Hotel Review: Courtyard by Marriott Sapporo (Deluxe Room) - Marriott Bonvoy Points Well Spent
It is no secret that I was chasing oneworld Emerald status last year, and my original plan involved a Cathay Pacific business class booking to Fukuoka. A typhoon put paid to that itinerary, so I cancelled for a full refund and rebooked to Sapporo instead - drawn by the chance to try Cathay Pacific's Aria Suite mostly! The InterContinental Sapporo had just opened then, but since I have never been particularly invested in IHG One Rewards, I decided to burn some Marriott Bonvoy points instead. Five nights at the Courtyard by Marriott Sapporo were going for JPY 191,968, and I managed to redeem the stay for 107,000 points with the fifth night free, a decent use of points by any measure.
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Entrance
Deluxe Room - Courtyard by Marriott Sapporo
At the time, I already held oneworld Emerald through Qatar Airways Platinum, secured via a fast track offer with ALL Diamond in early 2025, though it was due to expire in February 2026. The Aria Suite itself was superb, but if I am honest, the chance to visit The Pier First during my layover in Hong Kong is always the highlight of any Cathay Pacific business class journey for me. Getting to the Courtyard was straightforward by train, with Nakajima-Kōen Station only a short stroll from the hotel entrance. The walk itself was another matter. The snow had settled thickly enough to make navigating the pavements with luggage a slower, more deliberate affair than I had anticipated.
Welcome Amenities
Deluxe Room - Courtyard by Marriott Sapporo
Having opened only in July 2024, everything still felt crisp and current, from the furnishings in the lobby down to the room fittings. Gone was any sense of the generic, slightly tired feel that Courtyard properties can sometimes carry. Instead, the design language leaned into a bright, natural aesthetic that felt distinctly Hokkaido, with warm wood tones and clean lines that made the space feel considerably more premium than the brand tier suggested. At check-in, I was thanked for being a Titanium Elite member and given a daily credit of JPY 3,000 (JPY 1,500 per registered guest) in lieu of complimentary breakfast, which is not a standard benefit at a Courtyard property - more about this later! What struck me most, though, was a small gesture that had nothing to do with points or elite tiers. I had mentioned, almost in passing, how bitterly cold it was outside while checking in, and the staff member on duty did not just nod politely. She disappeared briefly and returned with a handful of Hokkairo heat packs for me to warm my hands with, along with a bag of milk karinto, a local Hokkaido snack, tossed in as an unprompted little gift. It was a small thing, but it is exactly the sort of warmth (pun very much intended) that tends to stick with me long after the free breakfast credits and elite recognition are forgotten.
Bedroom
Deluxe Room - Courtyard by Marriott Sapporo
While the upgrade itself was modest, a small bump from Superior to Deluxe, landing me on a higher floor rather than anything more substantial, the room itself left a strong impression. It was comfortable and remarkably quiet, with none of the street or corridor noise that can sometimes creep into city hotels. What stood out most was the restraint in the furnishing. Light oak panelling and slatted wood detailing ran throughout, paired with a frosted glass partition separating the entryway from the bedroom that let light filter through without sacrificing privacy.
Bedroom
Deluxe Room - Courtyard by Marriott Sapporo
Nothing about it felt cheap, despite the simplicity, and materials and finishes carried a quiet, considered quality that many properties a tier above fail to achieve. The bed itself was pristine, with sheets ironed crisply and tucked with a precision that immediately put me at ease. Towards the back of the room near the window sat a small sofa and chaise, a welcome touch that made for a comfortable spot to lounge during the day, whether catching up on emails at the adjacent round table or simply watching the city lights below. Crucially, given how bitterly cold it was outside, insulation and heating inside the room were excellent, with no draughts or cold spots to speak of.
Bed
Deluxe Room - Courtyard by Marriott Sapporo
The king-size bed itself deserves a special mention. It was generously proportioned and plush without tipping into overly soft, with pillows that struck the right balance of support and comfort after a long day trudging through the snow. A striped, backlit panel ran the length of the headboard, casting a soft glow that made the room feel warm and inviting even on the coldest nights. What I particularly appreciated, though, was a small but thoughtful touch on each bedside table: a can warmer, one holding a Hokkaido corn soup and the other a hot chocolate, waiting for me each time I returned to the room. Both are complimentary and replenished daily, and there is genuinely nothing better than cradling a warm can in frozen hands after a day out in the Sapporo cold. They taste as good as they sound too, so do make the most of them during your stay.
Cup Warmer
Deluxe Room - Courtyard by Marriott Sapporo
Bedside convenience was well thought out too. A discreet panel embedded into the nightstand controlled the room light, night light, and bedside light independently, letting me adjust the mood without having to get up once I had settled in for the night. A USB-C port was also built directly into the panel, a small but practical touch that meant I did not have to hunt around the room for a place to charge my phone.
Nespresso Coffee Machine
Deluxe Room - Courtyard by Marriott Sapporo
A small counter near the entrance rounded off the in-room amenities nicely, with a Nespresso machine and a couple of complimentary bottles of Hokkaido mineral water, replenished daily along with a small tray of coffee capsules. I do not usually mind stepping out for a quick coffee, but winter changes the calculus entirely. When the temptation is to keep both hands buried in your pockets the moment you leave the room, having a decent cup of coffee ready within arm's reach in a comfortable heated room becomes a genuine luxury rather than a nice-to-have.
What impressed me further was the daily replenishment itself. Housekeeping topped up not just the water bottles but a generous six Nespresso capsules every day, more than enough for two people to enjoy a couple of coffees each without having to ration them. It is worth putting this in context: even at the Grand Hyatt Jeju, where I stayed in a suite last year, the capsule replenishment was noticeably stingier. For a Courtyard property to out-do a Hyatt suite on this particular detail says a lot about how seriously this hotel takes the small things.
Bathroom
Deluxe Room - Courtyard by Marriott Sapporo
The bathroom itself was compact but well-appointed, with a marble-topped vanity, a sleek oval basin, and a Toto washlet toilet that has become something of a baseline expectation in Japan. There is no bathtub in the room, which may disappoint some, but the hotel more than makes up for it with an on-site sento, a traditional Japanese-style public bath, separated for men and women. It is a distinctly local experience and one that requires being completely comfortable in the nude, but returning from a freezing day out to a proper hot bath is an experience I would call legendary. The in-room television even displays a crowd indicator for the sento, though I found it was not always accurate. As you might expect, the period just before and after dinner tends to be peak hours, so plan accordingly if you prefer a quieter soak.
Bathroom
Deluxe Room - Courtyard by Marriott Sapporo
For a quicker rinse, or if the sento queue looks daunting, the in-room shower is more than capable on its own. It features a proper rain shower head alongside a handheld attachment, both stocked with toiletries lined up neatly along the wall, and the water pressure and temperature control were excellent throughout the stay. The Toto washlet, as expected, came with a heated seat, one of those small conveniences that becomes an absolute necessity once winter sets in and you realise how unpleasant a cold toilet seat can be at three in the morning.
Bath Amenities
Deluxe Room - Courtyard by Marriott Sapporo
The Nirvae Botanicals shampoo and conditioner, scented with bergamot and tea tree, were a pleasant surprise too. The fragrance was subtle and clean rather than overpowering, the sort of neutral scent that would not clash with cologne or perfume applied later, and a welcome departure from the overly sweet or synthetic-smelling toiletries that some hotels default to.
View from Room
Deluxe Room - Courtyard by Marriott Sapporo
Arriving well after dark, my first look out the window revealed almost nothing beyond scattered lights in the distance, and it was only the following morning that I got a proper sense of what I was looking at. By daylight, the room overlooked a mix of low-rise residential buildings and an expansive open field dusted with snow, stretching out towards the city skyline beyond.
Premium Kaisendon (Breakfast)
Substance - Courtyard by Marriott Sapporo
Breakfast is served at Substance, the all-day dining restaurant on the second floor, from 6:30am to 10:30am (with last entry at 10:00am). As mentioned, this comes at a cost of JPY 2,500 per person at the special Marriott Bonvoy elite rate, offset by the JPY 1,500 daily credit per registered guest. What made it more interesting, though, was arriving among the first few guests each morning. Doing so gave me the option to choose between the standard buffet spread or a premium kaisendon, a bowl piled generously with fresh Hokkaido seafood. Do note that opting for the kaisendon means forgoing the buffet altogether, so it is worth deciding in advance which experience you are after, though on the seafood quality alone, I would say the kaisendon is well worth prioritising at least once during your stay.
On the other days, I opted for the standard buffet, which turned out to be a surprisingly decent spread, especially once the effective cost worked out to just JPY 1,000 per person after applying the daily F&B credit. There was a live noodle station serving a comforting bowl of ramen, complete with tender chashu and a rich, well-balanced broth, alongside a made-to-order egg station for whichever style you fancied that morning. A build-your-own kaisendon corner was also on offer, and while it understandably did not match the quality or generosity of the premium version, it was still a respectable effort, with a reasonable variety of toppings including tamagoyaki, tuna, and salmon roe to pile onto your rice.
Breakfast Buffet
Substance - Courtyard by Marriott Sapporo
Beyond the noodle and egg stations, the rest of the buffet covered the usual bases well. There was a solid rotation of Japanese breakfast staples, including grilled fish, karaage, and sausages, alongside a proper continental spread of salads and cold cuts for those after something lighter. Coffee was self-serve from a proper machine, and takeaway cups were readily available too, a thoughtful touch for anyone wanting to grab a cup on the way out the door and straight into the cold.
Bedroom
Deluxe Room - Courtyard by Marriott Sapporo
All things considered, this was a stay I would not hesitate to repeat. Redeeming Marriott Bonvoy points here proved to be a genuinely good use of currency, particularly if your dates allow you to capture the 5th night free benefit, which brought the effective cost down considerably compared to paying cash. The location strikes a fair balance too. It is not right in the thick of Susukino or directly beside Sapporo Station, but Nakajima-Kōen Station puts both within easy reach, with Susukino roughly a ten-minute walk and central Sapporo just a short subway ride away, all while retaining a quieter, more residential feel around the hotel itself thanks to its position beside Nakajima Park. Between the well-appointed rooms, the thoughtful daily touches, and a breakfast programme that punches well above its Courtyard branding, this is a property I will gladly return to on my next trip to Hokkaido.
Courtyard by Marriott Sapporo
1 Chome-1-57 Minami 10 Jonishi, Chuo Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido 064-0810, Japan
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