Hotels With Spa in Aomori Prefecture, Japan

The hotel's location is absolutely fantastic, right inside the train station, with the front desk on the 3rd floor of the station itself. This was a lifesaver, especially on a snowy day, as I didn't have to drag my luggage far. Downstairs, there's a bus terminal where you can catch buses to Hakkoda-san and the Aomori Museum of Art. The onsen (hot spring) is also excellent, but try to avoid the evening rush hour. After a relaxing soak, grab an ice cream from the fridge at the front desk and head to the lounge on the same floor for some juice or a beer – it's pure bliss! The service was outstanding, especially from a long-haired Japanese gentleman and a South Asian woman with glasses at the front desk. Both spoke fluent English and were incredibly helpful, practically fulfilling every request. The only minor downside was the daily housekeeping. I had a used contact lens that I'd left on the large bath towel, and the next day, it was still there, untouched. It seems the cleaning wasn't very thorough. All in all, if you're visiting Aomori, you can't go wrong with this hotel – it's a guaranteed great stay!

Dormy Inn chain hotels rarely disappoint me, and this still holds for Hirosaki one. It is close to Hirosaki Castle rather than Hirosaki Station, but the city has a circular bus that runs every 10 min., and the bus stop for the hotel is just across the road, so it’s not a problem for those who arrive by train. The room is moderate in size by Japan business hotel standard, but it has the added benefits of offering relaxation onsens. As usual, its onsens have both open and indoor pools. This hotel also has cold water pool and sauna. You get free Yakult in the morning, ice pops in the afternoon till late evening. I recommend.

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.

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 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.