La Vista Hakodate Bay

We took the NA yellow line shuttle both ways, it was 450 per person and you can pay with cash or credit card. There were snowy views right outside the window. Staying in the West Wing meant we were very close to the hot springs, though the sulfur smell was a bit stronger there. For the Japanese-style room, someone came to set up the futons between 6 PM and 10 PM. There were about 7-8 hot spring pools, including outdoor ones. Soaking in the hot springs while looking at the snow was incredibly relaxing. We booked both breakfast and dinner buffets, and they were decent.

The top-rated breakfast buffet in Hakodate, combined with the snowy Hakodate scenery, and the open-air rooftop onsen – simply delightful!

I absolutely loved this Lavista hotel! The breakfast was fantastic, with a great spread including salmon, sweet shrimp, ice cream, and pudding. There's a direct bus to Hakodate Airport right nearby, costing 700 yen, and it's conveniently located next to Meijikan. There are also plenty of restaurants in the vicinity. The Kanemori Red Brick Warehouses are just a 2-minute walk away, which is super handy for buying snacks and souvenirs. The onsen (public bath) was excellent, with good quality body lotion and hair conditioner provided. There were several outdoor baths, which were very relaxing. Plus, after a soak, you get free ice cream! It's about a 15-minute walk to both the Hakodateyama Ropeway and Hakodate JR Station. The views of Mount Hakodate are also beautiful. Highly recommend!

It's hard to review this one. This hotel is considered a 'viral' spot in Hakodate. First off, the facilities are really old (though many reviews say it's 'retro Showa style'). I've stayed in similar-style hotels before, but this one felt genuinely old 😅. Secondly, it was extremely, extremely crowded. We were either in line or about to be in line. The hot springs felt like a sardine can. Also, the hotel has a hot spring night view lounge on the 13th floor, but there's a smoking room on the same floor. I saw inconsiderate people repeatedly leaving the door open while smoking, and no staff member intervened. The air conditioning in the room during winter was unbelievably hot. This was by far the worst hotel I encountered during my entire Hokkaido trip. Additionally, the onsen clothing provided by the hotel didn't seem very clean... I rarely complain about a hotel this much, but you might want to avoid this one.

You absolutely have to try the breakfast here, seriously! I'd say it's the best breakfast I've ever had. They have grilled fish, scallops, and shrimp right from the morning, along with all sorts of seafood sashimi – you can literally eat until you can't anymore. The room itself is a bit old-fashioned, a classic style, but the service overall is good. The open-air hot spring in the evening offers a truly upscale, blue-hour experience. The transportation nearby is also super convenient, with a bus stop right outside.