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.

Can't complain about anything really, I liked everything.

This is a lovely boutique holiday in a historical building. It's quiet and warm and it also has a very soothing scent when you enter the lobby. The staffs were very helpful and friendly. We stayed in the family room for 5 people, the twin bed was too small to fit 2 kids (aged 11/ 13), but despite of not being able to sleep well due to the size of the bed, they thoroughly enjoyed the stay with the inbuilt projector in the room and we had a lovely family movie night after a busy touring day. Breakfast is served in the high tea style with just the perfect amount of food in a grand ball room like dining hall. Highly recommended.

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.

I can't think of anything. All the amenities are top notch and the property seems to be well thought out in every way

NIcely renovated hotel with an english vibe to it. Staff were friendly. We booked the loft room for family of 4 and it could easily sleep 6. There is apple TV with projector in the room and we could mirror it with our ipad. Room is comfortable and feels newly renovated. There is a family mart across the street and it is also within walking distance to Otaru canal and Sakaimachi Dori.

Space constraint means little space for our luggages for our family of 4. Otaru is a quiet town and most shops are close after 5-6pm. So there is no dinner options around the hotel. There is a restaurant in the hotel but we did not try it. We settled our dinner early at other places before heading back.

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..

Nothing it is all superb. At the time of our stay there was no dinner served on the Monday or Tuesday evenings, but plenty of local options available. 

The hotel fitout and aesthetic is great, the staff are friendly and speak really good English, the food is great, and the hotel bar is a good place to relax for a whiskey or two. The hotel is close to everything you want to see in Otaru - the canal and the main shopping strip.

Like all Japanese hotels - make sure you book with meals when you book, or it will cost you extra!

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

Limited car park lots. Room is not practical as central light switches are at bed front. Also there were no hooks to hang clothes or towels. Breakfast served on the high tea-tray is a novelty. However, the foods layout were mostly cold.

Lovely boutique hotel in a historical building, but with all the mod cons one would expect. The high-tea style breakfast was a wonderful start to every day, and the wine tasting was a good prelude for the evening.

The sidewalk leading to the hotel was rather icy and slippery, though out of the control of 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!

We were right by a staircase so could hear other guests outside when we were in our room, but that wasn't too much of a problem for us.

Heritage - hotel has a rich history Location - easy walking distance to Otaru Canal area Clean - from hotel lobby to the room Rooftop - a lovely free evening drink with a little view towards the sea, nice ambience Breakfast - love the high tea style

Room size - it's only ok for max 2 nite stay (personal opinion of cos)