Granbell Hotel Susukino

This hotel offers a modern and stylish urban retreat, with its clean, new facilities and convenient location near the subway station serving as its signature features. It is particularly well-suited for sightseers, solo travelers, and couples seeking a comfortable and accessible base for exploring the city. Guests consistently highlight the hotel's overall cleanliness, the comfort of its rooms, and the relaxing public baths. While the hotel is generally praised for its value and design, some guests recommend being mindful of the surrounding entertainment district if traveling with families, and suggest checking room sizes if planning to bring extensive luggage. For an enhanced stay, consider utilizing the rooftop onsen during off-peak hours to avoid crowds.

Facilities & Amenities
The hotel boasts impressive indoor and outdoor onsens located on the rooftop, which are frequently praised for being clean and spacious, offering a relaxing experience after a day of exploration. While generally well-maintained, some guests noted occasional cleanliness issues like hair or scum, particularly during peak hours. A well-equipped gym is available, featuring treadmills, stationary bikes, weights, and yoga mats, though some equipment might be out of order. Guests appreciate the convenience of free Wi-Fi throughout the property, as well as access to ice machines, vending machines, and a laundry room with washers and dryers. Additionally, microwaves are provided on the top floor for guest use, adding to the overall convenience.

Cleanliness & Room Comfort
Guests consistently describe the rooms as clean, modern, and well-designed, often highlighting their spotless condition and cozy ambiance. The comfortable beds with high-quality linens contribute to a restful night's sleep, though a few guests found the pillows to be a bit hard. Rooms are equipped with essential amenities such as coffee makers (though some noted they were powder-type), refrigerators (some found them small or not cold enough), TVs, and conveniently placed USB ports and plugs. While the rooms are generally considered spacious for Japanese standards, some guests found limited space for luggage, suggesting utilizing the under-bed storage. The bathrooms are clean with good water pressure in the showers, but lack bathtubs, and some minor water stains or mold were occasionally reported. Noise levels are generally low, but some street noise can be heard on lower floors.

Dining & Food Quality
The breakfast at the hotel receives mixed but generally positive feedback, with many guests praising its good variety and buffet style. The spread includes a range of Japanese breakfast options such as rice, onsen eggs, various side dishes, and seafood like salmon, ikura, and scallops, alongside Western choices like toast, salad, French toast, and cake. The soup curry is a popular highlight. However, some guests noted that the breakfast area can become crowded, especially closer to the 9 AM cutoff, leading to slow replenishment of food items. While many found the food delicious, some felt the breakfast was not good value for the price. The hotel also features a restaurant downstairs and a stylish bar in the lobby, with some guests mentioning a "cover charge" for the bar.

Location & Accessibility
The hotel's central location is a significant advantage, placing guests directly outside the Housui Susukino subway station on the Toho line, offering easy access to Sapporo Station and other city attractions. It is also within walking distance of the vibrant Susukino area, known for its numerous restaurants, bars, and shopping options, as well as Odori Park, Ramen Alley, Nikka bar, Tanukikoji shopping street, and Nijo Market. An airport bus stop is conveniently located nearby. While parking is available, guests have reported it can be expensive, hard to find, or frequently full, with some expressing frustration over staff knowledge regarding parking options. The hotel's proximity to the adult entertainment district was a minor concern for some families.

Staff & Service
The staff generally receives praise for being friendly, professional, attentive, and helpful, with many guests appreciating the presence of English-speaking and Korean-speaking staff. The check-in process is often described as quick, though some guests found the self-check-in machines confusing or restrictive with payment options. Staff are commended for assisting with luggage storage, taxi calling, and providing amenities like umbrellas and phone chargers. However, some guests reported a perceived lack of hospitality, citing instances of unhelpful responses to requests or a lack of greetings. There were also isolated comments about staff consuming drinks during breakfast service. The hotel's housekeeping policy, which does not include daily room cleaning for shorter stays, received mixed feedback, though daily towel and trash bag replacement is provided.

Additional Information
Guests should be aware that the hotel has a tattoo policy that is not tattoo-friendly, despite the presence of a public bath. The housekeeping policy dictates that rooms are not cleaned daily for stays under three or four nights, though fresh towels and trash bags are provided daily, and guests can leave trash outside their doors. Some guests noted strict limits on free water bottles, coffee packets, and creamer provided in the rooms. For security, card key access is required for elevators and public baths. The hotel primarily caters to foreign tourists, particularly from China and Korea, which has led to some cultural differences in public bath etiquette, such as noise levels. While the room design is often described as "Muji style" or "minimalist," some guests experienced longer elevator wait times despite the presence of three elevators.