Lonely Planet Review

The Rivage (pronounced Riba-jyu, as in 'River View') is a great spot for folks looking for Susukino access - or just for a cheap hotel. Its basic rooms are stuffy and kind of cramped, but the staff are friendly and there's free 24-hour Internet access in the lobby.

If you don't come to the Rivage expecting anything fancy, you'll find it's a decent hotel at a price that's hard to come by in Sapporo, especially during the Yuki Matsuri (Snow Festival). The free Internet is a great way to pinch pennies in a country where getting online usually costs megabucks. The downside to this is that the lobby often fills with smokers and things sometimes get noisy as people come and go - try for a room on an upper floor to minimise disturbances.