Portside Inn Hakodate

A tastefully decorated whole house rental with a large kitchen and lounge, and a good range of cooking equipment. The record player and HiFi system were a nice touch.

It was easy to get help before and during my stay, as they replied promptly to my Instagram DMs. Inside, the lovely details, the fireplace, and the sound of records playing made it really relaxing. I was confused by the website’s amenities list, so here’s what I found: body soap, shampoo, treatment, pajamas, towels, comb, cotton balls, hair dryer, some skincare products, tableware, and more. I’d definitely like to stay again ( ◠‿◠ ).

I was there for a birthday trip, and everything was perfect. They even arranged a bouquet of flowers for an extra charge, which made me really happy. It was such a wonderful hotel that five stars don’t feel like enough. I’d love to return, and it’s undoubtedly the best hotel in Hakodate.

I first stayed here during cherry blossom season in 2024, and this was my second visit. It’s a rental inn in a fully renovated building originally built in 1885 as a shipping depot, a comfortable distance from the busy port market area. There’s no staff on site, so you enter through the front door with a PIN code sent in advance. The fireplace is the first thing you see when you come in. We kept it going all day, since we could top up the firewood from the supply outside. Hakodate was still chilly in late April, but the fireplace warmed the whole room in a way the heating alone couldn’t. The first floor also has a large island kitchen, fully equipped with an oven, cooking tools, and seasonings like salt, pepper, tube butter, soy sauce, and oil. We’d mostly eaten out before, but this time we decided to shop for local ingredients and cook in the room. The record player that had been by the window was now in the corner, and playing records created a great atmosphere. Upstairs, there was a spacious bed and a relaxing spot by the window on the right. The column shaped light above the bed stood out, and apparently it was custom made. The bathroom and toilet were to the left as you go up the stairs. The bathroom was our favorite, with muted emerald tiles and gold shower fittings. It looked a little flashy at first, but felt relaxing, like being in the middle of a forest. This time there was a 2,000 yen coupon for nearby affiliated shops, an offer that wasn’t available last year. We used it to buy mackerel and lamb sandwiches for breakfast. It’s a wonderful place I’d like to stay at every year.