Yunohama Hotel Hakodate — the cheapest infinity onsen with sea views in Yunokawa
Let's be honest: if your goal is to "soak in an open-air onsen looking out over the sea without breaking the bank", Yunohama Hotel is the most direct answer in the Yunokawa district of Hakodate. This is the most affordable option that still gives you a genuine sea-view onsen, starting from just ¥6,000 per night — and it has been holding its place in this neighbourhood since 1955, a veteran onsen hotel that locals know well.
Yunohama Hotel sits in Yunokawacho, the seaside onsen district of Hakodate, about 5 minutes from the Yunokawa Onsen tram stop and right on the waterfront, close to the Hakodate Tropical Botanical Garden — open year-round including winter. The neighbourhood clusters several onsen hotels together, but Yunohama Hotel is the least expensive in the group and still delivers a sea-view onsen experience. From just ¥6,000 per night for a room-only rate, that's a trade-off that makes sense for budget travellers.
"Guests who've stayed consistently say the same thing: the open-air pool facing the sea is the best value moment of the trip at this price point — nothing else comes close."
The real star of Yunohama Hotel is the open-air infinity onsen pool that faces the sea directly. When you're soaking, the edge of the pool lines up with the sea horizon — the visual effect is like an edgeless pool merging into the water beyond. Many reviewers mention this view as the single most impressive thing about their stay, especially at dusk when the sun drops over the Tsugaru Strait and the orange light spreads across the surface of the water.
The hotel has been open since 1955, starting as a small five-room guesthouse before growing into a mid-size onsen hotel that is well known throughout Yunokawa. Over 70 years of operation means the team genuinely understands this district — they know what guests need, which season the sea looks best, and which nearby restaurants are worth a visit after dark. That kind of local knowledge, often taken for granted, can make a real difference to a stay.
The rooms are simple and old-fashioned — this is not a recently renovated property. They're clean and functional, and sea-view rooms are available at a slight premium if waking up to a water view matters to you. The room-only rate from ¥6,000/night is the entry point, with meals available as optional add-ons. Those who prefer to eat out can head into the Yunokawa neighbourhood or take the tram into central Hakodate.
Worth being direct about: Yunohama Hotel has a score of 8.2 from 42 reviews — the lowest score in the Yunokawa onsen group, based on a relatively small sample. The building is old and the rooms aren't modern. Guests who want a fresh-looking room, a full spa complex, or cutting-edge facilities should look at other properties in the neighbourhood. And with central Hakodate (the Motomachi area, the morning market) roughly 30 minutes away by tram, it isn't the base of choice if city sightseeing is the main focus.
Yunohama Hotel makes sense for travellers who value the onsen view experience over room modernity — backpackers wanting a real sea-view onsen on a tight budget, or anyone who wants a quiet retreat in the onsen district without paying for extras. If you've decided you're here primarily to soak in an infinity pool overlooking the sea, the ¥6,000 starting price is a trade-off that genuinely holds up.
What guests talk about when they leave Yunohama Hotel is the early-evening moment in the open-air pool — as the temperature drops and the air turns crisp, the warm onsen water and the wide sea horizon create a combination that's hard to describe but immediately felt. It's the reason some guests come back despite knowing the rooms haven't changed much since their last visit.
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ Open-air infinity onsen pool facing the sea — the best-value view in this price range
- ✓ Cheapest in Yunokawa from ¥6,000/night while still delivering sea-view onsen
- ✓ Operating since 1955 — team knows the district and its guests well
- ✓ Near Hakodate Tropical Botanical Garden, right on the waterfront
- ! Older building — rooms are not modern or recently renovated
- ! Score 8.2 is the lowest in the group; sample of 42 reviews is relatively small
- ! About 30 min by tram from central Hakodate
- ✓ Sea-view onsen pool — the standout feature guests praise unanimously
- ✓ Budget-friendly rate ideal for backpackers who want a sea-view onsen experience
- ✓ Seaside location near the Tropical Botanical Garden
- ✓ Room-only rate with optional meal add-ons for flexibility
- ! Old-fashioned room style — not a modern or designer aesthetic
- ! Not a luxury property — common areas are functional rather than impressive
- ! Restaurants in the neighbourhood close early — plan dinner in advance
- 💡If you need a modern or recently renovated room — the rooms here are old-fashioned and not upgraded → look at other Yunokawa properties that have been renovated, with higher scores to match.
- 💡If your plan is to sightsee in central Hakodate every day — this property is about 30 min by tram from the city centre → a hotel near Hakodate Station or the Motomachi district will save you travel time.
- 💡If the small review sample makes you hesitant — 42 reviews is a smaller pool than other hotels in the area → compare with higher-review-count onsen properties nearby before deciding.