Breathtakingly dreamlike — Japan’s Top 10 Cloud Sea Hotels and Attractions
Last updated 2026-09-24 — Whether it's the sea of clouds filling the valleys, the cascading cloud waterfalls pouring down, or the swirling mists around sunrise, these magnificent illusions are always unforgettable. While cloud seas can be seen in the cold winter months, the Japanese especially love...
Text by / MOOK Scenic Spots Editorial Department, compiled and reported
Whether it's the sea of clouds filling the valleys, the cascading cloud waterfalls pouring down, or the swirling mists around sunrise, these magnificent illusions are always unforgettable. While cloud seas can be seen in the cold winter months, the Japanese especially love to enjoy the summer cloud seas in Hokkaido. The popular booking site Rakuten Travel has released a ranking of "Japan’s Top 10 Cloud Sea Hotels and Attractions." Two top-tier hotels from the Hokkaido Hoshino Resorts series — "The Tower" and "Risonare TOMAMU" — took first and second place respectively. Their wave-like cloud sea waterfalls and ethereal, otherworldly feeling of walking on clouds dominate all cloud sea-viewing hotels in Japan. The third-place winner is located at Nagano’s "Kinoe Yama 0?坪０?┎菸葜?蕖保?which offers cloud seas rolling over the ridges during the golden hours of dawn and dusk. Guests can enjoy the dreamy scenery while sipping coffee or having meals in the hotel lounge and dining areas.
Whether it's the sea of clouds filling the valleys, the cascading cloud waterfalls pouring down, or the swirling mists around sunrise, these magnificent illusions are always unforgettable. While cloud seas can be seen in the cold winter months, the Japanese especially love to enjoy the summer cloud seas in Hokkaido. The popular booking site Rakuten Travel has released a ranking of "Japan’s Top 10 Cloud Sea Hotels and Attractions." Two top-tier hotels from the Hokkaido Hoshino Resorts series — "The Tower" and "Risonare TOMAMU" — took first and second place respectively. Their wave-like cloud sea waterfalls and ethereal, otherworldly feeling of walking on clouds dominate all cloud sea-viewing hotels in Japan. The third-place winner is located at Nagano’s "Kinoe Yama 0?坪０?┎菸葜?蕖保?which offers cloud seas rolling over the ridges during the golden hours of dawn and dusk. Guests can enjoy the dreamy scenery while sipping coffee or having meals in the hotel lounge and dining areas.
The cloud sea at Hokkaido Hoshino Resort is a breathtaking spectacle in Japan, offering a surreal sense of happiness. (Image provided by / Rakuten Travel)
Japan’s Top 10 Cloud Sea Hotels and Attractions Ranking
| Rank | Prefecture | Hotel | Best time to view the cloud sea |
| No.1persons | Hokkaido | Hoshino Resort TOMAMU The Tower |
2017 “Cloud Sea Observatory” Operating hours: May 13 to October 16, from 5:00 to 7:00 AM. *Higher probability of cloud sea formation in June and July |
| No.2persons | Hokkaido | Hoshino Resort Risonare TOMAMU | |
| No.3persons | Nagano Prefecture | Kinoe Yama 0?坪０?┎菸葜?藜/td> | Around sunrise in February and November |
| No.4persons | Hokkaido | Niseko Visville Hotel in a natural resort area | From June to September, sunrise is around 7:30 AM |
| 第5名 | Niigata Prefecture | Chikatsu Onsen Hotel | From May to July, and in November and December |
| 第6名 | Nagano Prefecture | Hotel Sunny Shiga |
From April to June, and from September to November during morning and evening hours |
| 第7名 | Yamagata Prefecture | Zao Houdai Plateau Penshon Too Cotton |
Every morning from May to mid-July from 6:00 to 8:00 AM, and from 4:00 to 6:00 PM |
| 第8名 | W?裣丶/td> | Ikoi no Mura Traditional Beauty Mountain |
From mid-March to mid-June, and from mid-September to the end of November during morning hours |
| 第9名 | Nagano Prefecture | Takinoue Park Hotel | Mornings from mid-October to November |
| No.10Rank | Hiroshima Prefecture | Onsen Yunishigawa – Mellow no Mori Ryokan |
Daily in June, October, and November From 5:00 AM to 9:00 AM *Except on rainy days |
Sea of Clouds formations require specific climatic and geographical conditions, usually occurring in winter and spring. However, in Hokkaido, they are more likely to appear in summer and can be seen in three different forms depending on weather conditions. To capture this natural wonder, Hokkaido’s Hoshinoya Resort offers three unique features — the “Sea of Clouds Walkway,” extending from the mountainside slope as if floating in the air; the “Sea of Clouds Guide,” who provides detailed explanations; and the “Sea of Clouds Observation Deck,” serving hot soup and coffee — allowing visitors to enjoy the magnificent views from varying heights and angles, successfully captivating sea of clouds enthusiasts.
Take the cable car from the base of Mt. Tomamu to reach the mountaintop Sea of Clouds Observation Deck. At Hokkaido’s Hoshinoya Resort, you can observe three types of Sea of Clouds: the Pacific Ocean Sea of Clouds, the TOMAMU Sea of Clouds, and the Severe Weather Sea of Clouds. The “Pacific Ocean Sea of Clouds” is formed when the Pacific High Pressure generates an abundance of sea fog, which drifts over the Yubari Mountain Range and settles over the Tokachi Plain, creating a surging flow of rolling cloud mist. The second type, the “TOMAMU Sea of Clouds,” results from radiative cooling; as temperatures rise, visitors can see towering hotels rising from the vast sea of clouds, resembling a city in the sky. The third type, the “Severe Weather Sea of Clouds,” occurs during poor or deteriorating weather conditions, with thick clouds enveloping the surrounding mountains, offering a breathtaking and mysterious atmosphere.
Take the cable car from the base of Mt. Tomamu to reach the mountaintop Sea of Clouds Observation Deck. At Hokkaido’s Hoshinoya Resort, you can observe three types of Sea of Clouds: the Pacific Ocean Sea of Clouds, the TOMAMU Sea of Clouds, and the Severe Weather Sea of Clouds. The “Pacific Ocean Sea of Clouds” is formed when the Pacific High Pressure generates an abundance of sea fog, which drifts over the Yubari Mountain Range and settles over the Tokachi Plain, creating a surging flow of rolling cloud mist. The second type, the “TOMAMU Sea of Clouds,” results from radiative cooling; as temperatures rise, visitors can see towering hotels rising from the vast sea of clouds, resembling a city in the sky. The third type, the “Severe Weather Sea of Clouds,” occurs during poor or deteriorating weather conditions, with thick clouds enveloping the surrounding mountains, offering a breathtaking and mysterious atmosphere.
Hoshinoya Resort’s “Sea of Clouds Walkway” offers visitors a new visual experience, immersing them in the dreamlike sensation of the Sea of Clouds parting at their feet. (Image provided by Rakuten Travel)
Visitors can take a 13-minute cable car ride from the resort center in the early morning to reach the “Sea of Clouds Observation Deck” near the mountaintop. Adjacent to the Observation Deck is the “Viewpoint Café,” where guests can enjoy hot beverages while taking in the endless expanse of the sea of clouds. Consider visiting Japan this summer holiday to witness this once-in-a-lifetime spectacle and experience the rich diversity of nature.
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