I Looked Into Lavista Hakodate Bay

On this blog I usually focus on researching campsites, but I've also been slowly putting together a series covering those "let's skip camping and go do a hotel-cation instead" detours.

This time I looked into Lavista Hakodate Bay. I came across information about its retro interior inspired by the Taisho Romance era, and an open-air bath on the top floor with views of Hakodate's night scenery — and as an indoor type, I found myself more curious about this than about pitching a tent.

The Short Version

My impression was that this is a hotel with Taisho Romance-style architecture, where you can enjoy views of Hakodate's night scenery from the open-air bath on the top floor.
Rakuten Mobile signal came back as an AAA rating, so there doesn't seem to be much to worry about in terms of connectivity.

I've put together the details below.

What Kind of Place Is Lavista Hakodate Bay?

This hotel is located in the Hakodate Bay Area of Hakodate, Hokkaido, and is apparently operated by Kyoritsu Maintenance / Kyoritsu Resort. It's characterized by retro-modern architectural design inspired by the Taisho Romance era, and combined with its location in the Hakodate Bay Area, it seems to have a distinctive atmosphere.

It's said to be about a 15-minute walk from JR Hakodate Station and about a 20-minute drive from Hakodate Airport, so it seems easy enough to reach using public transportation. About a 4-minute walk away, there's also an annex building called LAVISTA Hakodate Bay ANNEX, which opened in February 2023.

It seems to operate year-round, but I couldn't find the specific check-in and check-out times in the text of the official website. Booking directly through the official site comes with a best-rate guarantee, and reservations by phone are also accepted, apparently. Rates seem to vary depending on the booking site — as one example, I saw a listing starting in the 20,000-yen range for two people in one room.

Komorin

Just hearing the words "Taisho Romance" gets me excited already. And I'm grateful that even someone like me who doesn't drive could probably walk here from the station.

The Top-Floor Open-Air Bath and Hakodate's Night Scenery

The main highlight of this hotel does seem to be the large communal bath and open-air bath on the top floor. The open-air bath apparently has four different types of tubs, and you can soak while taking in views of Hakodate's night scenery. Hakodate's night view is said to be one of the "three great night views of the world," so being able to enjoy that scenery while soaking sounds like it would be a pretty luxurious experience. I wasn't able to confirm the operating hours for the large communal bath and open-air bath on the official website.

Taisho Romance-Themed Rooms and Meals

There are six room types available, and all of them apparently feature classical interiors themed around Taisho Romance. Depending on the room type, some can accommodate up to four guests, so it seems well-suited for families or groups as well.

I came across a mention that the breakfast venue, Kita no Banya, was ranked number one in Hokkaido on a review site for seven consecutive years from 2012 to 2019. The menu apparently makes use of local ingredients, including squid — a Hakodate specialty — and a seafood rice bowl that you can customize to your taste, and low-allergen menu options are also available. For dinner, in addition to Western and Chinese cuisine, you can apparently enjoy Hokkaido specialties like Genghis Khan grilled lamb and soup curry across multiple restaurants, and there's also a bar lounge called Sherry's Bar inside the hotel. I wasn't able to confirm the serving times or specific prices for breakfast and dinner on the official website.

Rakuten Mobile Signal Conditions

When I checked the location of this hotel using Rakuten Mobile's official "my Area Connectivity Simulation" tool, the overall rating came back as "AAA." That's a pretty good result among the places I've researched so far, and it gives the impression that you likely wouldn't run into connectivity issues during your stay.

Komorin

When I saw that AAA rating, I couldn't help pumping my fist. This might be reassuring news even for people who want to snap a photo of Hakodate's night view and upload it right away.

See Rakuten Mobile Details

Nearby Tourist Spots

The Hakodate Bay Area where the hotel itself is located is apparently a sightseeing area that includes places like the Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse, so it seems like a location where you could step out and enjoy a stroll right away. It's said to be about a 15-minute walk to JR Hakodate Station, so getting around by streetcar or bus also seems fairly convenient. As someone who doesn't drive, this kind of walking-distance information is always the first thing I want to check.

Wrapping Up

To sum it up, my impression of Lavista Hakodate Bay is that of a hotel whose appeal lies in its Taisho Romance interiors and the views of Hakodate's night scenery from the top-floor open-air bath. Between the well-regarded breakfast venue and the convenient location in the Hakodate Bay Area for sightseeing, this feels like a place indoor types like me would want to keep in mind as a hotel-cation option.

Rakuten Mobile signal came back with an AAA rating, but if you're concerned about it, I'd recommend checking with Rakuten Mobile's official tool for peace of mind.

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