The Hotel On my first ever trip to Hokkaido this year, I stayed at Hoshino Resorts Kai Poroto located in Shiraoi. Shiraoi is a small town, and it is approximately 40 minutes by car from New Chitose Airport and 65 minutes by car from Sapporo. To get to Hoshino Resorts Kai Poroto, the best way is to drive or alternatively, it is approximately 10 minutes on foot from JR Shiraoi Station (North Exit). 

It is not a huge property, with just 42 rooms. I love how calming and zen the whole vibe of the resort is the moment I entered. 

I was greeted by the spacious lobby area with a fireplace at the centrepiece.

You also get a beautiful view of the surrounding lake since it is right beside Lake Poroto. 

Each Hoshino Resorts Kai property I have stayed previously has a unique theme (such as the tea theme at Hoshino Resorts Kai Enshu, the Mashiko-yaki ceramics showcase in Hoshino Resorts Kai Kinugawa), and this property highlights the influence of the Ainu people from food to culture to architecture.

The Room I checked into the Western Style Room With Outdoor Bath, a gorgeous 56 sqm room which overlooks Lake Poroto.

I like the layout of the room which splits the living and bedroom area equally. There is a spacious sofa couch by the window where it is great to sit and relax while gazing out at the lake view. 

The huge worktable in the middle is also great for storing your belongings and if you need to, a good-sized table to work. 

Another main highlight of this room is the private onsen in the bathroom.

The size is good for two pax to soak in the onsen where you can open the window to enjoy the fresh air and lake view as well. The temperature of the onsen is also just right for me, not overly hot and unbearable. 

The Facilities The main highlight for me is definitely the public Shiraoi hot spring onsen bath. There are indoor and outdoor sections where the indoor onsen is also open to the public for day use. I would say you can skip the indoor bath which is quite small. 

The outdoor onsen design is amazing as it is shaped like a cone and is built based on the unique Ainu architecture. 

I like that you first stepped into the semi-indoor section of the onsen, and you can move out through the cone-shaped structure into the open-air area where you get the serene lake view while soaking in the onsen. 

There is also a small relaxation area at the onsen where you can have some cold tea and take a rest. 

The library area in the lobby is also a space for guests to relax and you can help yourself to the tea and coffee. 

The Restaurants My booking is the half-board package, which is also what I recommend going for since it saves the hassle of heading out of the resort to have meals. 

Dinner is a multi-course Kaiseki-style meal where you get a mix of local ingredients as well.

In terms of the dining space, there are private rooms for couples, or you can also opt for the long counter seats which overlook the garden. 

In terms of breakfast, there is also a wide variety of small dishes which are all served together at once on a tray. I also enjoyed the hot pot to share for some hearty soup in the morning. 

Rants No fitness centre and there is only one restaurant on site.   

Overall Experience I enjoyed my stay at Hoshino Resorts Kai Poroto and if you are looking for a tranquil resort to experience in Hokkaido, this is one to check out. The best parts for me are the outdoor onsen design, as well as the spacious and comfortable room layout. 

Hoshino Resorts Kai Poroto 
1 Chome-1018-94 Wakakusacho, Shiraoi, Shiraoi District, Hokkaido 059-0902, Japan 

For more information, check out Hoshino Resorts Kai Kinugawa Website.

Ranted by The Ranter