| Cost per night | ¥20,000 - ¥30,000 standard room (2 people) ¥34,000 during winter on average |
| Check-in | 14:00 |
| Check-out | 11:00 |
| Contact | 01 123-522-211 https://yubari-resort.co.jp/ |
| Restaurant | Yes |
| Wi-fi | Yes |
| Onsen (hot spring) | Yes |
| Notes | * Spacious guest rooms including twin rooms, family rooms, suites, and even Japanese-style rooms. All rooms are non-smoking * In addition to the basic hot spring baths, there’s a natural onsen with indoor and outdoor bathing areas plus a mist sauna *The hotel’s buffet restaurant serves breakfast and dinner with a broad selection of dishes. * The hotel offers easy access to the ski slopes — some sources note ski-in/ski-out convenience, and there’s space for ski storage. * 24-hour front desk with luggage storage. * Free on-site parking is available for guests with cars. |
| Location | By car - From Sapporo: about 90 min drive south via National Route 274 and Hokkaido Route 3. From New Chitose Airport : about 60 min drive via the Dōtō Expressway to Yubari-IC, then local roads to Yubari city. By public transport Train: From New Chitose Airport (or Sapporo), take JR to Shin-Yubari Station on the JR Sekishō Line. Bus: At Shin-Yubari Station, transfer to a local Yutetsu bus / Yubari city bus toward Racey Resort Mae. This stop serves the ski area and hotel vicinity (typically ~35–45 min ride). 2 Chome-4 Suehiro, Yubari, Hokkaido 068-0411, Japan |
huge maps – google map here
Hotel Mount Racey in Yubari is a well-known 4-star resort hotel that offers comfortable accommodation and easy access to the surrounding attractions of this historic coal-mining town. Situated just a short walk from the Beginners Lift 4 cable car at the Mount Racey ski area, the hotel features 118 guest rooms equipped with modern amenities like free Wi-Fi, air conditioning, and flat-screen TVs, and is a great base for winter sports during the ski season. Guests can also relax in natural hot spring baths and enjoy nearby sightseeing, including the Coal Mining Museum and Yubari Shrine, while Yubari’s scenic landscapes and seasonal events—like cherry blossoms in spring and the famous Yubari melon harvest in summer—add to its year-round appeal. The hotel’s convenient location, about an hour by car from New Chitose Airport, makes it a popular choice for travelers exploring central Hokkaido.
| Population | 6,374 |
| Size | 763.20 km2 |
| Contact | https://www.city.yubari.lg.jp/ |
| Location / Getting There | By car the distance is about 61 km from Sapporo to Yūbari. Head east. By public transport from Sapporo Station take a train to Shin-Yūbari Station. From Shin-Yūbari Station transfer to a local bus operated by Yutetsu Bus (or other local bus) into Yūbari city centre. ¥3000 – ¥4800. 2 hour travel time. |
Yubari is a fascinating place to visit as it has turned predominantly into a ghost town though there are still a few places to see there. Yubari is most famous for its melons, hence the ‘melon bear mascot’ (which is a must see if you haven’t seen it), and the annual film festival. But first let’s look a little into the history of Yubari. The city was founded on April 1, 1943, as a coal mining town. During this lucrative time Yūbari had as many as 120,000 people. The mines closed in the 1980s, and an attempt was made to convert the economic base to tourism. Subsidies were obtained from the central government and huge debts incurred for the building of tourist attractions, but few visitors came. In 2007 Yubari went into bankruptcy. Walking the now deserted streets, you can see many places falling into disrepair that were once thriving. There are still remnants of the Yubari of old, but it is a lonely place which makes it very unique.
There are still some places to visit here, and there are a couple of reported ‘haunted sites’ in the area. A lot of the infrastructure is unkept and the wild cry of deer in the mountains does add to the atmosphere. It is not all doom and gloom however. There is a ski resort here which is a good place to go to get away from the large crowds. there is the coal mine museum and there are some beautiful old temples, a few restaurants and every year, the Yubari Film Festival is held. In fact, in Quentin Tarantino’s film Kill Bill, one of the characters is named ‘Gogo Yubari’. You need a car to get to Yubari and is an interesting place to walk around, especially in the fall.
Sightseeing
Yubari Coal Mine Haunted School
Food
Nightlife
Shopping
Accommodation
Mount Racey
Temples
Yubari Shrine
Outdoors
Yubari Ski Resort