Yunokawa Onsen is only a five-minute drive from Hakodate Airport, making it the closest hot spring town to an airport in Japan.

These historical springs opened up as part of a hot spring resort built in 1885 when exploratory drilling was conducted. The sodium-calcium-chloride springs boast smooth, odorless, and transparent waters.

Yunokawa Onsen is also close to Goryokaku Park and the Hakodate Tropical Botanical Garden, known for their monkeys that also love soaking in the springs!

From Sapporo:
・By Bus: From Sapporo Bus Terminal, take express bus (some public routes included) to Hakodate Station. Transfer to local bus, and ride to Yunokawa Onsen. (Estimated travel time: 6 hours)

・By Train: From Sapporo, take JR Chitose Line Rapid Airport to Minami-Chitose Station, and transfer to Limited Express Hokuto. Ride to Hakodate Station, and transfer to the tram, getting off at Yunokawa Onsen. (Estimated travel time: 4 hours)

・By Car: From Sapporo, take the expressway and get off at Onuma Park IC (Estimated travel time: 4 hours 30 minutes)

From New Chitose Airport
・By Plane: Head from New Chitose Airport to Hakodate Airport. From there, take Hakodate Airport Shuttle Bus to Yunokawa Onsen. (Estimated travel time: 1 hour)

・By Train: From New Chitose Airport, take JR Chitose Line Rapid Airport train to Minami Chitose Station, and transfer to Limited Express Hokuto. Ride to Hakodate Station, and transfer to the tram, getting off at Yunokawa Onsen. (Estimated travel time: 4 hours)

・By Car: Take the expressway from New Chitose Airport, and get off at Onuma Park IC. (Estimated travel time: 4 hours)

Yunokawa Onsen is a super popular tourist destination for its excellent access. It's only five minutes from Hakodate Airport, and 15 minutes from Hakodate Station! As of 2022, there are about 20 hot spring inns and hotels in town. Here are 7 popular picks!

Kappo Ryokan Wakamatsu is about 7 minutes by taxi from Hakodate Airport, about 15 minutes by car from JR Hakodate Station, and a short 8-minute walk from the Yunokawa Onsen tram stop. It's a long-established Japanese-style inn that boasts its own free-flowing hot springs, as well as traditional Japanese kaiseki cuisine prepared with carefully selected Hakodate ingredients.

There are 24 rooms in total, all oceanfront, and include one Western-style room and 20 Japanese-style rooms.

Dinner is served straight to your room or a private dining room, allowing guests to enjoy their meals leisurely and in private. The head chef prepares the delicious dishes with great care, tasty enough to captivate even gourmets. Each meal brings its own exquisite, seasonal favors, guaranteed to bring a smile to your face!

The gushing natural springs catch your eye the moment you set foot in the front pavilion. This old, 57.6℃ private hot spring has been flowing from the source without interruption since its founding.

Overlooking the sea is a marble open-air bath, where you can enjoy amazing views while you soak, such as the fishing lights in the summer and the snowy landscape in winter. The smooth, hot waters also have a high heat retention effect, meaning the warmth will last even after you've finished your bath.

Day Trip Bathing
・Not available

Pick-up
・Not available

Reviews from Tourists
"I love the traditional atmosphere! My room was also spacious, comfortable, and had a great view. We sat at the table near the window, just gazing at the view and listening to the waves. You can adjust the lights and curtains, and even order room service using tablets. The location was also great, with convenience stores and ramen shops nearby!" (Singapore)

Multilingual services
・English / Chinese

Facility Information
・Number of rooms: 24
・Baths: Open-air baths: 1 (men & women) / Indoor baths: 1 (men & women)

・Check-in at 3:00 p.m.
・Check-out at 11:00 a.m.

Bourou Noguchi Hakodate is about a 10-minute drive from Hakodate Airport, 15 minutes by car from JR Hakodate Station, and a 5-minute walk from the Yunokawa Onsen streetcar station.

This ryokan inn boasts an artistic design, with an entrance that exudes a stately atmosphere reminiscent of an art museum. There's also an indoor bamboo grove (that you wouldn't believe isn't outdoors) and a tea room to the back of the floor.

Guest rooms include the maisonette-type Suite (about 120 square meters in area), the spacious Wamodern room, which consists of separated Japanese and Western-style spaces, and the Ohitorisama room, recommended for solo travelers.

Choose your room depending on the purpose of your trip. The Suite and Wamodern rooms include free-flowing hot spring baths with a view, allowing exclusive access to your own personal Yunokawa hot spring.

The meals served at Bourou Noguchi Hakodate are themed on exotic cultures and use plenty of seasonal ingredients from Aomori and Hokkaido. You'll be sure to enjoy these original, meticulously prepared dishes!

The large public bath on the top floor is situated at the highest point in Yunokawa Onsen, allowing you to watch the ever-changing scenery of Hakodate City as you bathe. From the open-air bath, you'll also see the airplanes flying in and out of Hakodate Airport right before your eyes! Bask in the gentle sea breeze and the illumination of fishing lights as you soak in this port town's famous springs.

Day Trip Bathing
・Not available

Pick-up
・Shuttle bus in operation between Sapporo and hotel (Adults: 4,000 yen).
・From Sapporo: Mondays / Wednesdays / Fridays
・From Hakodate: Wednesdays / Fridays / Sundays
・Advance reservations required

Reviews from Tourists
"I stayed in the Japanese modern suite with a tub. The room was so spacious and comfortable! The private hot spring is big enough for 3 people to sit in comfortably. It's like having an entire hot spring all to yourself! Dinner and breakfast were also superb, with a great variety of food options. The staff was also very friendly, and even spoke English!" (Singapore)

Multilingual services
・English pamphlets available

Facility Information
・Number of rooms: 79
・Baths: Open-air baths: 1 (men & women) / Indoor baths: 2 (men & women)

・Check-in at 2:00 p.m.
・Check-out at noon

Heiseikan Shiosaitei is right in front of the Yunokawa Onsen bus stop. It's about 15 minutes by car from JR Hakodate Station and 10 minutes by car from Hakodate Airport.

Of the 151 guest rooms, 22 have open-air baths facing the sea. Other rooms include the typical Japanese-style and Western-style rooms. Situated right on the beach, this inn lets you relax to the sound of the waves.

OCEAN TERRACE is a buffet-style dining room themed on the sea. Indulge in delicious local Hokkaido ingredients, whether from meals prepared in the open kitchen or from the seasonal seafood corner.

The public bath is shared with the attached Shiosaitei Bekkan Kagetsu. The large observatory bath has a fantastic view thanks to its magnificent location, with Mt. Hakodate to the right and the Tsugaru Strait right in front. At night, fishing lights illuminate the space, really bringing out that authentic Hakodate vibe. The open-air bath on the fourth floor also offers a window view of the Japanese garden. Whether bathing in the morning, noon, or night, each view will surely move you.

<@Day Trip Bathing |@>
・Not available

<@Pick-up|@>
・Not available

<@Reviews from Tourists:|@>
"The bathtub on the balcony overlooks the sea and has an amazing atmosphere!" (Thailand)

Multilingual services
・Pamphlets in English and Chinese (simplified / traditional) available

<@Facility Information|@>
・Number of rooms: 151
・Baths: Open-air baths: 1 (men & women) / Indoor baths: 1 (men & women) / Rooms with open-air baths: 22

・Check-in at 2:00 p.m.
・Check-out at 10:00 a.m.

Shiosaitei Bekkan Kagetsu sits right in front of the Yunokawa Onsen bus stop. It's about 15 minutes by car from JR Hakodate Station and 10 minutes by car from Hakodate Airport. Become one with the sea as you chill out in the Bekkan-exclusive lounge and dine in their restaurant with a view of the Tsugaru Strait.

All guest rooms have open-air baths and ocean views. There are both Japanese- and Western-style rooms, each of which allow you a relaxing soak in the springs surrounded by the sound of waves.

Dinner is served in the Kagetsu-exclusive dining room, where you can indulge in some of the best traditional kaiseki cuisine made with local Hakodate seafood in complete peace and privacy.

The public bath is shared with the attached Heiseikan Shiosaitei. The observatory's large bath is in a magnificent location with Mt. Hakodate on the right and the Tsugaru Strait in front, with nighttime views of the illuminated fishing lights that really bring out the atmosphere of Hakodate. The open-air bath on the fourth floor offers a view of the Japanese garden through the window. With so many options, you'll want to try different baths at different times, depending on your mood.

<@Day Trip Bathing |@>
・Not available

<@Pick-up|@>
・Not available

<@Reviews from Tourists|@>
"The view of the sea was quite lovely, and the rooms were nice and elegant!" (China)

Multilingual services
・Pamphlets in English and Chinese (simplified / traditional) available

<@Facility Information|@>
・Number of rooms: 20
・Baths: Open-air baths: 1 (men & women) / Indoor baths: 1 (men & women)
*Bath shared with Hashiosaitei Main Building

・Check-in at 2:00 p.m.
・Check-out at 10:00 a.m.

Hakodate Yunokawa Onsen Umi to Akari is a 1-minute walk from the Tropical Botanical Garden bus stop. The rooftop boasts a magnificent view of the Tsugaru Straits. Enjoy a leisurely soak in this famous historical hot springs, as you also bathe in the moonlight and fishing lights.

There are five types of guest rooms, including the Standard Double, recommended for solo travelers and couples, and the Universal Room, designed to be comfortable for anyone. Regardless of which room you choose, you'll be sure to experience a relaxing stay.

On the second floor is a buffet-style restaurant, Tsukisune, which uses lots of local Hokkaido ingredients in its meals. The live kitchen offers a fresh sushi and seafood bowl corner, an open kitchen where you can watch the chefs prepare delicious meat and seafood dishes right before your eyes, and even a sweet-tooth-satisfying Hokkaido sweets corner.

There's also a Japanese restaurant on the first floor called Kumonami, where you can indulge in traditional kaiseki cuisine and other luxurious seafood dishes at the counter seats, or in your own private room.

The rooftop has an infinity bath overlooking the Tsugaru Straits. At night, you'll be able to see where the hotel gets its name, Umi to Akari (literally 'Sea and Light') from. The reflection of the moon floating on the Tsugaru Straits with the gentle illumination of the fishing lights offer a peaceful tranquility sure to heal your body and soul. There's also a tatami bath, which is quite rare even in Japan, which everyone from children to the elderly can use without worrying about slippery floors.

Day Trip Bathing
・Admission: Adults: 1,100 yen / Children: 550 yen (ages 4-12) / Under 3 Years: Free
・Hours: 2:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Pick-up
A free shuttle bus operates from Hakodate Station to the hotel (Reservations are required at least one day in advance)

Reviews from Tourists
"This was such a cool, new hotel. It even had its own hot springs on the top floor! The staff members were also very courteous". (United Kingdom)

Multilingual services
・English

Facility Information
・Number of rooms: 221
・Baths: Open-air baths: 1 (men & women) / Indoor baths: 1 (men & women)

・Check-in at 3:00 p.m.
・Check-out at 11:00 a.m.

Hanabishi Hotel is about two minutes on foot from the Hakodate City Tram's Yunokawa Onsen Station. This long-established hotel has a history of nearly 70 years since it was founded in Hakodate.

The standard is the spacious 10-tatami Japanese-style room. Various other room types are also available, including rooms with open-air baths and handicap-friendly rooms (also with private open-air baths).

Meals are based on traditional local cuisine. Indulge in creative Japanese kaiseki cuisine made to express the four seasons of Hakodate. Each meal lets you thoroughly enjoy the delicious seasonal delicacies of Hokkaido's mountains and seas.

On the first floor is one of Yunokawa Onsen's most spacious bathing areas, with the large public bath Hishi-no-Yu (men only) and Hana-no-Yu (women only), which consists of three different open-air baths. On the 7th floor is the large public bath Gagyu-no-Yu which overlooks the town of Yunokawa. Take a tour of the baths, and get a taste of each one's distinct characteristics.

Day Trip Bathing
・Not available

Pick-up
・Not available

Reviews from Tourists
"Wonderful view! The Japanese-style room we stayed at was really nice. The Japanese bath and dinner were also wonderful". (Australia)

Multilingual services
・English and Chinese (simplified/traditional) speaking staff available

Facility Information
・Number of rooms: 131
・Baths: Open-air baths: Men: 2, Women: 3 / Indoor baths: 1 (men & women)

・Check-in at 3:00 p.m.
・Check-out at 10:00 a.m.

Yunokawa Prince Hotel Nagisatei is a 15-minute drive from JR Hakodate Station, a 5-minute drive from Hakodate Airport, and an 8-minute walk from Hakodate City Tram Yunokawa Onsen Station.

This inn boasts a whopping 115 guest rooms with open-air hot springs, one of the highest in Japan. Meals also offer so much variety, even repeat customers can enjoy something new every time! Popular picks include the Japanese, Western, and Chinese buffet with an open kitchen and authentic teppanyaki.

You may also borrow yukata, pillows, and cushions from the first-floor amenity corner at no extra charge! Samue (work clothes) are also provided in guest rooms as in-house wear.

Once you step into the Ocean View Room, the Tsugaru Straits burst into view right before your eyes. The open-air bath also boasts a fantastic view of Mt. Hakodate at sunset. You may not want to get out of the tub! So jump in, and soak away your cares as you take in the soothing sounds of the sea.

Meals are served buffet style. Dinner offers a variety of options such as steak and sushi. You'll be impressed by the careful attention to detail.

On the first floor are the open-air baths, Urashima (men only) and Otohime (women only). Both face the Tsugaru Strait. There's also an open-air bath with a beautiful nighttime view of Hakodate and the fishing lights. Mt. Hakodate seems so close, you can practically reach out and touch it! You'll practically feel your troubles melt away with a soak in the high-quality waters of this spring.

Day Trip Bathing
・Not available

Pick-up
・Not available

Reviews from Tourists
"The rooms with private open-air baths facing the sea are wonderful! I was also deeply impressed by the warm hospitality of friendly and helpful staff". (Singapore)

Multilingual services
・Facility information signs available in English / Room key cases available in English / English food display at buffet venue

Facility Information
・Number of rooms: 185
・Baths: Open-air baths: Men: 2, Women: 1 / Indoor baths: Men: 4, Women: 3

・Check-in at 3:00 p.m.
・Check-out at 11:00 a.m

From cherry blossoms in the spring to Christmas in the winter, Hakodate offers beautiful scenery no matter the season! Here are some scenic spots and events that you won't want to miss out on!

Fort Goryokaku is a special historical site and one of Hakodate's leading cherry blossom viewing spots. Goryokaku, built in 1866, is a castle known for its signature star-shaped moat, built in what is known as the 'Ryoho style.' Goryokaku is also home to about 1,500 Yoshino cherry trees, and every year from late April to early May, tourists and Hakodate residents alike flock to see the beautiful cherry blossoms.

The Hakodate Port Festival began in 1935 as a way to encourage Hakodate citizens who suffered damage from the Great Fire of Hakodate in 1934, which destroyed one-third of the city. It also commemorates the 77th anniversary of the opening of Hakodate Port. Held every year from August 1-4, you'll experience Hokkaido's largest fireworks display, the Wasshoi Hakodate parade (featuring nearly 20,000 people!), and all kinds of other events, sure to bring even more excitement to the short summer.

When: August 1-4
Venue: Near Hakodate Station
Access from Yunokawa Onsen: Take Hakodate City Tram from Yunokawa Stop to Hakodate Ekimae Stop

The Hakodate City Tropical Botanical Garden is within walking distance of Yunokawa Onsen. Here, you can watch the Japanese macaques taking a nice, warm soak in the springs. Although monkeys generally dislike water, these monkeys welcome the warmth of the hot springs and look forward to a soothing soak. You can watch these adorable critters from December to May of the following year, a spectacle that is certainly uncommon in many parts of the world!

When: December to May of the following year
Venue: Hakodate Tropical Botanical Garden
Access from Yunokawa Onsen: Short walk from hot springs town

Hakodate Christmas Fantasy is scheduled to run from December 1-25 around the bay area where the Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse is located. A huge, 20-meter-tall Christmas tree will dazzle the Hakodate winter nights with nearly 150,000 lights! There are also fireworks that go on when the tree is lit at 6:00 p.m. Note that winter nights tend to get very cold here, so be sure to bundle up well before heading out!

When: December 1-25
Venue: Near Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse
Access from Yunokawa Onsen: From Hakodate City Tram Yunokawa Station, get off at Jujigai Tram Stop and walk for about 5 minutes

The Hakodate area is so full of attractions, one day is not enough! From the Hakodate morning market and the exotic Motomachi area to the Trappist Monastery, Onuma Park, and Mt. Hakodate itself, you'll want to see it all! So book a stay at Yunokawa Onsen, and enjoy your Hakodate experience to the fullest.

Text by: Masakazu

*Information in article as of October 2022. Please see official websites for the latest updates and information.

English translation by: Krys Suzuki