The Ice Hotel at Hoshino Resort Tomamu 氷のホテル

The Ice Hotel of the Hoshino Resort Tomamu complex offers a unique experience in Japan: spending a night in an igloo . This magical place is ideal for those who want to test an atypical accommodation , or for all lovers of cold, snow and ice.

The hotel is part of a larger theme complex: the Ice Village , a village built from scratch, which appears every year in winter within the large Hoshino Resort Tomamu, located east of Sapporo . As the place is located very far north, temperatures can reach -30°C during the coldest winters. The hotel offers one and only one room at a given time each year, from January to February.

In 2019, the opening dates are from January 19 to February 28 . It can accommodate 1 to 2 people , plus a child.

See: Enjoying winter in Tomamu

A frozen room

A night in the igloo at the Ice Hotel will cost you 23,000 yen per person, or around €178 . This very special night includes, in addition to accommodation, breakfast, access to an outdoor bath and its lounge, as well as snacks and hot drinks.

The chamber, which is in the form of a dome , is entirely made of ice, from floor to ceiling, without any joints. Even the furniture is made of ice ! Thanks to the very low temperatures, the ice does not melt. The space is wide and comfortable, with its 8m50 in diameter, and a ceiling that rises to 3m50. In the all-white bedroom, which looks like it's straight out of a futuristic movie, you'll find a raised bed of ice, a bench seat, two chairs with a coffee table, and a small console table housing snacks, green tea and hot water. All ice furniture is accompanied by fur and cushions , to be able to settle in comfortably.

Are you afraid of being too cold to sleep? No worries ! The double bed is covered with many furs , including reindeer. Above all, you will be provided with a special down , which allows you to stay warm down to minus 30°. It is still advisable to cover yourself well to have a good night's sleep. On average, the temperature in the room is around minus 6°C. To avoid slipping, you will also find a pair of non-slip boots.

In the morning, you will be entitled to a special breakfast , which takes care of the body. On the menu, coffee, yogurt with honey, onion soup, eggs Benedict with salmon and Parma ham and bagna cauda with 5 vegetables...

Individual tour in Hokkaido

There you will find two imposing deckchairs made of ice , covered with furs. This is the perfect time to enjoy a whiskey , thanks to the bar made available especially for hotel guests. You can then taste the various Japanese whiskeys at will, in glasses also made of ice, accompanied by ice cubes infused with honey. In addition to the selection of around twenty whiskeys, you can also warm up with hot drinks , such as chai tea, cinnamon infused milk and many more...

To discover: Top 5 Japanese hot winter drinks

Finally, in addition to these special facilities that promise a unique evening, the Ice Village offers various original locations. An ice rink and an ice slide allow for family fun, while the " Ice bar " will make you have a good time with friends with 50 different cocktails to choose from. When at " Ice Books & Coffee ", it allows you to relax with a good book, a hot coffee or even a fondue. Again, all of the furniture is made of solid blocks of transparent ice. Finally, the Ice Chapel offers an extraordinary moment of contemplation...

Read also: The Sapporo Snow Festival

A decidedly unique experience for those who are not shy, to do if you are passing through Hokkaido during the winter.