Goryokaku Station × Stays Popular For Snow-View BathsHighly rated Hotel·Ryokan

This time we stayed in a special Room with a private open-air bath. The water temperature was comfortable 24 hours a day, the tub was spacious enough for two people to relax, and the cypress wood rim added a warm touch—I think I soaked in it about ten times. We also had three bath towels each, plus a wide towel rack to hang them, which made everything stress-free. One suggestion: I used the open-air bath around 7 a.m., but the direct sunlight was very strong. It would be nice to have something like bamboo blinds to block the sun. We also used the large public bath, and as with other Kyoritsu Resort properties such as Dormy Inn, it had plenty of washing space and was easy to use. And when it comes to Kyoritsu Resort, there’s the late-night ramen service. Since this is Hakodate, they offer salt ramen in addition to soy sauce ramen. We expected breakfast—known for being popular—to involve waiting in line, but thanks to the special Room privileges they reserved our preferred seating (such as semi-private booths or window seats) at a designated time. That was great. Of course, the meal selection lived up to its reputation. All drinks in the Room were free—including whisky—and there was also a sparkling water maker. Overall it was excellent. The price is high, but given how well-equipped everything is, we felt it was worth it. We’d love to stay again if possible.

This was my first trip to Hakodate. There is only one direct flight a day from Nagoya, and I was incredibly lucky to get a ticket. Visiting a new place for the first time is so exciting. The Room had huge floor-to-ceiling windows with a panoramic view of Mt. Hakodate. The space was generous, and the bathtub and sink were spacious as well. The lighting switches were thoughtfully placed throughout, making everything very convenient—it was almost too comfortable! Dinner at Kita Jin (booked separately) was also excellent: premium Genghis Khan in a private room, relaxed and delicious. Breakfast was around 8:00, and we were seated right away. We came without much prior knowledge and were amazed by the variety—and even more by the quality of every dish. My spouse and I travel all over the whole country, and this may have been our best breakfast ever. Personally, I loved the eel snack with tea, dim sum, sashimi, chiffon cake, and egg tarts. What stayed with us most from this trip was meeting so many wonderful people in Hakodate: The kind driver with a great smile on the airport limousine bus. At lunchtime at Lucky Pierrot near the station—busy as it was—a female staff member still let us draw an Ichiban Kuji lottery ticket and gave us a pin badge with a big smile. At NIPPONIA Hotel Hakodate Port Town on our first day—a female staff member kindly explained everything and gave us a hand-drawn illustrated map of nearby spots within walking distance. On an evening sightseeing taxi tour to see Mt. Hakodate’s night view—a female driver born in Hakodate from Donan Taxi carefully explained local history, the Western-style houses in Motomachi, and the origins of Soma-tei. The staff who made our motorboat cruise even more enjoyable under clear skies the next day. At lunch near the station at Uni Specialty Shop Yoichiya—a female employee whose attentiveness and refined service truly impressed us. And above all, at Century Marina’s front desk—the female staff member who kindly explained everything for our first stay left a wonderful impression with her polite service; of course, the male staff member at checkout was also outstanding. The quick yet courteous service at Kita Jin was excellent as well—we are truly grateful to have stayed at this Hotel. It was an intense 2-night/3-day trip to Hakodate, but seeing everyone working so hard to make their city shine really moved us—it looked genuinely inspiring. We will definitely come again. I truly fell in love with historic Hakodate from the bottom of my heart!

I stayed here to visit Hakodate Racecourse. I stayed last year as well and it was so good that I came back again. Among the major Hotels in Yunokawa Onsen, this one seems to be the closest to the racecourse. It’s about a 15-minute walk, and there’s also a streetcar, so it’s convenient for getting into the city. There are also a convenience store, COOP supermarket, and a drugstore nearby. In any case, there are few Rooms, so it never feels crowded. The large public bath is also quiet. The property is connected to Takubokutei, so you can use Takubokutei’s large public bath and shop as well. (Guests staying at Takubokutei cannot use Kaikyo no Kaze.) The Room is simply spacious. Even the standard type feels very comfortable. This time I chose a Room with a private bath, and the bath in this Room was excellent—spacious with great water quality. Having two sinks was also convenient. Even the tissue box was full-size like at home. The only disappointing point was that both the Room window and even the bathroom window were dirty, so I couldn’t clearly enjoy the view through them. Since I was on a high floor, cleaning the windows may be difficult, but I had been looking forward to “a panoramic view of Tsugaru Strait,” so it fell slightly short of expectations. This time I booked a Plan with dinner and breakfast included, and both meals were truly excellent. There were plenty of Hokkaido ingredients with lots of variety on the menu, plus several kinds of desserts—I ate so much that I didn’t need lunch. Meal times were scheduled in advance as well, so there was no crowding. Next year I’d like to stay here with my daughter—the three of us together. Also starting next year my son is scheduled to be transferred to Sapporo, so I’d like to recommend it to him too.