Homestays in Aomori Prefecture, Japan

The JR bus from Hachinohe drops you right at the hotel entrance, which is super convenient, especially for independent travelers. In winter, it's best to reserve your spot for 300 JPY (JR Pass East Japan is accepted). The bus makes two 10-minute stops where you can hop off and take photos. The hotel has a charming, vintage feel to it.

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.

The tatami is very comfortable, traditional Japanese style, but the location is inconvenient. The hotel has a shuttle bus, but you can't choose the time. The most distinctive feature is the Apple Hot Spring, although there is no outdoor hot spring. But after soaking, the skin is very smooth. The buffet was very good, with many apple-themed dishes and the apple juice was super tasty. Four delicious Aomori apples will be given after check-in. Very happy experience. The transportation is not very convenient. But I will consider staying there again. All service attitudes are very good.

Japanese hot spring hotel, simple, good environment. I was the only foreigner that day. It's just a few steps from Asamushi Station, but there are not many shops around and they have business hours. I arrived late that day and had no food, so I had to ask the front desk aunt to make an appointment for the hot spring. There are three, I randomly chose an empty one, the hygiene is OK, maybe there are not many people in the off-season, but if you have a cleanliness obsession, you can ignore the bath. I went to Aomori and came back late after dinner. The front desk changed to an uncle, who helped me connect to the wifi, and was quite kind. There was no hot water when I washed my face at 12 pm, and the toilet was also cold. The next morning, the water was still cold, but the toilet water was hot. When I left, the front desk changed to an old lady, who kept bowing to see me out. I wanted to smoke a cigarette in the yard before leaving, but I felt embarrassed. I waited for a while before going back to smoke one in the yard before leaving. If time is not urgent, I will stay next time and make an appointment for Japanese set meals in advance, both at noon and in the evening, (it must be early) It should be the kind that the surrounding merchants receive orders and deliver to the hotel, which is cheap and affordable.

It's best to be prepared for power outages. Public toilets and water rooms are standard features of traditional Japanese B&Bs. The Japanese breakfast is good. Please note that the check-in time is before 9 pm. If you can't arrive, be sure to contact the owner in advance. The B&B is on the mountain, so be careful when driving at night. There are no street lights.

This is a very old and unique hot spring hotel. We left Aomori Station at 8:10 am and hiked for five hours to the Oirase Gorge. We took the 3:00 am bus to Tsuta Onsen Station and checked in just in time. Our room was on the second floor, a Japanese-style tatami room. It was quite large, bright, clean, and comfortable. The bathroom and wash basin were shared, but very clean and hygienic, although the noise from walking in the hallway was quite noticeable in the morning. The hot springs were great, built entirely of wood, with no outdoor pool. The water was warm, and you could add cold water yourself. The dinner was nice and small, and exquisite. After dinner, we soaked in the hot springs and went to the front door to stargaze. The starry sky without light pollution was beautiful! We even saw a shooting star! It was a perfect stay! The staff were also very warm and polite, continuing their traditions! When traveling abroad, follow the local customs, observe their rules and pay attention to etiquette, and promote the good image of China.

Superb views, buffet dinner options, diverse indoor outdoor bath options with salt and clear water!! A rare gem  for families. Staff spoke English at front desk and restaurants, and welcome descriptions note is written in English as well. Alternate timings at bath for Men and women assures equal views for both. The outside open air bath at the beach is probably the hit and can get crowded at sunset and less so during sunrise. The open air bath attached to the indoor area bath offers better sunset views, from an elevation of about 30 meters. We (family of three) enjoyed it very much and probably rank it the best of our three prefecture experience with respect to the bath.

It is highly recommended to travel by car, because the location is far from the station There is also a self-service laundry near the hotel, which is very convenient  Free hot springs are available every night. The bathhouse is small but enough to use. Breakfast choice is simple and not too much money, but it is enough leftovers and tastes very good The room is clean, or it is biased towards the suburbs, there are small insects every night but it does not affect the stay ☀️ The aunts and staff in the dining hall have a good attitude and are courteous to foreigners

In the scenic area, you can hear the sound of the gurgling water in the hotel, and the tap is clear mountain spring water. Open the window and you can see the gurgling mountains and lush trees. Good health. The hotel owner is a serious uncle. Also because it is in the scenic area, there are no convenience stores or restaurants around the hotel.

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.