WE Hotel Toya
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Hotel Details
Location
WE Hotel Toya · Toyakocho, Abuta-gun, Japan
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Key Highlights
- ✓Guests consistently highlight several exceptional aspects of WE Hotel Toya:
Expert Review: WE Hotel Toya
WE Hotel Toya, a Michelin Key Selected property in Toyakocho, Abuta-gun, Japan, is celebrated for its exceptional design, stunning lake views, and outstanding hospitality. Guests consistently praise its tranquil ambiance and modern "Wa" design by renowned architect Kengo Kuma.
1. Overall Rating & Sentiment
WE Hotel Toya generally receives an "Excellent" to "Very Good" rating from guests. Agoda users rate it 8.4 out of 10, with Booking.com showing a "Very Good" 8.0 out of 10 based on nearly 500 reviews. It's frequently described as one of the most memorable hotels in Hokkaido, a top choice for travelers seeking a memorable stay, and offering an "affordable luxury" experience. Its selection as a Michelin Key property further underscores its high quality.
2. Key Highlights
Guests consistently highlight several exceptional aspects of WE Hotel Toya:
- Service & Staff: The staff are frequently described as "exceptional," "friendly," "helpful," and going "above and beyond" to ensure a pleasant stay. Their courteous and attentive nature contributes significantly to the positive guest experience.
- Location & Views: The hotel's location offers "breathtaking views of Lake Toya" from both rooms and communal areas, including a remarkable public onsen with a lakeside vista. The peaceful setting is perfect for a relaxing getaway.
- Design & Aesthetics: Designed by the world-renowned architect Kengo Kuma, the hotel boasts a "modern design" that incorporates the warmth of timber, creating a "super cozy" and aesthetically pleasing environment. The fusion of Lake Toya's nature and contemporary "Wa" design is a significant draw.
- Private Onsen Baths: A standout feature is the private cypress open-air bath available in every room, offering guests a luxurious and intimate onsen experience with panoramic lake views.
3. Room Quality
The 56 rooms at WE Hotel Toya are highly praised for their comfort, design, and amenities. They are described as "beautifully furnished, with ample space and comfortable beds and bedding." All rooms offer captivating views of Lake Toya, with bright, airy, and open layouts. Each room features a private cypress open-air bath on the balcony, alongside an indoor shower booth and double basin, prioritizing both comfort and design. Standard room amenities include complimentary Wi-Fi, a minibar, sound-proof windows, a cupboard, a writing desk, air conditioning, a sitting area, and tea and coffee facilities. Room options range from Double, Twin, and Triple to more spacious Villas.
4. Dining Experience
The dining experience at WE Hotel Toya is a notable highlight. The on-site restaurant, "EZO Cuisine," focuses on "delicious local blessings," utilizing Hokkaido's fresh fish, meat, and vegetables. Guests have described the food as "superb" and "fantastic," with the breakfast receiving particular acclaim for being "absolutely delicious," "great," and offering "yummy" vegetarian options. The hotel also features a bar and lounge area where guests can enjoy local drinks, sake, cigars, and whiskey.
5. Service & Staff
The service and staff at WE Hotel Toya consistently receive exceptional feedback. Guests frequently mention the "friendly and helpful nature of the staff, who go above and beyond to ensure a pleasant stay." They are described as "extremely courteous and helpful," contributing significantly to a positive and memorable experience. The hotel also offers multilingual staff, with English and Mandarin Chinese being supported, which further enhances communication and guest comfort.
6. Location & Accessibility
WE Hotel Toya is nestled in Toyoura, offering a peaceful setting with convenient access to the natural beauty of Lake Toya and Mount Usu. It's a "great location" that is "convenient for exploring the surrounding area." Notable nearby attractions include Ukimido Park (a 6-minute walk) and Toyako Geijutsukan. For transportation, Toya Station is a short walk away, and the hotel provides a free shuttle service to the other side of the lake and the bus station, ensuring easy access to various destinations. The hotel is approximately 1.5 to 2 hours from New Chitose Airport by car or train, providing a seamless travel experience for guests.
7. Value & Pricing
WE Hotel Toya is often considered to offer "excellent value" for its facilities, cleanliness, and staff performance, surpassing expectations with an impressive rating of 8.1 for value on some platforms. While it provides "affordable luxury," some guests on Booking.com rated its value for money at 7.2. While specific real-time pricing varies, earlier mentions of deals "from $360" indicate a premium but justified cost for the experience. The consensus suggests that despite being a higher-end option, the quality of the stay generally justifies the expense.
8. Common Complaints
While overwhelmingly positive, some recurring criticisms have been noted by guests:
- Maintenance Issues: A few guests reported issues such as "moldy open-air bath near the corners," loose showerhead holders, and faucets placed too close to the sink, making it inconvenient to fill kettles.
- Room Functionality: Complaints included motion sensor lights in the toilet turning off too quickly, and one guest mentioned the lack of a hanging rack in the shower room, making it difficult to dry and dress without exposure.
- Minor Inconveniences: Some guests experienced mosquitoes in their rooms and issues with air conditioning in certain bedrooms.
- Dining Variety: A few guests wished for more choices on the dinner menu, and one opinion suggested breakfast could be better.
- Lack of Room Service: For a hotel of its caliber and price, the absence of room service was a point of criticism for some.
Sources
Points to Consider
- •While overwhelmingly positive, some recurring criticisms have been noted by guests:
- •Minor Inconveniences: Some guests experienced mosquitoes in their rooms and issues with air conditioning in certain bedrooms.
- •Lack of Room Service: For a hotel of its caliber and price, the absence of room service was a point of criticism for some.
Google Reviews
312 reviews
Recent Guest Reviews
Jenny Tsai
Beautiful hotel with the most stunning views, we woke up for sunrise and it felt like we were in the clouds. The outdoor onsen was perfect, we used it 3 times during our 2 night stay! Service was fantastic, best speaking English staff which was not expected considering it’s such a small town. The hotel is on the other side of the lake opposite the onsen town so it’s a bit far away - about 20 min f...
Petitmignon yeung
The overall decoration is quite good, the scenery is beautiful, and parking is very convenient. However, the private bath is rather disappointing—it’s not a hot spring but a wooden bathtub on the balcony. It’s too cold to go outside, though it might be much better in summer. If TOYA 乃の風 have availability, don’t hesitate to choose them instead. There’s nothing nearby, and we booked dinner, but it w...
Jason Pang
Fairly disappointed with my stay for the price paid for our rooms. There were spider webs in the dining room and the food was average at best (meat was overcooked). Not the Japanese standard/detail I would expect for a hotel this pricey. Furthermore, the water in the onsen is not hot spring water. I would advise fellow travellers to choose another accommodation where you could get better facilit...
Brett Lyon
This place was amazing, the staff are very nice and food was incredible. A great place to get away and relax if you’re looking for a retreat. I would 10/10 recommend. Room is very nice and clean and has an amazing view of the lake
Lisa Zhu
The room is stunning, but there is nothing to do around and within the hotel. Also< you can’t see firework from this hotel… the firework show is on the other side of the lake The hotel offer shuttle bus, breakfast is included dinner is extra charge. I hope someone could’ve told me OMAKASE was an option.
Matt
Breakfast buffet was great but refill was not that fast. It has an Amazing view of the lake.
