Hotel Route-Inn Hanamaki ★★★

"I had a very pleasant stay at Hotel Route‑Inn. The hotel is very convenient, located only about 5 minutes from the airport. The hotel and the room were clean and well maintained. The room size is compact but comfortable. One of the things I really liked was the large window in the room, which allowed me to relax and watch the snow falling outside — it was very beautiful and romantic. The breakfast was delicious with a good variety of food to choose from. There are also convenience stores, including a 7-Eleven, within about a 10-minute walk from the hotel, which makes everything very convenient. Overall, it was a comfortable stay and I would definitely recommend this hotel."

Hotel Koyokan ★★★★

"The Aoba-kan was a wonderful surprise on this trip, as it wasn't originally part of my itinerary. I'd added it because I thought it would be too far to travel from Sendai to Oirase Stream and Lake Towada all at once. As we traveled from Sendai, the snow got progressively deeper. As a 'southern sweet potato' (a playful term for someone from the south, unaccustomed to snow), I was incredibly excited to see such thick snow for the first time. The hotel room was a traditional tatami-style, and it was very spacious. An auntie offered to help me lay out the futon, but I felt a bit shy and declined. Later, I realized I had no idea how to make a tatami bed and even had to look up instructions on Xiaohongshu! That's my futon in the picture above; it's so interesting how their duvet covers are completely different from ours. The hotel itself is quite large, featuring a rose garden, various areas to explore, and even a shrine that's great for photos. While shopping at the hotel's drugstore, I spoke in Chinese to the clerk and complimented him on his excellent Chinese. He looked at me and said, 'I *am* Chinese.' He was the only Chinese staff member I encountered during my entire trip. Later that evening, when I was about to go for dinner, I found that the hotel's buffet was almost finished. I asked a staff member where I could find food, and they directed me to a small, cozy bar upstairs. The food there was surprisingly good and not expensive. Overall, the service at Aoba-kan was exceptional. The hotel hosts a lot of ********* guests, so many of the staff speak excellent Chinese. The evening performance was also very entertaining. The hotel has several different hot springs, and the outdoor private onsen was particularly interesting because you could see the snow."

Osawa Onsen Sansuikaku ★★★

"I missed the pick-up bus. It was dark here at night so I took the bus. The hotel reception staff were very enthusiastic and took the initiative to speak English. I spoke Japanese and they switched. The dinner was delicious. I ordered two servings but felt a little hungry. The breakfast was the same. I ate two bowls of rice."

Yamanokami Onsen Bessho Seiryukan ★★★★

"I stayed at Seiryu-kan for four days and three nights. From the first day I checked in to the last day I checked out, I received warm and thoughtful hospitality throughout. The three dinners were all different and very unique, with fresh ingredients and delicious flavors. The hotel, including the rooms and the onsen (hot spring), was extremely clean. They also offered red and white wine, coffee, soft drinks, and snacks in the lobby, making me feel very welcome. Therefore, I highly recommend this comfortable onsen ryokan, and I will definitely come back again if I have the chance."

HOTEL GRAND CIEL HANAMAKI ★★★★

"It seems they really need to cut costs, so razors are charged. There's no tea, coffee, ballpoint pens, or letter paper. No bed making, just throwing the trash towels outside the door. I thought, "Ah, isn't that a bit stingy?" The inside was generally clean."

Yusen Shidate ★★★★

"I originally booked a room on the first floor, but they upgraded me to the third floor. The room was clean, bright, comfortable, and spacious. It was a Japanese-style room with a balcony, a private hot spring tub, a separate shower, a toilet, and a washroom. Facing the stream and mountain scenery, it truly lived up to its name, Tohira, a place renowned for its hot springs. Dinner was a sumptuous Japanese meal, and breakfast was also plentiful, surpassing some hot spring ryokans. The hot spring wasn't crowded, allowing me to enjoy the mountain views on my own. My skin felt smooth after bathing. An ideal place for a relaxing vacation."

Hotel Hanamaki ★★★★

"All the staff were really friendly, so I'd love to go back if I have the chance. The three hotels are connected, so it was fun to go around the baths."

Ooedo Onsen Monogatari Premium Iwatehanamaki ★★★★

Hotel Senshukaku ★★★★

"My family of three stayed in a bed room. The room was renovated and two previous guest rooms were joined together, so the toilet and other facilities were in the previous layout and location. It was a spacious space. Although it was a long walk to get to the bath, it was good to be able to enjoy each hot spring. The meal was fun and delicious, with 10 kinds of crab and steak dishes, but the crab tempura had a hard batter, and it didn't taste like crab, but just oil and batter. If that's the case, it's better not to serve it. Even when I tried to remove the batter and eat it, I could hardly find any crab. It was disappointing. The front desk staff was very helpful."