Premier Hotel - CABIN PRESIDENT - Hakodate — bay views and a free rooftop cocktail at a 3-star price
Imagine waking up, pulling open the curtains and seeing the boats and still water of Hakodate Bay right in front of you. That is what guests talk about most at Premier Hotel - CABIN PRESIDENT - Hakodate. This bayfront 3-star hotel scores 9.3 from over 2,100 reviews — one of the largest sample sizes in the city — and it earns those marks not only with the bay views, but also with a rooftop lounge that serves free cocktails every evening, letting you watch the city lights reflect on the water before heading out for dinner. All of that without paying 4-star rates.
Premier Hotel - CABIN PRESIDENT - Hakodate (formerly known as Loisir / Four Points) stands in the Otemachi district right on the edge of Hakodate Bay. The location gives it a particular advantage: the water is steps away, and you can walk to the Bay Area and the city's famous Morning Market with ease. JR Hakodate Station is about 10 minutes on foot — a little further than some budget competitors — but travellers who put bay atmosphere above train convenience will find the trade-off very much worthwhile.
"Opening the curtains in the morning and seeing the boats on the bay is so beautiful you almost don't want to leave the room — many guests say it was the best moment of the whole trip."
The thing guests mention most — and the feature that is hardest to find at this price point — is the view of Hakodate Bay and the harbour from the room. In bay-facing rooms you open the curtains to a straight shot of open water. Some guests describe watching fishing boats leave at first light as one of those unexpectedly peaceful travel moments you end up talking about long after you get home.
What lifts CABIN PRESIDENT above a standard business hotel is the rooftop lounge serving free cocktails every evening. Ride up, pour a drink, and take in the city lights glowing across the bay before heading out for dinner. Many guests say they simply did not expect this kind of perk at a 3-star property — and if you time it for the sunset, so much the better.
On the rooms — a clean, well-kept Japanese-style interior, with Standard Double rooms running around 16 sqm: not large, but well laid out and fully functional. It is the kind of room that works perfectly for travellers using it as a sleep-and-refresh base, reserving their energy for exploring the city rather than spreading out in their accommodation. Rates start from around ¥9,500 per night, which represents solid value for a bayfront address.
Worth knowing before you book — Premier Hotel - CABIN PRESIDENT - Hakodate does not have an onsen or public bath. Guests who want to soak in hot springs will need to head out to find one nearby. Breakfast is an optional add-on rather than included in the room rate, and there is no on-site car park, so anyone driving will need to find public parking in the Otemachi area.
The 2,100+ reviews scoring 9.3 consistently say the same thing: this hotel delivers more than its price suggests, especially when you land a bay-view room. That is why it shows up again and again on repeat-visitor lists from travellers coming back to Hakodate. Honestly, if a water view and a rooftop cocktail at dusk matter to you, this is one of the least disappointing choices in the city at this budget.
In short, Premier Hotel - CABIN PRESIDENT - Hakodate suits couples or solo travellers who want to experience Hakodate's historic port atmosphere without paying luxury prices — and who appreciate winding down the evening with a free drink and a panoramic view before exploring the city's excellent seafood scene below.
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ Bay and harbour views from the room — rare at this price
- ✓ Free rooftop cocktail lounge every evening with city and bay views
- ✓ Bayfront location — easy walking access to the Morning Market and Bay Area
- ✓ Score 9.3 from 2,100+ reviews — highly reliable
- ! ~10 min walk to JR Hakodate Station — further than some budget options
- ! No onsen or public bath on site
- ! Breakfast is an optional add-on, not included
- ✓ Clean, tidy rooms in a classic Japanese business hotel style
- ✓ Bay views — especially beautiful in the early morning and at sunset
- ✓ Free rooftop cocktails are an unexpected bonus for this price tier
- ✓ Good base for walking to the Morning Market and Bay Area
- ! Standard rooms are compact — typical business hotel sizing
- ! No on-site car park — public parking must be found nearby
- ! No onsen — those wanting hot springs need to go out
- 💡If walkability to JR Hakodate Station is your top priority — this hotel is ~10 min away → consider JR Inn Hakodate or Toyoko Inn for a closer walk
- 💡If you need an onsen at the hotel — CABIN PRESIDENT has no public bath → look at La Vista Hakodate Bay or Wakamatsu Hot Spring Resort instead
- 💡If you are arriving by car — there is no on-site car park → factor in the cost and logistics of nearby public parking in Otemachi