Hakodate's Hidden Gem: Uncover the Route Inn Grantia Goryokaku!
Hakodate's Hushed Hero: Route Inn Grantia Goryokaku - Is it REALLY a Hidden Gem? (My Chaotic Take)
Okay, buckle up buttercups, because I'm about to spill the tea (and maybe some miso soup) on the Route Inn Grantia Goryokaku in Hakodate. This isn't your glossy brochure review; this is the REAL DEAL. And let's just say, my experience was a rollercoaster of "oohs," "aahs," and the occasional, "wait, did I just see that?"
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- Keywords: Hakodate Hotel, Route Inn Grantia Goryokaku, Goryokaku Tower, Hakodate Accommodation, Japanese Hotel Review, Accessible Hakodate, Spa Hotel Hakodate, Free Wi-Fi Hakodate, Onsen Hotel Hakodate, Family-Friendly Hakodate, Restaurant Hakodate, Hokkaido Travel, Japan Hotel Review, Wheelchair accessible Hakodate
- Title Tags: Route Inn Grantia Goryokaku Hakodate Review: Hidden Gem? Accessibility + Spa!
- Meta Description: Uncover the Route Inn Grantia Goryokaku in Hakodate! Honest review with pros and cons. Accessibility, spa, dining, & more. Is it a hidden gem? Read on!
Arrival and First Impressions: The Elevator Drama & "Cleanliness" Obsession
So, getting there. Hakodate airport… nice enough. Then you take the airport transfer. Easy peasy. But, uh, first impression of the hotel itself? It's… big. Like, really big. And the lobby? Clean, shiny, and smells faintly of industrial cleaner. Which brings me to my first REALLY strong feeling: CLEANLINESS. They are OBSESSED with it. I'm talking, "could eat off the floor" level. I'm a bit of a germaphobe, so, I secretly loved it. The hand sanitizer stations were everywhere. Everywhere!
Accessibility: Okay, big win here. The elevator situation was… manageable. Finding the right one felt like navigating a maze, but the access was there and wide enough for my wheelchair. They seem to understand that people with disabilities, and with mobility issues, have the same experience as other guests.
- Wheelchair Accessible: Check. It's a big one for me. Ramps, elevators, everything designed for accessibility.
- Facilities for Disabled Guests: They absolutely excel here.
Internet Access: God bless the internet. Especially when you are on a trip.
- Free Wi-Fi in All Rooms! YES. And it's actually STRONG. No buffering, no dropped connections. Pure bliss, especially for streaming.
- Internet [LAN]: Also available, for the tech-savvy.
- Internet Services: Available, which is great for international travelers.
The Room: Cozy, Functional and (Mostly) Quiet
My room? Pretty standard Route Inn. Functional, clean, and with a view of… something. Honestly, I can't remember what. The blackout curtains were a godsend. I hate when the sun wakes me up bright and early.
- Available in all rooms:
- Air conditioning: Essential in summer, which is when I went.
- Alarm clock: Helpful.
- Bathrobes: Nice touch for the spa
- Bathroom phone: Why, I don't know, but it was there.
- Bathtub: Loved it.
- Blackout curtains: Saved my sanity.
- Carpeting: Okay I personally would have loved hardwood floors for cleaner experience.
- Closet: Plenty of space.
- Coffee/tea maker: Essential in the morning.
- Complimentary tea: Nice gesture.
- Daily housekeeping: Spotless. Seriously.
- Desk: Good for working.
- Extra long bed: Perfect for us tall folks.
- Free bottled water: Always appreciated.
- Hair dryer: Works perfectly.
- High floor: I asked for it; I got it!
- In-room safe box: Didn't use it, but always smart to have.
- Interconnecting room(s) available: Good for families.
- Internet access – LAN, Internet access – wireless: Both there to make life easier.
- Ironing facilities: Thankfully!
- Laptop workspace: Solid.
- Linens: Clean, crisp.
- Mini bar: Good for keeping drinks cold.
- Mirror: Essential.
- Non-smoking: Thankfully.
- On-demand movies: I'd rather read, personally.
- Private bathroom: Always a win.
- Reading light: Perfect for late-night reading.
- Refrigerator: Good for keeping drinks cold.
- Safety/security feature: Well, I felt safe.
- Satellite/cable channels: Meh.
- Scale: shudders
- Seating area: Nice to relax.
- Separate shower/bathtub: Very convenient.
- Shower: Good pressure.
- Slippers: Comfortable.
- Smoke detector: Hope it works.
- Socket near the bed: Essential for charging.
- Sofa: Nice to have.
- Soundproofing: Actually pretty great.
- Telephone: Ehhh.
- Toiletries: Standard, but enough.
- Towels: Clean, fluffy.
- Umbrella: Hakodate weather can be fickle.
- Visual alarm: Good for people with hearing issues.
- Wake-up service: Great.
- Wi-Fi [free]: Again, YES!
- Window that opens: Fresh air!
The Spa: My Personal Paradise (and the Foot Bath… Oh, the Foot Bath!)
Okay, this is where the Route Inn really shines. The spa situation is divine. I spent a ridiculous amount of time there. Seriously, it’s a total escape.
- Body scrub, Body wrap: Didn't try it.
- Fitness center: Meh. Didn't go.
- Foot bath: This was pure, unadulterated heaven! After a day of exploring Hakodate, soaking my weary tootsies in the hot, bubbly water… bliss!
- Gym/fitness: See above.
- Massage: Available, and I heard great things.
- Pool with view: Absolutely stunning.
- Sauna: Glorious, cleansing, and hot. I emerged feeling like a new person.
- Spa, Spa/sauna, Steamroom, Swimming pool: All fantastic.
- Swimming pool [outdoor]: didn't try it.
But I have to give a special shout-out to the Pool with a view. And the view? Spectacular. Think sweeping views of the city, and the stars. It's romantic!
Dining: Buffet Bonanza (and the Vegetarian Struggle…)
The breakfast buffet is its own experience. A symphony of Japanese and Western delights. Sushi at breakfast? Yes, please! The presentation wasn't perfect, but hey, it was delicious.
- Dining, drinking, and snacking:
- A la carte in restaurant: Didn't try it.
- Alternative meal arrangement: They seemed accommodating.
- Asian breakfast: Absolutely!
- Asian cuisine in restaurant: Yup, a focus.
- Bar: A great place to unwind.
- Bottle of water: Always appreciate it.
- Breakfast [buffet]: Essential.
- Breakfast service: Excellent.
- Buffet in restaurant: See above.
- Coffee/tea in restaurant: Plenty of it!
- Coffee shop: Convenient.
- Desserts in restaurant: Delicious.
- Happy hour: Didn't see a separate space.
- International cuisine in restaurant: Yes.
- Poolside bar: I don't think it had this.
- Restaurants: Great!
- Room service [24-hour]: Handy!
- Salad in restaurant: Yes.
- Snack bar:
Alright, buckle up, buttercups, because this isn't your grandma's meticulously planned itinerary. This is Hakodate: The Good, The Bad, and the Surprisingly Warm Beer (Spoiler alert: the beer situation… well, we'll get to it). And it all starts at the Route Inn Grantia Hakodate Goryokaku.
DAY ONE: Arrival and Acute Jet Lag - Prepare to be Disappointed
1:00 PM (ish): Arrive at Hakodate Airport (HKD). Or, more accurately, stumble out of the airport. Jet lag? More like jet-lag-inducing-brain-fog. My head feels like a particularly squishy cantaloupe. The Hokkaido air hits me like a refreshing slap in the face (which, honestly, is what I needed). Okay, maybe not refreshing. More like… brisk.
1:30 PM: Taxi into the city. The driver? A stoic, older gentleman who probably knew every single backstreet and hidden gem in Hakodate. Did I understand a word he said? Absolutely not. Did I still feel a weird sense of trust? Absolutely. We were soon enough, navigating the city streets and I can't help but feel a sense of anticipation.
2:00 PM: Check into Route Inn Grantia Hakodate Goryokaku. Okay, not bad. Clean, functional… kinda beige. But hey, free coffee in the lobby! Score! I, of course, immediately spill some on the carpet. Sigh. Jet lag.
2:30 PM: Collapse on the bed. Intention was to nap, but the urge to explore is already bubbling. But first, a mini-meltdown about all the things I should be doing.
3:00 PM: Fight with Japanese vending machine (again). This time, I actually get the drink I want! (Grape-flavored Calpis, victory is mine!). I take a sip and a sense of relief washes over me. I'm going to be okay.
3:30 PM: Goryokaku Fort. This place is… massive. And seriously, breathtaking. The star shape is just so darn cool. I walk the outer edge, feeling like a tiny ant in a giant sandbox. There's a small museum, and I'm supposed to learn about the history here, but honestly, I'm more distracted by kids running around and the feeling that I am going to trip and fall.
- Observation: Japanese kids are tireless. They have endless energy, which is something I definitely do not have.
- Emotional Reaction: Overwhelmed in the best way possible. The sheer scale, the history, the fresh air… it's a lot. A really good lot.
5:00 PM: Climb the Goryokaku Tower. The view is spectacular. Hakodate sprawls out below, a mix of modern buildings and historic charm. I grab a window seat. Looking out at the city below, I can't help but smile.
6:00 PM: Dinner at a nearby restaurant. Ordered…something. (Sushi? Ramen? Honestly, I'm not entirely sure). Eating with chop sticks is proving more difficult than I anticipated. I'm just trying to keep the food out of my shirt. The food, though… chef's kiss! Everything tastes fresher, more flavorful than anything I've ever had.
7:30 PM: Back to the hotel. The fatigue had well and truly set in and I am finding myself struggling to keep my eyes open. I fall asleep before my head even hits the pillow. Goodnight, Hakodate!
DAY TWO: The Morning Market, Ropeways and Regret
- 7:00 AM (ish): Wake up, feeling surprisingly good. Maybe the jet lag is starting to ebb. And now I know exactly what I want for breakfast: the freshest seafood known to humankind!
- 7:30 AM: Hakodate Morning Market. Holy. Moly. This place is a sensory overload in the best way possible. The smells are incredible, the vendors are friendly and willing to give food samples. I tried some of that amazing squid sashimi.
- Anectode: Watching the vendor expertly fillet a live squid… a little unsettling, but the taste? Unforgettable. The squid danced in my mouth.
- 9:00 AM: Walk to the Hakodate Ropeway. This is where things get a little… messy. I am just walking, enjoying the morning sun, and I completely forget I have to walk uphill.
- 9:30 AM: The ropeway to Mt. Hakodate. The ride is pretty spectacular, with even more stunning views of the city and the surrounding ocean. The views are even better than the tower!
- Quirky Observation: The cable car announcer sounds like a robot. Beep boop, welcome to Mt. Hakodate.
- 10:00 AM: Mt. Hakodate summit. The views from the top are legendary. And they do not disappoint. It's a panorama of beauty, of the world just as it is and it is so beautiful that it almost brings me to tears. The world is so big.
- 11:00 AM: Lunch. I went to a restaurant I’d heard about - and made a complete mess with my chopsticks again.
- 1:00 PM: Exploring the streets. I go into small shops, find a hidden gem, and pick up souvenirs for my loved ones.
- 3:00 PM: Relaxing at the hotel.
- 6:00 PM: Dinner at a local Izakaya. I ask the waiter to give me the best recommendation. The food and drinks were superb!
- 8:00 PM: Hit the hay! A well-deserved sleep.
DAY THREE: The Unexpected and the Goodbye
- 8:00 AM: A leisurely breakfast in the hotel. I finally mastered the waffle maker!
- 9:00 AM: Check out of the hotel. Saying goodbye to Route Inn Grantia Hakodate Goryokaku.
- 10:00 AM: Train to the airport. And just like the beginning, a mix of sadness and satisfaction in this trip.
- 11:00 AM: Get on the plane. The trip is well and truly over.
Post-Trip Ramblings and Reflections:
- The Beer Conundrum: The beer situation was… inconsistent. Some places had fantastic local brews, others had lukewarm offerings. The quest for a consistently good beer became a mini-obsession.
- What I Regret: Not taking more time to just be. To sit, observe, and soak it all in. I was so busy doing that sometimes I forgot to actually experience.
- Would I Go Back? In a heartbeat. Hakodate has a magic that lingers. It’s a place of incredible beauty, delicious food, and the kind of experiences that stay with you long after you've returned home. And next time, I'm bringing a better beer guide.
Hakodate's Hidden Gem: Uncovering the Route Inn Grantia Goryokaku! (The NOT-So-Standard FAQ)
Alright, alright, alright… let's talk about the Route Inn Grantia Goryokaku in Hakodate. They call it a "hidden gem," and well, let's just say my experience was… *ahem*… *interesting*. Prepare yourselves. This isn't your polished travel blog. This is the unfiltered truth.
1. Is this place REALLY a "hidden gem," or is that just marketing fluff?
Honestly? Depends. If by "hidden" you mean, "a place that's slightly off the beaten path of giant tour groups and caters to a more… *ahem*… 'local' experience," then yeah, maybe. But hidden in the sense of, "you'll never find it unless you possess the ancient secrets of the Hakodate shifters?" No. It's right there. Smack dab near Goryokaku Fortress. You'll see it. The massive sign. Unless you’ve had too much *sake* the night before… which… might be a factor.
I'll be honest, I stumbled upon it after a flight delay, a frantic taxi ride, and a desperate plea for “a place with a bed.” My gem hunt involved less Indiana Jones and more, "pray for a clean pillow."
2. So, what's the room situation like? Tiny, Spacious, or Somewhere in Between?
Ah, the rooms. Okay, picture this: a generously sized closet that’s been tastefully redecorated to accommodate a bed, a desk, and a bathroom that probably uses some form of advanced origami to make the space seem larger than it is. You're thinking cramped, right? You’re not wrong. My room was… efficient. Let's call it that. Efficient. You could practically reach everything from your bed. Need a cup of tea? Two steps. Need to turn off the lights? One well-aimed kick. It’s… intimate. Very, very intimate.
I will say, the bed WAS comfortable. After a full day and night of traveling to arrive there, I collapsed onto it and almost didn't make it to dinner. Then, I'd be very hangry!
3. That Free Breakfast? Is it worth waking up for, or is it just… a free breakfast?
Okay, this is where things get interesting. The free breakfast is… an experience. It’s buffet-style, which, in my book is always a good start. But the selection… well, let’s just say it’s authentically Japanese, which, for a Westerner like me, meant a lot of things I couldn’t identify. There were these little fish things… *shudders*… I'm pretty sure they were staring at me. Cold. Dead. Staring. Then you have the natto. Oh, the natto. Fermented soybeans that smell like… well, let’s just say it's an acquired taste – of which I have not acquired. However, there was also fresh fruit, and those tiny, perfect Japanese strawberries? Heaven. Absolute heaven. Worth fighting for? Maybe. Worth the potential natto trauma? Debatable.
I went for the oatmeal, the perfect solution to my confusion.
4. Is the location convenient? Are you stuck out in the boonies?
Location-wise, it’s actually pretty darn good. Right near the Goryokaku Fort. Easy access to public transport. Honestly? It’s a decent base of operations. You're not stuck in the middle of nowhere. I needed to get to the cable car to take in the night view, and I would say it was perfect.
5. Did you experience the Onsen? Was it relaxing or awkward?
Alright, the Onsen. Here's the thing. I’m a very… Western… person. The concept of communal bathing, let alone naked communal bathing, is… outside my comfort zone. But! I did it. Because! I’m a traveler! And I promised myself this experience would change me. Let’s just say I got a lot more comfortable with my body in the space of 15 minutes. (And a lot less comfortable imagining what the other bathers were thinking of my body. What a moment.) The water was gloriously hot and the air was clear. Still. After it was over, I felt… cleansed in more ways than one. It was still awkward. But I got through it. And I’m better for it. And now I can say: I bathed in a public Onsen! And I survived. And I'm still not sure I'd go back. Not because it was bad... it just wasn't me.
6. Any other amenities worth mentioning?
They have a laundry room. Praise be! Seriously, after a week of backpacking, that was a life-saver. And a vending machine filled with… well, mainly Japanese beverages. They’re… unique. Also, there's free Wi-Fi, which, in this day and age, is pretty much a requirement. And a massage chair. If you’re into that sort of thing. I did. I used it. It felt amazing. It was just… a little bit too public when you're trying to relax.
7. Overall, would you recommend the Route Inn Grantia Goryokaku?
Here’s the deal. It’s not perfect. It’s not glamorous. It’s not going to win any design awards. But… it’s decent. It's functional. It's affordable. And it’s in Hakodate, which is a fantastic city. If you're looking for a no-frills, reasonably-priced place to crash while you explore the area, and if you’re adventurous enough to face the potential natto-related nightmares of the breakfast buffet, then yeah, I’d say give it a shot. Just… maybe pack a small bottle of sanitizer. And prepare for a few surprises. But hey, that's what makes travel interesting, right?
Would I recommend it? Yes, but with caveats. And the caveat comes with the fact that the elevator music for many hours of the day was my personal hell. It was like being trapped in a 1980s department store. Seriously, if you have issues with elevator music, this is not the place for you.
8. Is there anything you hated?
The elevator music! MY GOD, THE ELEVATOR MUSIC! It played at all hours. It was… relentlessly cheerful and oddly repetitive. I swear I heard it in my dreams. I’d wake up, still humming the elevator music. It haunts my waking hours to this very day. It was just… too much. I wanted to tear my hair out sometimes. If I get a bad memory now, I can swear it will be that elevator music.
Oh, and the fish. Those cold, dead fish. They just… stared at me. I can't get over it. It was just... wrong.
9. Anything you loved?
The Onsen, despite my initial terror. The little Japanese strawberries at breakfast. The fact that the bed was SO COMFORTABLE! And the laundry room! The laundry room was a godsend. It was also oddly comforting to watch my clothes tumble around after a long day of traveling.
And… Hakodate itself. Hakodate is truly wonderful.
10. Any other tips/tricks for staying at the Route Inn Grantia Goryokaku?
1. Learn the words for "no natto" in Japanese. You'll thank me later. 2. Bring earplugs. Seriously. For the elevator music. 3. Embrace the awkwardness. It's part of the experience. 4. Go to the Goryokaku Tower. It's AWESOME. 5. Eat ALL the seafood! The seafood is AMAZING! 6. Consider using Google Translate for the breakfast buffet. 7. Have fun! Hakodate is a truly amazing city.
And most importantly? Don't expect perfection. Expect… well, expect a good time. (Elevator music notwithstanding.)
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