Yunokawa Prince Hotel Nagisatei: A Full Review of the Four-Star Hotel’s Amenities and Private Oceanside Onsens
Last Updated on October 14, 2024 by Audrey
Looking for Yunokawa Prince Hotel Nagisatei reviews and wondering if it’s worth the price tag? I Stayed here personally and have the answers you need!
Yunokawa Prince Hotel Nagisatei Review Overview
I’ve traveled around Japan and Hokkaido multiple times. During my trips I’ve stayed in numerous locations: from budget hotels, and Airbnbs, to high-end luxury stays.
I visited Hakodate recently this year and stayed in Yunokawa Prince Hotel Nagisatei. I had an amazing experience that I wanted to share with you.
If you have an upcoming trip to Hakodate and are wondering if Yunokawa Prince Hotel Nagisatei is worth booking, I’ll fill you in!
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Yunokawa Prince Hotel Nagisatei: Pros
✅ Spacious Ocean-view rooms
As I walked into Yunokawa Prince Hotel, I could already see that everything looked new and modern. The four-star hotel has luxurious and spacious rooms with ocean-side balconies overlooking Tsugaru Strait, or you can opt for views of Hakodate city if preferred.
You have the option between Western-style suites with modern beds, or Japanese-style tatami rooms. We chose the Japanese-style room because we wanted to try sleeping on the floor. The walk to our room was incredibly relaxing with mood lighting, and the room was impeccably clean.
Our room included a large flat-screen television, and refrigerator, with a step-in shower leading to our private ocean-side onsen. The tatami was very comfortable to sleep on!
✅ Private Open-air onsens
The primary reason I booked Yunokawa Prince Hotel Nagisatei in Hakodate was because it was one of the extremely rare tattoo-friendly hotels, and it’s the only outdoor private onsen with an ocean view I could find in Hakodate.
All other onsen with ocean views are public which you’ll have to share, which is impossible for someone who has tattoos like myself. (One alternative I found is Heiseikan Shiosaitei Hanatsuki, which also has a private onsen with an ocean view but it’s inside, not outdoors).
Yunokawa Prince Hotel has 115 rooms with private open-air onsens, containing the largest amount of open-air rooms of any hotel in Japan. 92 rooms have private-onsens that overlook the ocean, and 23 private-onsens that overlook Hakodate city. 100% pure natural Yunokawa onsen water is used, with no tap water added.
Onsen water is well known to have healing properties, effective against multiple body ailments like muscle pain, neuralgia, and arthralgia, as well as being a great stress reliever.
There is nothing better than soaking your tired muscles after a long day exploring Japan and watching the sunset over the ocean! Yunokawa Prince Hotel provides this rare, breathtaking private experience.
What about public onsen?
Yunokawa Prince Hotel Nagisatei also has large public onsens right next to a private beach that guests can use from 3 pm until 10 am the next day. You can stop by anytime overnight!
During the summer, fall, and early winter, you can have a great view of the lights from the squid fishing boats. However, keep in mind the public onsen prohibits large tattoos.
✅ Excellent Amenities
It’s well-known that Japanese hotels usually have lots of free amenities, and Prince Hotel is no exception. They provide free robes, slippers, toe socks, hair ties, toothbrushes, and much more. I found that the bath products provided (shampoo, body wash, face wash, and lotion) were all very high-quality.
Downstairs, you’ll find that yukata are free to use, as well as extra pillows whenever you need them (no need to ask hotel staff)! There is a cute souvenir shop located on the first floor as well.
If you’re feeling fatigued after a full day of walking around in Hakodate, the hotel has hand and foot massages.
👉 You can book your stay at Yunokawa Prince Hotel Nagisatei here! 👈
✅ Delicious On-Site Restaurant
Okay, the food!!! One thing that made Yunokawa Prince Hotel really stand out was how awesome their buffet was. There are two dining options available inside the hotel.
Nagisa: Buffet-Style
The buffet here serves both Western and Japanese-style food for breakfast and dinner, and trust me, it’s awesome. Everything here was extremely delicious, and there are so many things that you can try.
There’s a huge salad-making station, a large variety of desserts, and so many entrees you can have. There’s a ton of variety, and the only limiter was my stomach. I could eat here for breakfast and dinner for 3 or 4 days in a row and probably not get sick of it.
My favorite item was the miso soup station. I know it sounds basic, but it really wasn’t. There were so many different seaweeds and toppings that you could add! Who knew miso soup could be so different?
If you aren’t sure if you want to go out for your meals or eat at the buffet, you can easily add it to your booking for around $40/person. We added dinner to our booking last minute and it was fairly seamless. There is always someone at the front desk at the buffet to help you out. After we finished eating, we loved it so much that we went straight back to the buffet for breakfast the next day.
Isaribi-Tei: Japanese Course Dinner
There is also another restaurant in Yunokawa Prince Hotel that is a traditional Japanese course dinner. To my knowledge, you have to make reservations in advance if you’d like to eat here. We enjoyed the buffet so much that unfortunately, I didn’t get a chance to try Isaribi-Tei, but I bet the food is excellent if it’s anything like the buffet.
At Isaribi-Tei, you get 14-course dishes and have the option to eat in a private Japanese room, restaurant-style tables, or seaside counter seats overlooking Tsugara strait.
Ramen noodle bar
I saw on the hotel website that there is a ramen noodle bar available as a midnight snack. I wasn’t aware of it during my stay, otherwise I would have hunted around for it!
It’s unclear if it’s located in one of the restaurant shops or somewhere else in the hotel, but judging at the fact it’s recommended as a late-night snack, I think you can get it when the other restaurants are closed.
✅ Prime location
Yunokawa Prince Hotel Nagisatei is in a great location in the Yunokawa Onsen area. It’s a 10-minute bus ride from Hakodate Airport. Once you get off at the Yunokawa Onsen bus stop, the hotel is less than a minute’s walk away.
Popular sightseeing spots such as Goryokaku Fort, Motomachi, Bay Area, and the Trappistine Convent are all within a 15-minute drive from the hotel.
There’s a private access beach behind the hotel that you can walk to as well. It’s quite bare, but beautiful nonetheless. We spent some time there the morning we checked out.
✅ Fantastic service
I’d have to say the best thing about Yunokawa Prince Hotel Nagisatei is their outstanding service. You can have an incredible view with delicious food, but if the service is awful the whole experience takes a dive.
Even before we made it to the hotel, we were already met with amazing hospitality. The doorman standing by the entrance spotted us while we were still 30 feet away, having just gotten off the bus stop. As soon as we met eyes he ran right over to grab our bags! In all the hotels I’ve stayed at, I can’t remember the last time someone helped us before we got to the hotel.
Everyone was extremely kind and accommodating. There were many English speakers available to assist us, although it seemed like many locals loved to stay here for vacation as well.
When we went to dinner, we notified the front desk and they sent someone to prepare our futon beds right away. Everything was done neatly, quietly, and kindly. The service really made our stay feel incredible.
🌊 You can book your stay at Yunokawa Prince Hotel Nagisatei here! 👈
Yunokawa Prince Hotel Nagisatei: Cons
Although there were so many positive highlights about Yunokawa Prince Hotel, is it possible for anything in the world to not have some cons? I believe there’s always a con for something, and this hotel isn’t an exception.
❌ Public transportation is a bit far from landmarks
As mentioned previously, you can get to most of Hakodate’s attractions in less than 15 minutes by car, so it’s not a big deal if you rent a car or use a taxi. However, if you’re sticking to public transportation, it can be a little far.
From the train station, our bus ride to the hotel took about 30-45 minutes, partially because the buses run less frequently in Hakodate than in larger cities like Sapporo or Tokyo. Likewise, if you want to head to Goryokaku Fort or Mount Hakodate, it will take some time.
❌ High Price Point
Yunokawa Prince Hotel Nagisatei is a four-star hotel, so it’s going to be a little pricey. Prices will range from $145-$400 for rooms, depending on the season and whether you book a standard or deluxe room with a view.
In May 2024, I paid ¥66,801 per night for the deluxe Japanese-style room with an ocean view, which is around $440. In April it was ¥47,000 a night, or $315 for a single night. If you add in the $40 dinner buffet, it will be more. Breakfast was included in our booking.
If you go during the off-season, you’ll be able to get a cheaper price. Overall, I think the experience is well worth the value. You can also opt for a quadruple room if you want to split the cost between a group of four.
Yunokawa Prince Hotel Nagisatei Review Recap
Overall, the vibe at this hotel is awesome. It’s relaxing and calm, yet emanates a quiet luxury.
The private ocean onsen experience was incredible. I’ve tried multiple onsens around Japan, and I have to say that soaking in a hot spring bath while watching the sunset over the beach was an amazing moment, and I didn’t have to share it with any strangers.
I feel like we were treated like kings and queens during our stay here, they truly elevated the experience far beyond the traditional hospitality you expect from any hotel.
Overall, the price is well worth it for a few nights. You get an extremely high value for what you pay, so I highly recommend staying here if you’re celebrating a special occasion or this is your first trip to Hakodate.
Yunokawa Prince Hotel Nagisatei FAQs
Is Yunokawa Prince Hotel Nagisatei suitable for families?
Yes, I would say Yunokawa Prince Hotel is a great fit for families. There are quadruple rooms with 2 twin beds and 2 futon beds suitable for families of four.
The buffet has tons of kid-friendly options, and strollers are available for guest use. The onsen on the balcony has safety rails so you don’t have to worry about falling.
Does Yunokawa Prince Hotel Nagisatei allow pets?
Unfortunately, pets are not allowed via the website.
Is Yunokawa Prince Hotel Nagisatei handicap accessible?
Yes, I’d say Yunokawa Prince Hotel is handicap accessible. Disability bathrooms are available upon booking. There is a ramp to the front entrance, and the guest rooms are accessible by elevator.
The private onsen requires 1 step to walk into and has handrails to grab onto.
What is the history of Yunokawa Prince Hotel Nagisatei?
Yunokawa Prince Hotel Nagisatei is situated in the famous Yunokawa onsen area, with 350 years of history. Yunokawa Onsen is regarded as one of the best hot spring towns in the Hokkaido area.
The hotel has amazing views of the Tsugaru Strait. With 115 rooms with attached open-air baths, this hotel has the largest number of rooms with open-air baths in Japan!
Where is Yunokawa Prince Hotel Nagisatei?
Yunokawa Prince Hotel is located in the Yunokawa Onsen area, which is located in a convenient location 10 minutes from Hakodate Airport.
If you walk for 15 minutes, you can get to Yunokawa Street to visit Yukura Shrine and the Yunokawa Hot Spring Foot Bath area. There are also lots of teatime snack shops along the road, which serve treats like skewered dumplings and soft-serve ice cream.
is there parking at Yunokawa Prince Hotel Nagisatei?
There is free parking, with no reservation needed prior.
The Wrap-Up
Despite being one of the more expensive options in Hakodate, Yunokawa Prince Hotel Nagisatei justifies its price with impressive rooms, delectable dining, and countless amenities.
The staff provide incredible hospitality and remain attentive to all of their guests’ needs so that you have a refreshing, comfortable stay.
Having explored Japan multiple times, I cannot recommend staying here enough. It’s the perfect setting for an unforgettable dream vacation in the beautiful city of Hakodate.
Hopefully, this review of Yunokawa Prince Hotel simplifies your decision-making process when it comes to choosing the best hotel for your trip to Hokkaido!