Hotels With Spa in Aomori Prefecture, Japan

Check-in was very smooth. In fact, they allowed us to check in earlier - about 1 to 2 hours earlier, I think. The room was already ready, so they allocated it to us when we arrived. The room itself was rather small but functional and clean, so we don’t really have any complaints other than it being a bit small. I guess this is Japanese standards. The pricing is fairly more expensive than the inns across the road, perhaps because of the location and also because it is very new. The property itself has a very nice onsen. The female onsen had a lot of apples floating in it, which was a very nice touch to showcase Aomori apples. The front desk staff are very nice and very friendly. They also have staff who can speak Chinese. Not that I am Chinese, but I can speak some Chinese better than Japanese, which I can’t speak at all. Nevertheless, the staff could converse in English, or at least some basic English. There’s free yoga and some classes, but we didn’t utilise them as it’s not really useful for tourists who would rather spend time outside the hotel. This seems more suited for locals who want a short getaway, but still a very lovely touch. Breakfast is paid separately and does not come with the room, so there is no comment on that. The property provides Nespresso capsules in the room, and there is also a better Nespresso machine near the check-in counter. I also love that they provide water for free without having to pay extra. The lounge is available for everybody and overlooks the bridge. They provide some free snacks and drinks depending on the timing - different items in the morning and in the evening. That being said, there is no alcohol being served. Also, the coffee there is very bad. I don’t understand why they don’t put the Nespresso machine in the lounge since they have one at the lobby. Overall, everything was quite perfect for this hotel. In fact, the location was the most perfect part. Once you exit the train station, you enter an elevator that goes up to the hotel. Since it was winter, I was afraid I would need to drag my bags for a long time, but it’s right outside the exit after you tap your card and turn left. If I remember correctly, the elevator is right there and there is no need to go outside at all. However, there are only two elevators servicing the entire building, so there might be some waiting time. I would advise leaving earlier if you have a train to catch. The only reason this is not a full-star review is because I requested about a one-hour late checkout due to our train time, and they told us we needed to pay - if I remember correctly, ¥2,000 per hour. I felt they were very rigid about the 11 am checkout time. To be honest, even if they had given it to us, we probably wouldn’t have used it anyway, as we later decided to change our train time to leave Aomori, since there isn’t much to do here. Still, the rejection and inflexibility made us feel very uneasy and unwelcome. I think they could have handled this better by being less rigid and more human. So that’s minus points from us. After all, this is part of hospitality, and it doesn’t hurt.

We stayed at the Japanese Style Tatami room for our time at Hirosaki. Location was near Hirosaki Castle Park and not too far away from Hirosaki JR station. There were local bus stops located nearby the hotel - the hotel also provided a free shuttle bus service from the hotel to Hirosaki Station (one way only service, so you still got to find your own way to the hotel when you arrive), just got to inform the front desk at least 1 day in advance.  Room was clean and had a good view of Hirosaki city, free flow of Apple Juice and coffee at the lobby downstairs was a plus.

It's true what they say about an inn with a spectacular view. The heavy rain that was falling when I checked in stopped the next morning, and I was able to gaze at the autumn-like sky and sea in front of my room for a while. It had been a while since I'd stayed in a Japanese-style room, and I was able to enjoy local ingredients for both dinner and breakfast, making for a truly enjoyable holiday in Aomori. It was also great that I was within walking distance of the prefectural aquarium. There was a live Tsugaru shamisen performance in the evening, which really immersed me in the romantic atmosphere of travel and exceeded my expectations. This is an inn that I would recommend to others.

The staff always treats you politely. I had coffee after breakfast, but I thought I would have a paper cup and a lid.

Although I chose this ryokan as alternative place but it turned out it is my best stay so far. It is not far from Kuroishi and it is accessible by public transport. Room is very spacious and has both a bathroom and a toilet. Onsen is good. It has both indoor and outdoor ones. Usually it is not busy. Food was great both dinner and breakfast. Free flow of both alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks are also included. Very generous. Staffs are very friendly, although their English are very limited. Extra 150 yen per person for onsen tax. Cash term only. Cashless payment is available.

I've long admired the reputation of the Hoshino Resorts, and this was my first time staying at one of their properties. The ”Kai” series is supposedly a mid- to high-end resort hotel specializing in hot springs, but overall, I was a bit disappointed. First, the hotel's location is quite secluded, in the Owani Onsen area of ​​Aomori Prefecture. It's relatively close to Hirosaki City, a mere 10-minute train ride away, but it's quite a distance from Shin-Aomori Station, the Shinkansen terminus, taking nearly an hour. This late September visit to Owani Onsen might have been off-season, but the temperature was pleasant, the crowds were sparse, and the hot spring village surrounding the station was tranquil. If you make a reservation in advance, the hotel's shuttle bus will pick you up at Owani Onsen Station, a roughly 10-minute ride away (though I later discovered the hotel is also a 20-minute walk, which is still quite close). But upon entering the hotel, the popularity of the Hoshino Resorts became apparent. The lobby was nearly full upon check-in, instantly diminishing the sense of tranquility. The hotel is small, but with 40 rooms, it feels much more commercialized than a traditional Japanese onsen hotel. There are no private baths, and the public baths aren't rotated, and the bathing environment is quite ordinary, with absolutely no special features. This kind of arrangement shouldn't be found in a high-end hotel focused on hot springs. I stayed two nights, with two nights and four meals. Meals rotate, as is typical at most hot spring hotels. However, the first day's meal was better than the second. Overall, the dining experience was only mid-range for this price range. Perhaps due to its proximity to the northern waters, the sashimi was decent, but the selection was mediocre. The other food was even less memorable.

We thought it's going to be fresh in August up the mountain but it wasn't. Very hot and without air-conditioning you'll be suffering. Rooms are tiny and it barely fit 4 people. Road to get there is rough so make sure you have an off road car (the last 5 min only). The onsen is insanely beautiful especially the women's. Food was pre-served and left out in the heat to stand. Didn't look particularly appealing. Shared bathrooms.

This hotel is located right by Oirase Stream, easily accessible from the JR Bus Shoyama stop. They also offer a free shuttle service from Hachinohe to the hotel, running every hour. In the lobby, you'll find Taro Okamoto's massive fireplace, 'Myth of the Forest,' and in the West Wing lounge, there's the 'River God' fireplace. The hotel offers unique activities like 'Stream Exploration,' 'Moss Ball Making,' and 'Green Moss Walk,' along with autumn foliage lectures and stargazing at night, allowing guests to deeply experience the local nature and culture. The buffet restaurant, 'Aomori Apple Kitchen,' serves a wide variety of Aomori ingredients, and specialties like the apple pie are very popular. However, since the hotel is close to nature, you might find insects in the rooms, which can impact the stay.

We took the shuttle bus from Oirase Keiryu Hotel and arrived at Hoshino Resorts Aomoriya around noon. After checking in our luggage, we took a stroll in the hotel's surrounding park, which even has a footbath for guests to relax tired feet. In the evening, we attended the Nebuta Festival event. The food here was more varied than at Oirase, and the service was excellent, as always. It's a fantastic hotel.