Sapporo’s Hotel Shortage and Rising Costs: The Root Cause
Even business hotels exceed 30,000 yen
The continued rise in hotel prices across the country is becoming a serious issue for domestic travelers. Among the areas experiencing what can only be described as abnormal price hikes is Sapporo.
In mid-January, while searching for a hotel for a business trip to Sapporo, a reporter from this magazine was shocked by the prices. Even though the reporter deliberately avoided peak seasons such as the Snow Festival and Chinese New Year, business hotels were charging over 30,000 yen per night. A regular hotel, which had previously been affordable, had increased in price by more than four times.
By early February, when searching on major travel websites, prices were still in the high 30,000 yen range. Even capsule hotels were priced over 20,000 yen, and city hotels were exceeding 60,000 yen in some cases. However, according to a hotel employee in Susukino, “It’s still better than having no vacancies at all.”
“When the idol group ‘Snow Man’ held a concert in Sapporo last November, hotels in Sapporo and nearby cities were fully booked, and accommodation refugees were overflowing. We even had to arrange hotels in Asahikawa, three hours away. With the growing number of tourists and large events coinciding, the capacity is completely overwhelmed. This winter, especially, is abnormal. Other popular tourist spots in Hokkaido are facing similar situations,” the employee explained.
Currently, there are about 200 accommodations in Sapporo, with a total capacity of around 74,000 people.
An official from the hotel and ryokan association explained the reason behind the price hikes.
“Simply put, it’s the increase in inbound tourists. Normally, the period from late November to the Chinese New Year in January is a quiet period, but since last year, the off-season has shortened, and the price range has started to rise. I’ve heard that hotels are receiving complaints that the cost exceeds what company employees can pay as expenses.”
