I Looked Into Yachigashira Onsen

This blog has been steadily covering not just campsites but also day-trip hot springs and lodges in a series, but this time I'm broadening my scope to Hokkaido and picking up a facility in Hakodate.

The reason I decided to look into Yachigashira Onsen this time was that I came across information saying the outdoor bath is shaped like a star, modeled after the special historic site Goryokaku. Since Hakodate brings to mind Goryokaku, I got a little curious about how a hot spring facility could be themed around that shape, so I decided to dig into the details.

The Short Version

My impression was that this is a public bathhouse cherished by locals for a long time, famous for its star-shaped outdoor bath modeled after Goryokaku.
Rakuten Mobile's signal was rated AAA, which seems good, so there's likely not much to worry about in terms of connectivity.

I've summarized the details below.

A Long-Established Public Bathhouse Famous for Its Star-Shaped Outdoor Bath

Yachigashira Onsen apparently opened in 1953 (Showa 28), and is a large public bathhouse located at the foot of Mount Hakodate. On Hakodate's official tourism website it's introduced as "Nagomi no Yu," and it seems to always be bustling with local residents. It appears to have originally been a municipally-run bathhouse that was transferred to private management around 2013, but it seems to have continued operating ever since as a facility rooted in the local community.

The water quality is a sodium chloride spring, reportedly a brownish, iron-rich hot spring with a temperature of 65.1°C. The baths are apparently divided into three types—high temperature, medium temperature, and a bubble bath—so you can choose based on your mood that day, which sounds nice. And above all, the standout feature of this facility seems to be that the outdoor bath is shaped like a star, modeled after the special historic site Goryokaku. It also apparently has a sauna and a cold bath.

Komorin

Just seeing photos of the star-shaped outdoor bath makes me curious. I imagine that if I actually soaked in it, it might remind me of the view looking down from Goryokaku Tower—though that's just my own speculation.

Access and Facilities That Matter to Me as a Non-Driver

I do have a driver's license, but I rarely drive in everyday life, so whether a place is accessible by public transportation is always the first thing I check. Yachigashira Onsen is apparently about a 5-minute walk from the Yachigashira streetcar stop, so it seems like a fairly convenient location even for people who don't drive. Of course, there's also reportedly free parking for around 101 cars, so it should be easy to use if you're driving there too.

The building is apparently designed to be barrier-free, with slopes and an elevator, giving the impression that it's designed with a wide range of age groups in mind. There's reportedly a ramen shop attached to the first-floor lounge, so it seems possible to grab a bite after a soak. Summarizing the facilities and conditions of use, here are some of the features:

Business hours: 6:00 AM–10:00 PM (last entry at 9:00 PM), closed on the second Tuesday of the month, apparently
Prices: Adults (junior high school age and up) 490 yen, children (ages 7–12) 150 yen, young children (ages 3–6) 70 yen, infants free, apparently
Reservations: Not required; it can be used as a walk-in public bathhouse, apparently
Baths: Three types—high temperature, medium temperature, and bubble bath—plus the star-shaped outdoor bath, a sauna, and a cold bath, apparently

As for the pricing, I did come across some information suggesting a possible revision, but since multiple sites covering this facility consistently listed 490 yen, I've gone with that figure for now. If you're planning to actually visit, it might be a good idea to double-check the latest rates just in case.

Rakuten Mobile Signal Conditions

When I checked this facility's location using the official "my Area Connectivity Simulation," the overall rating showed up as "AAA." Based on actually using the tool myself, it seems like a relatively good rating came out.

Since it's located at the foot of Mount Hakodate, I was a little concerned about how the terrain might affect things, but within the range I checked, the rating came out favorable. If you use Rakuten Mobile, this could be one useful thing to check before visiting.

Komorin

It's always a relief when a AAA rating comes up. Since it's near Mount Hakodate, I was a bit worried, but in a good way, my expectations were wrong.

See Rakuten Mobile Details

Wrapping Up

To sum it up again, my impression of Yachigashira Onsen is that it's a public bathhouse that has long been cherished by local people, famous for its star-shaped outdoor bath modeled after the special historic site Goryokaku. Being within walking distance of a streetcar stop feels like a real plus for someone like me who doesn't drive. The barrier-free design and the attached ramen shop also suggest it's a place designed to be casually accessible to a wide range of generations.

As for Rakuten Mobile's signal, the result came out as a AAA rating, so it should be a helpful reference if you want to check the connectivity beforehand. If you're curious, you can check with Rakuten Mobile's official tool, so it might be worth taking a look before you actually visit.

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