We were disappointed with our stay at Bourou, especially considering the premium price of around USD 1300 per night.
This was our first trip to Hokkaido, and we decided to spend a night in the Lake Toya area to enjoy the fireworks. We chose Bourou because the views in the photos looked fantastic, and there were certainly some positive aspects to our stay.
Parking was convenient, just across from the hotel. The service staff were professional and friendly, and the lounge area was beautifully designed. The food was amazing as well.
However, we were assigned a room on Level 3, facing the lake, and there was a major privacy issue with the in-room onsen and bathing area.
The bathroom has a large glass window facing the lake, but there are no blinds or other coverings. The problem is that there is a public walking path at Level 1 directly outside. From this path, people can potentially see into the bathing area while guests are showering or entering the onsen.
This meant that we could not comfortably bathe or shower without constantly worrying about whether people outside could see us. We approached the hotel staff to ask if anything could be done, but unfortunately, there was no solution available. We were simply advised to "be careful" when showering.
For a hotel charging around USD 1300 per night, I find this unacceptable. An in-room onsen should provide guests with a sense of privacy and comfort. Having to worry about being seen while showering or bathing significantly affected our experience.
I strongly feel that the hotel should provide blinds, privacy screens, or another suitable solution to protect guests' privacy. I would also recommend that guests who value privacy check the exact room location and layout carefully before confirming their check-in, particularly for rooms on Level 3.
Overall, while the service, parking, and common areas were good, the privacy issue was a significant disappointment given the premium we paid. For us, the stay was a 3/5 experience.
