NIPPONIA HOTEL Hakodate Port Town

The location made this one-night solo stay in Hakodate really easy, with the main shopping area and Christmas tree just a minute away. Reception reminded me about the 6pm Christmas tree fireworks and arranged my dinner for 6:30, which I appreciated. My room was large by Japanese standards, and the in-room bathtub was relaxing. Dinner and breakfast were served set meals, more Western in style, with portions that felt about right. I booked through the hotel homepage and found a special rate plan there. A good room, helpful service, and a good price worked out nicely. It also gave me a different sort of experience from the usual Japan trip. I stayed in December, with breakfast and dinner included.

We had a lovely stay, helped along by the attentive staff. Kotono made check-in and hospitality feel outstanding, and Kazuki was just as attentive during the fun meals. The room was a good size and the bed was comfortable. Ours was quite dark, though, and we realized we should have booked one with a lookout view. Breakfast and dinner were both excellent. The hotel is right in the center of lively Hakodate. I’d happily return for a longer stay, and the staff were amazing.

The staff presented Hakodate thoughtfully, and I was impressed by how cleverly they used their knowledge of Japanese architecture and buildings. As someone very interested in architecture, I found that especially difficult to do well. Traveling in Japan with my wife, this was the first time I’d had such a good feeling from a trip. It gave us some of our best memories and experiences, and I’ll be telling friends and family about this stay.

The building used to be a kelp warehouse, which gives The NIPPONIA Hakodate a special character. The staff were approachable and considerate, paying attention to details and helping with every request. Dinner was wonderfully fresh and delicious, made with local Hokkaido ingredients. This is one of the best hotels I’ve stayed at, and it left me smiling.