Gran Palette Hakodate

I had a great time in Hakodate and I loved my stay there. When looking for a hotel, I was a bit worried about the hotel's situation as it seemed isolated between the train station and the area around Mt Hakodate but it was certainly a good decision to choose this hotel as it is closer to the usual tourist areas than station-centered hotels would be. Three konbini are also easily accessible in a 7-min radius. My room was super spacious with a decent sized bathroom and a marvelous view towards the beautiful Mt Hakodate ! A microwave and juices / drinks are available in the lobby for those interested and a laundry room is also usable for an additional charge. Don't hesitate to check out the rooftop with a 360-degree view. Truly breathtaking and a great photo spot. Tips for other travellers : the A/C is controlled by a panel that was placed between the beds (in my room at least) that also controls the lights while the thermostat was placed on the wall, above one of the beds. This is outside the walls of the hotel but for IC cards bearers, the tram can be payed with them (tap when you enter and when you get off). Also, you might need some snow cleats in the winter (some konbini have them). The snow can turn icy and then welcome to the ice rink when trying to walk in the streets or slopes of Motomachi. Finally, I wanted to thank the Australian-sounding young lady that was on duty several shifts when I stayed at this hotel as I had a great time chatting with her on several occasions. I wish her the best for the future !

Room: You can tell the building is a little aged, but very well maintained. The room was very clean and everything worked perfectly (kettle, mini fridge, etc.) and the water pressure in the shower was great. We could also access the roof on the seventh floor to get a great view of Hakodate. Staff: The staff were extremely friendly, one of them could speak English, and they were nice enough to give us a room around 30 minutes earlier than their regular check-in time, which was 3pm. Others: They have complementary coffee in the lobby that's available 24/7, and bath salts too, which I was pleasantly surprised to see.

Though it was not suited near the main train station, it is still easily accessible, 2 tram station away from the main station if I remember correctly. I stayed only for a night but it was almost a perfect stay. Very value for money. Absolutely recommendable for a stay if staying near the main train station is not a must for you.

I like the friendliness of the staff. They gave me a personal welcome letter which was very nice and cute! They even wrote thank you in my native language. :) Bravo to the staff. I like how spacious the room was. They've got coffee 24 hours and free juice in the afternoon. The laundry was a nice addition. The hotel is very clean and functional though not modern. The area is exactly in the middle between the mountain and Jr station so walking to each side is doable between 10-15 minutes walking only. But it is a very quiet area. If it wasn't in Japan I'd be scared to walk back. Umbrella is available at the reception. They give free bath salt which is like in every hotel in Japan which is fantastic. In front of the hotel have this very delicious soba restaurant is a must try!!! They don't open every day and only open from 11-3pm. No English speaking or menu, so need a translating app.

Lovely place, very roomy stay, friendly front desk folks, casual vibes. They have a cute self service lobby cafe with a huge whiteboard fulls of drawings and notes that you can write. Quiet part of town, slightly farther from the station than many of the other hotels but by no means far. Enjoyed it.