La Jolie Motomachi by WBF — the French-style boutique that Hakodate visitors keep coming back to
Ever come across a small hotel so consistently praised that it holds the #1 spot on TripAdvisor for years running? La Jolie Motomachi by WBF is exactly that — a four-star boutique B&B perched on Hakodate's historic Motomachi Hill that wins guests over with its warm French B&B atmosphere, free breakfast, and rooms that feel more generous than the price tag suggests.
If you want to pick the single most characterful place to stay in Hakodate, La Jolie Motomachi by WBF is usually the first name that comes up from anyone who has been. This four-star boutique sits on Motomachi Hill — a neighbourhood of old Meiji-era churches, Western-style architecture, and narrow lanes that feel a world away from the chain hotels down on the main road. Walking out of the front door each morning is its own kind of experience: the kind of stroll through history that you simply cannot replicate from a cookie-cutter hotel by the station.
"The atmosphere is so warm and personal — nothing like an ordinary hotel. It genuinely feels like staying at a friend's place in Hakodate. The breakfast was far better than we expected, and many guests say they want to come back."
What earns La Jolie its TripAdvisor #1 ranking in Hakodate (4.5/5) is something that money alone cannot manufacture — the kind of warmth where staff remember guests by name rather than room number. Reviews consistently highlight attentive, genuinely helpful staff who give personal restaurant recommendations and insider tips on photo spots that most visitors never find. It is the antithesis of mass-market hospitality.
One of the most praised aspects is the complimentary breakfast and drinks, which guest after guest describes as better than the price implies. It is not the perfunctory toast-and-coffee routine — it is a properly looked-after morning meal that sets up a day of exploring perfectly. The natural sequence is breakfast, then a stroll through the Motomachi church cluster before the day-trippers arrive, then a gentle walk down the hill to Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse.
On the rooms — Standard Double and Twin rooms start from ¥12,000 per night, which for a four-star boutique in a historic district represents genuine value. Multiple guests note that the rooms feel larger than Japanese hotels typically offer at comparable prices, and the French-influenced decor creates a cosy, residential feel rather than a generic business-hotel box.
Worth knowing before you book: some reviews mention that certain rooms feel stuffy because the windows cannot be opened, and La Jolie has no onsen on site — a notable difference from the four-star onsen hotels that Hakodate also offers. The location on the hill is a genuine hill — if you have heavy luggage or mobility considerations, it is worth planning how you will arrive and depart. Kanemori Red Brick Warehouse is a pleasant 8-minute walk away, not right outside the door.
The honest verdict: La Jolie Motomachi by WBF is the kind of Hakodate find that is difficult to match. If a characterful B&B atmosphere, a historic neighbourhood and a free breakfast that exceeds expectations are your priorities, this is the answer. If an in-house onsen is non-negotiable, or you need a room that definitely opens its window, other hotels in the roundup will serve you better.
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ French B&B atmosphere — warm and personal, unlike chain hotels
- ✓ Free breakfast + drinks — better than the price suggests
- ✓ Rooms more spacious than typical Japanese hotels at this price
- ✓ Historic Motomachi district with old churches on the doorstep
- ! Some rooms reportedly stuffy — windows cannot be opened
- ! No onsen on site
- ! On a real hill — ~8-min walk down to Kanemori Warehouse
- ✓ Staff care for guests personally — genuine B&B hospitality
- ✓ #1 Hakodate on TripAdvisor — verified by hundreds of guests
- ✓ Clean, attractively decorated rooms in French style
- ✓ Walking distance to Motomachi church cluster — beautiful morning strolls
- ! No in-house onsen, unlike some other Hakodate four-star options
- ! Hilly location — not ideal with heavy luggage
- ! Check-in from 15:00 — early arrivals need to store bags
- 💡If an onsen is a must-have — La Jolie has no onsen → consider hotels in Hakodate's Yunokawa Onsen area instead.
- 💡If window ventilation matters to you — some rooms cannot open their windows → request a room with an openable window when booking.
- 💡If you want to be right next to Kanemori Warehouse — La Jolie is an 8-min walk away → HakoBA Hakodate or La Vista Hakodate Bay are closer to the waterfront.