We wanted to stay in the vicinity of New Chitose Airport/Sapporo, on arrival in Japan from the continental US, to partially recover from jet lag before heading to the ski resort at Niseko. Because the airport hotels in our price range with reasonable reviews/ratings couldn't guarantee a non-smoking room, we looked for a property accessible by bus/train and happened upon the Dormy Inn Tomakomai. Having stayed at other Dormy Inn properties, we had a good feeling of their quality and fair pricing.
Though we were exhausted after our 18+ hours of travel time by the time we reached Sapporo area, we were able to catch a local Donna bus from the airport to within a couple of blocks of the hotel--for just 620 yen each! As the top of the hotel has the name in bright lights, we were able to get off before we reached Tomakomai Station which would have been about an 8 block walk.
The hotel was clean and comfortable, despite the room being on the small side. The breakfast was fresh and filling, with both Japanese and American style food. The onsen, on the top floor, was delightful. We even used the free washer/detergent to do a small load of wash. And the free ramen was greatly appreciated on our first night, when we were hungry for a snack but too tired to go out to look for food.
As few of the staff speak English, this might not be a comfortable stay for some people. But the Japanese are so kind and hospitable that we felt right at home. A smile, on either side, goes a long way!