Fairfield by Marriott Sapporo

We stayed four nights at this property and, overall, had a genuinely pleasant experience. There was a rocky start when we were initially told that breakfast could not be selected as the amenity for a Marriott Bonvoy Ambassador Elite, despite our booking of two suite rooms. We later learned that this benefit is not offered at every Marriott property, but I must give credit to the front manager, who handled the situation with grace and ultimately made an exception for us. That thoughtful gesture immediately changed the tone of our stay. We were also given priority cards, which entitled us to free-flow hot drinks and snacks at the ground-floor café - a lovely touch that added a sense of comfort and hospitality throughout our visit. Breakfast itself was enjoyable, with a wide variety of options each morning. The location is another major highlight: the hotel is centrally situated and only a short walk from both Nijo Market and the lively Tanukikoji shopping street, making it an excellent base for exploring the city. Most of all, what stayed with us was the warmth and professionalism of the service. The manager, in particular, was exceptionally polished and courteous, and it was a memorable gesture to see him personally there to send our family off at check-out. Small moments like that left a lasting impression and made this stay feel especially welcoming.

This is a regular inn in Sapporo. The word Fairfield by Marriott may come to mind in Japan, with its inconvenient location adjacent to Michi no Eki (Road Station), but this hotel is a renovated building that was originally Tobu Hotel, so it is conveniently located, with a 15-minute walk to the center of Sapporo's downtown area, Susukino, and a 5-minute walk to the nearest subway station, Hosui Susukino Station on the Tozai Line. The entrance to the arcade shopping street of Nijo Market and Arushimaru Tanukikoji is also just across the road. The bus stand for the Outlet Mall in Kitahiroshima is also located about a 5-minute walk from the hotel, and the airport bus stand for the airport is about a 10-minute walk away. I am a member of the Titanium Elite, but this time I upgraded to a spacious room with a two-bed sofa and was happy to allow a late check-out at 14:00 due to the flight time. I had been staying at the Marriott hotel in Bangkok for a couple of days before I stayed here, and the cleanliness of the toilets and bathtubs, which are unique to Japanese hotels, is still so great that I can feel the difference. The amenities are also very comfortable, with bath salt, toothbrush, shave, body towel and gown-type pyjamas. Since the opening of the Courtyard by Marriott in Nakajima Park, a neighboring station on the Namboku Line, a one-time complimentary breakfast buffet has been served every day during your stay (preliminary, but it's been going on for the last few years) and you can choose one drink and take it back to your room at the same time (I don't drink alcohol in principle, so I get Pepsi Zero every time). The fridge is empty so you can cool down what you buy, and it's nice to be provided with two bottles of 500ml plastic water each day. Although I would like to try the Courtyard by Marriott in Nakajima Park at one point, I would choose this hotel if I wanted to stay in Sapporo without hesitation until the mid-10,000s, because the price is cheaper here at Fairfield and the Courtyard doesn’t offer breakfast (instead it’s a lunch buffet) and I still prefer its location near downtown.

Great hotel, was delayed in Sapporo for 2nights due to a snow storm and we were able to get rooms here. It is a 30min + drive from the airport but it is very nice.