UNWIND HOTEL & BAR OTARU

The hotel had a very elegant Art Deco ambiance (symmetrical lines, geometric window frames, stained glass, and brick tile facade with bay windows), reminiscent of the 1890s to 1920s era. It is probably a repurposed heritage building. Rooms are also well-proportioned with high ceilings. The building blends historical elegance with modern renovations. The building, originally constructed in 1931 by Etchuya Ryokan, a traditional inn founded in the 1870s, was designed as the Echuya Hotel, the first hotel in Hokkaido specifically built for overseas visitors. Its establishment responded to the growing number of foreign guests visiting Otaru, a port city designated for trade with the US and UK in 1899, which flourished as Hokkaido’s business and financial hub. The building closed in 2009 and remained unused until Tokyo-based developer Global Agents undertook a bold renovation to preserve its historical and Art Deco aesthetics while introducing contemporary design. It reopened in April 2019 as the Unwind Hotel & Bar Otaru, a boutique hotel with 36 rooms, a restaurant (The Ball), and a bar (Ignis) The breakfast area is The Ball, Unwind's resident restaurant. Breakfast was served high-tea style, with a stacked plate of Western breakfast items (scones, Hokkaido clotted cream, local jam, omelette, yoghurt, pumpkin soup etc), which nonetheless used many Hokkaido ingredients. The hotel bar is also excellent: Bar Ignis. The atmosphere takes you back to bars of the fin de siecle 120 years ago. Bartenders Takashi-san and Jintaro-san are knowledgeable, and I was educated by them while I tried quite a few artisanal Japanese gins like Honoho Kibou Hokkaido Shakotan, MYAOI gin, and Benizakura 9148 craft gin. You can even try a gin and tonic with butterbur herb, a local herb that the hotel staff forage in the wild nearby.

Breakfast was full of variety and flavors, lovely presentation highlighting many Hokkaido products. The bed was very comfortable. The staff were all wonderful to deal with. The entire facility is beautiful from the artwork, the lighting, the stained glass. I would stay here again any day. Close to the canal and a variety of restaurants and shops.

Beautifully classic hotel, one of the nicest hotels we have stayed in anywhere. Room is compact but well laid out with a seperate toilet from bathroom. Lovely bar area with complimentary Hokkaido wine being served in the early evening ensuring the bar was full. Breakfast in the morning was served as a high tea and reflected.  many of the staff spoke English and like everyone we met was super friendly. There is parking, but it is limited to 5 cars. We arrived an hour before our appointed chicken and secured a spot which was not available an hour later..

Hotel has the nice vintage ambience. Rooms are modern and clean. Welcome wine is a nice gesture by the hotel.

Our stay at Unwind Otaru was fantastic! It was a beautiful hotel in a great location in Otaru. Our room was lovely and larger than expected. The staff were all very kind and helpful. We loved the hotel bar!