highly recommended!
this is such an interesting hostel, run by a couple. they are extremely friendly and helpful.
all the rooms are very clean at all time. all the facilities are well organised and maintained. there are free internet for you to use. what else can you ask for?

however, the place is a bit out from the CBD. i was there during the summer, it was pretty hot and humid. but you can't beat the weather anyway.

Although i had never stayed in a hostel before, I thought of trying it for the first time at Ino's place and I must say I really enjoyed it. I care a lot about staying in a clean environment and i was surprised to see how clean this place is while I had heard many hostels don't have a clean bathroom. It had very friendly English speaking staff who would greet you everytime they saw you and make a converstation. With the map they have provided in their website I found the place very easily. I was attending a conference in Sapporo's convention center which was 10 minutes away by walk which made it convenient for me. It is 3 -4 stations away from down town Sapporo and well you have to pay 240 Yens for the train everytime you want to go to downtown, but anyhow i would suggest this place if you are looking for a clean and comfortable place to stay.

We really like it here and can't say enough for the staff.. I don;t know if just get attached easily but this hostel really grew on me.. I agree with the last review about the location but we managed to find it easy enough, and it was nice to be that little bit tucked away. As far as hostels go it was clean and pretty stylish all round. Good times.

My partner and I stayed at Ino's Place for four days during the Snow Festival of February, 2008, and found it to be a lovely, cosy little hostel; perfect during the Sapporo winter months. Although Ino's Place may not be the most conveniently located hostel, nestled snugly in a small back alley a ways from Sapporo's central station, it's fantastic facilities, friendly staff and wood cabin-like aesthetic made for a magical and highly recommended stay amidst the snow and festivities.

That isn't to say Ino's Place is inaccessible, however. The directions provided on the website are clear, and the ten-or-so minute walk from the station actually quite pleasant after the initial disorientation finding the place is over. There are amenities right nearby, such as a 7-Eleven, Mos Burger and other restaurants. The only real annoyance is the short subway ride into the city center, which is surprisingly expensive in comparison to other Japanese cities. Although the area appeared to be very safe to us - and I've no doubt it is - an unfortunate incident worth mentioning is that a young, American girl at the hostel was reportedly groped by a local man outside the hostel during our stay, before running off. The staff contacted the necessary officials and the matter was handled very well. Whilst I believe this to be an isolated incident, it can't hurt to caution female travelers when on their way to and from the hostel.

The hostel itself is excellent, down to its wooden finish. There is a small area for removing footwear before entering the hostel itself, upon which you are greeted by the front desk and some very welcoming, helpful staff members. The large communal area occupies the bottom floor and includes a good kitchen, large desks and a TV area with comfortable sofas and a decent movie selection. The upstairs comprises the various dorm and private rooms, as well as adequate shower and toilet facilities. Whilst the hostel could probably do with more showers, I have a feeling this is only an issue during peak period, which we most certainly were their during.

Admittedly, my partner and I are not fond of dorm room accommodation at all, however given the time of year, Ino's Place does not offer private room facilities during the snow festival in order to take in more people. As far as dorm rooms go, however, these were very spacious, allowing enough personal space for each occupant, and suffered from no problems such as excessively loud floorboards, meaning a good nights sleep even with people up and leaving during the early hours for winter sports. The beds were also clean, and very comfortable.

I would highly recommend a stay at Ino's Place for any trip to Sapporo, but particularly as a hub for viewing the annual festivities, with staff being able to aid you in the hiring of winter sports gear and arranging other activities. Although a little bit out of the way upon first glance, the place has a very cosy, laid back atmosphere with a lot of character and excellent facilities. A top quality hostel, through and through.