Evaluation: ANA Crowne Plaza Sapporo, an IHG Resort

Upon arriving in Sapporo for my Japanese ski trip, I was in search of a short one-night stay in the city.

Given the limited hotel options available, I opted to make the most of my IHG Diamond status for the year and chose to stay at the ANA Crowne Plaza Sapporo.

While IHG properties tend to have limited redemption opportunities and somewhat modest elite status benefits when compared to other loyalty programs, I’ve had some favourable encounters with the brand in the past.

With this in mind, I was eager to see how the ANA Crowne Plaza Sapporo would measure up in comparison.

ANA Crowne Plaza Sapporo – Booking

Regular cash rates at this property fall in the range of ¥14,000–20,000 ($120–175 USD, $154–220 CAD) per night. On the other hand, booking with points should fall somewhere between 28,000–40,000 IHG One Rewards points.

At the time of my stay, cash rates were quite reasonable, and I booked this one-night stay for ¥14,400 ($165 USD, $130 CAD).

It’s worth noting that this property participates in IHG’s preferred partner program, Luxury & Lifestyle, which gives you extra benefits at no additional cost. Bookings must be made through an authorized travel advisor, and you can receive elite-level treatment even if you don’t have IHG One Rewards status.

ANA Crowne Plaza Sapporo – Location

The ANA Crowne Plaza Sapporo has a fairly convenient location in the heart of Sapporo, in close proximity to notable attractions and transportation.

Both the Sapporo Clock Tower and Nijo Fish Market are situated just a 15-minute walk away from the ANA Crowne Plaza Sapporo. Indeed, I went for a quick walk to the Clock Tower and visited some nearby food establishments in the afternoon. 

Furthermore, Tanukikoji Shopping Street is a brief 10-minute walk from the hotel, while, the Hokkaido Jingu Shrine is easily accessible around 10 minutes away by vehicle.

The hotel provides effortless accessibility through public transportation, with Sapporo Subway Station Exit 21, located nearby.

Additionally, a direct shuttle service is available from Hokkaido New Chitose Airport, albeit with an extra charge. The ANA Crowne Plaza Sapporo is approximately an hour’s journey from the airport.

ANA Crowne Plaza Sapporo – Check-in

The hotel stands as a 26-storey concrete building, boasting a main entrance that features a porte-cochère adorned with the hotel’s name against the wall.

Upon arrival, I was warmly greeted in the arrival lobby, which exudes a smart-casual ambiance with a small seating area nestled in the far right-hand corner.

A set of escalators awaits, ready to take you up to the second floor, which is where the main lobby and front desk are situated.

During the check-in process, the front desk associate graciously acknowledged my IHG Diamond status and confirmed my reservation for a Standard Room with Double Bed, which falls within the base-level room category.

With everything in place, I proceeded to the lobby elevators and up to my assigned room, 1913, located on the 19th floor.

ANA Crowne Plaza Sapporo – Standard Room with Double Bed

The elevators on the lobby floor sported a charming tree design, with vibrant and colourful orange tones. However, as the guest room elevators opened, the hallway underwent a shift to a more subdued ambiance, characterized by grey and white hues.

Upon entering, there’s a small foyer that leads to the bedroom. To the left, a small closet offers some storage space.

The room exudes cleanliness and brightness, with neutral tones and ample natural light streaming in through the window.

These rooms underwent renovation in 2019 and are in excellent condition, although they are on the smaller side, which is fairly typical for Japanese accommodations.

Positioned along the right-hand wall, the double bed is adorned with an upholstered grey headboard.

Nestled in the room’s right-hand corner, a small chair and side table provide a cozy spot. A thoughtful welcome amenity in the form of Shiroi Koibito biscuits were placed here – one of my favourite Japanese snacks.

A lengthy desk spans the length of the opposing wall, serving also as a platform for a flat-screen TV and a minibar.

Two sets of outlets, along with a USB-A charging port, are available at the side of the desk. It’s worth noting that the room offers a generous array of plugs and outlets, a detail that’s always appreciated.

Adjacent to the minibar, you’ll find a set of drawers housing a coffee and tea station with tea bags, instant coffee, mugs, glasses, and spoons.

While the windows are fairly large, the view is limited to the many nondescript buildings around the block. However, this isn’t uncommon in Sapporo, as it isn’t particularly renowned for its picturesque views.

The bathroom is compact and raised slightly from the rest of the room, a characteristic often seen in Japanese design. An attractive feature wall composed of black marble adds to the ambiance.

To the left is a shower/tub combination, while the toilet and a small vanity are positioned on the right. Again, although counter space is limited and the bathroom might feel somewhat snug, this is pretty consistent with the spatial norms of Japan.

While the room might be on the smaller side, its clever layout makes the most of the available space. The choice of neutral tones and the ample use of natural light create a cozy space.

ANA Crowne Plaza Sapporo – Breakfast

The most remarkable aspect of this stay was the IHG Diamond breakfast benefit, which offers a choice between a buffet at the hotel’s all-day dining venue, MEM, or a set-plate Japanese-style breakfast at Unaki, the Japanese restaurant situated on the basement floor.

The buffet at MEM was incredibly comprehensive, and I was greatly impressed as I took a look around.

There were pastries and fresh bread accompanied by jams and butter, as well as a refrigerated section which offered an array of yogurts and puddings.

A variety of hot dishes, spanning Japanese and Western favourites, were available. Notably, there was stewed pork and Sapporo ramen with an impressive number of accompaniments. To my surprise, the buffet even featured Sapporo’s local specialties, like soup curry.

Among the other available offerings were Western classics such as bacon, sausage, scrambled eggs, hash browns, made-to-order omelettes, and pancakes.

Despite the temptation and extensive offerings of the buffet, my curiosity led me to the set-plate breakfast option at Unaki instead, where I indulged in a Japanese set meal that proved to be equally as appetizing.

ANA Crowne Plaza Sapporo – Dining

ANA Crowne Plaza Sapporo has a total of six distinct restaurants, including MEM and Unaki.

Located on the 26th floor, the highest level of the hotel, you’ll find a teppanyaki restaurant known as Ishikari. The restaurant specializes in Japanese beef and fresh seafood, prepared on an iron plate in front of guests.

Also on the same floor is a lounge named Sapporo View. Here, you can find jazz music and cocktails while taking in the captivating night scenes.

For those seeking a more relaxed setting, Café Minamo, situated on the first floor, serves as an ideal spot for quick bites. Freshly brewed coffee, tea, a selection of freshly baked cakes, and homemade bread are on the menu.

On the basement floor, you’ll find Kiyohira, a sushi restaurant. This eatery offers a cozy ambiance where you can indulge in authentic sushi and Japanese dishes.

ANA Crowne Plaza Sapporo, an IHG Hotel – Other Facilities

During my stay, I headed down to the fitness, which is located on the hotel’s ground floor, for a quick workout.

The fitness centre is open 24 hours a day and boasts a spacious layout. There’s a commendable array of workout equipment, including strength machines, free weights, treadmills, and stationary bikes.

During my stay in March 2023, the fitness centre still required reservations, seemingly as a vestige of pandemic-era policies.

Additionally, the hotel houses a variety of shops and services, conveniently located within the premises. There’s a Lawson convenience store attached to the hotel, offering a great option for quick and easy bites.

On the first and basement levels of the hotel, you’ll also find a pastry boutique, bridal consultation shop, two salons, and a photo studio.

Conclusion

The ANA Crowne Plaza Sapporo offers a comfortable and affordably priced stay in the heart of Sapporo. In Japan, while living spaces might be more compact, exceptional cleanliness and service standards are rarely compromised, as was the case for my stay.

Furthermore, the ANA Crowne Plaza Sapporo exceeds expectations by providing not only cozy rooms but also great treatment of IHG Diamond members. Of particular note is the impressive breakfast offering, which may be a significant draw if deciding to stay here.

Given the rather limited hotel options otherwise, the ANA Crowne Plaza offers outsized value in Hokkaido’s largest city, and I wouldn’t mind returning for another stay in the future.