurance policies.

Moreover, the resort homes quite a lot of stores and products and services, very easily positioned throughout the premises. There’s a Lawson comfort retailer connected to the resort, providing a perfect possibility for speedy and simple bites.

At the first and basement ranges of the resort, you’ll additionally discover a pastry boutique, bridal session store, two salons, and a photograph studio.

Conclusion

The ANA Crowne Plaza Sapporo gives a relaxed and cost effectively priced keep within the middle of Sapporo. In Japan, whilst dwelling areas could be extra compact, outstanding cleanliness and repair requirements are hardly ever compromised, as was once the case for my keep.

Moreover, the ANA Crowne Plaza Sapporo exceeds expectancies by way of offering no longer handiest comfortable rooms but additionally nice remedy of IHG Diamond participants. Of specific be aware is the spectacular breakfast providing, that may be an important draw if deciding to stick right here.

Given the relatively restricted resort choices differently, the ANA Crowne Plaza gives oversized worth in Hokkaido’s biggest town, and I wouldn’t thoughts returning for every other keep someday.