While more and more people are turning to social media to gather information about their travel destinations, even in this day and age, recommendations from locals still hold a special appeal. In this section, we ask staff members at lodging facilities across the country to share the highlights of their workplaces and their top picks for nearby tourist attractions.
For this article, we spoke with Mr. Masatake Kido, general manager of Super Hotel Premier Chitose Natural Hot Springs, and Ms. Yoko Kido, assistant general manager.
Facility Name: Super Hotel Premier Chitose Natural Hot Spring
Address: 4-13-22 Hokuto, Chitose City, Hokkaido
――Could you tell us what led you to start working at Super Hotel Premier Chitose Natural Hot Springs?
Since both my husband and I are originally from Hokkaido, we’ve always dreamed of opening our own restaurant someday. While we were looking for a way to save up startup capital and gain business management know-how, we came across Super Hotel’s management training program, the “Super Dream Project.” We were drawn to the fact that we could be entrusted with managing an entire hotel with zero initial investment, as well as the opportunity to save money toward our future dream, so we decided to take on the challenge.
At first, I had some concerns about taking on a new challenge in my 40s and working 24-hour shifts with my spouse, but as I worked on the front lines to provide personalized service to each guest and strived to make this “a hotel loved by everyone,” I came to find great fulfillment in the work itself. Drawing on the experience I’ve gained over the past eight years and my deep affection for my hometown of Hokkaido, I’ve been given the opportunity to help launch and manage this new property.
――What kind of hotel is it?
Super Hotel Premier Chitose Natural Hot Spring is conveniently located about a 15-minute drive from New Chitose Airport—Hokkaido’s main air gateway—and about an 8-minute drive from JR Chitose Station. Not only is it an ideal base for business and sightseeing, but we also offer a natural hot spring featuring rare plant-based moor water and a carefully curated complimentary breakfast buffet to help you deeply unwind from the fatigue of travel and daily life.
In addition, through environmentally conscious initiatives and partnerships with local restaurants, we offer a new “community-based” stay experience in which the very act of staying with us contributes to Chitose’s sustainable development.
――What kind of experience is unique to Super Hotel Premier Chitose Natural Hot Springs?
The main attraction is the large public bath “Tenku Kohaku: Beauty Bath,” known for its silky-smooth water. This rare plant-based moor spring, with its yellowish-brown color reminiscent of amber, is highly alkaline (pH 8.86) and contains metasilicic acid, which moisturizes the skin. Like a “natural beauty serum,” it gently exfoliates dead skin cells and leaves your skin feeling soft and supple. The semi-open-air bath, where you can feel the pleasant breeze of Hokkaido, is also very popular.
In addition, at the “Welcome Bar” open in the evening, you can enjoy a wide variety of alcoholic beverages and drinks—including the local sake “Chitose Tsuru” and “Hyakuhō,” a sake commemorating the 100th anniversary of Chitose Port’s opening—free of charge in a stylish lounge that evokes the natural beauty of the northern region. Local sushi restaurants sometimes set up pop-up stalls here, and the experience of enjoying fresh Hokkaido seafood paired with your favorite drink has been very well received.
――Please let us know if there are any sightseeing spots or restaurants in the area around the hotel that you personally recommend.
Our top recommendation for a tourist spot is Lake Shikotsu, located about a 30-minute drive from the hotel. It is a beautiful lake renowned for having some of the clearest water in Japan. You can enjoy walks or drives amid the majestic natural scenery that changes with the seasons, making it the perfect spot to forget the hustle and bustle of daily life and recharge.
To help preserve this magnificent lake for future generations, our hotel sells “Lake Shikotsu Beer,” a craft beer with a portion of the proceeds going toward environmental conservation efforts for Lake Shikotsu.
For dining, we recommend the partner restaurants located around the station and in the city center, where you can enjoy the local culinary culture. Our hotel also offers accommodation packages that include meal coupons valid at local restaurants, allowing you to fully savor an evening in Chitose by enjoying local specialties and visiting izakayas that our staff confidently recommend.
Among them, “Sushi Sen no Akari” is a “sushi izakaya” where you can casually enjoy authentic sushi made by skilled chefs. Its appeal lies in its just-right price range—“more than conveyor-belt sushi, but less than high-end sushi”—and its accessibility. In addition to fresh seafood, its creative menu items—such as the signature “Sushi Dog” and Shiraoi beef roast beef—are also popular, offering a wide range of options from meals to drinks. The relaxed interior features both counter seating and sunken kotatsu tables, making it the perfect spot for everything from a casual meal to a small gathering.
――What are your recommended restaurant dishes?
At our “Healthy Breakfast Buffet,” which we provide free of charge to all our guests, you can enjoy a wide variety of flavors unique to Hokkaido.
Our top recommendation is the “Original Soup Curry,” created under the supervision of soup curry expert Masato Tamaki. Its rich, spicy flavor is sure to give you a boost of energy first thing in the morning. We also offer daily-changing local specialties, such as “Salmon Chanchan-yaki” (simmered in a sweet and savory miso sauce) and “Ishikari-style Gratin.”
In addition, we offer “Sorachi-sha Ikura Soy Sauce” from Roadside Station Salmon Park Chitose, which took first place overall in the “15th Seasoning Championship 2024” hosted by the Japan Vegetable Sommelier Association; it’s extremely popular when served over rice.
Please enjoy them along with fresh milk and yogurt from the local convenience store “Seiko Mart,” as well as bread baked fresh in-store every morning.
――What are some recommended souvenirs?
We highly recommend the processed foods and seasonings from Roadside Station Salmon Park Chitose, which are available at New Chitose Airport, local farmers’ markets, and roadside stations. In particular, the much-talked-about “Ikura Soy Sauce”—which is also served at our breakfast buffet—is packed with the rich umami flavor of Hokkaido’s seafood and makes a wonderful gift or treat for your own home.
In addition, sweets made with haskap berries—a specialty of Chitose—as well as the local sake “Chitose Tsuru” and “Hyakuhō,” a sake commemorating the 100th anniversary of Chitose Port’s opening, are perfect souvenirs to take home as mementos of your trip to Hokkaido.
© Source travel watch