Hot Springs Hotels in Aomori Prefecture, Japan

"The Towada Winter Story Festival was a total bust, but Lake Towada itself was an unexpected delight – absolutely stunning. By chance, I even hiked a portion of the Oirase Stream in the morning. The weather, with snow one minute and clear skies the next, added so much character to the lake's scenery. The hotel room was spacious, and it was quite an interesting check-in experience, using very old-fashioned keys and a metal door."

"Right above Aomori Station, this hotel's location is super convenient, with direct access to JR from the lobby. It's often fully booked, so the hot spring is usually quite busy no matter when you go, but they do have real apples in the onsen! There's a hot bath and a slightly cooler one, both very comfortable. The spa, yoga, and dining are mostly extra charges, but there are plenty of activities. The rooms don't have bathtubs, which makes sense since everyone's expected to use the large hot spring. The facilities and equipment are quite new, the bed is very comfortable, and you can see all the best parts of Aomori from your window, including the bay and the bridge."

"This hotel is right next to the ski resort. The snow quality is excellent, and on a clear day, you can even see Hokkaido across the Sea of Japan from the summit. It seems that over half of the guests are international visitors. I didn't encounter a single foreign guest who was loud or bothersome. The staff all appear to speak both English and Chinese. While the variety at the buffet might be a bit limited, they do ensure it's always replenished. The food is tasty. Disposable slippers are provided, but they're very thin, so you feel the cold directly. I saw many people who had brought their own flip-flops."

"My family and I stayed in a Western-style house on the third floor of the new building. Since we were driving, transportation wasn't a problem. There are many hot spring hotels nearby, but since we have elderly family members, we needed a room with a toilet. The choice was between Hoshino and Tsuta Onsen. I'm so glad we chose Tsuta Onsen. The thousand-year-old secret hot springs are authentic, the decor and space are comfortable, and there were no foreign tourists (it seemed we were the only foreigners there). The breakfast (buffet) and dinner (Japanese-style) were both very filling and delicious. There's also the secret Tsuta Pond nearby for a stroll. It was completely worth it. P.S. The starry sky at night is truly beautiful 😍"

"Very nice ryokan in Gonohe. I used this place as a place to stay between Osorezan and Lake Towada. Towels not included, ¥160 which is odd for an onsen ryokan. Try the horse sashimi!"

"We stayed for 5 nights and were very satisfied with the value for money. We experienced the family bath and hot springs, and booked two rooms that included breakfast and dinner. We enjoyed delicious Japanese food every day. The problem arose on the last day during breakfast. About 10 minutes before the 9 AM closing time, my mother, trying to be considerate of the restaurant staff, poured her remaining coffee into a paper cup, intending for our family of four to clear our dishes and leave. At that moment, an old man, leaning with both hands on the kitchen counter, loudly shouted something unintelligible at us. Our entire family was startled, confused, and didn't understand what he was saying. As foreigners who don't speak Japanese, we couldn't comprehend him. After hearing him repeatedly shout loudly, we guessed we should pour the coffee back into the cup and left. Other guests were present, and this experience was the worst, ruining our family's impression of Japan. Shortly after, we tried to ask the old man about it, but he pretended not to understand English and avoided conversation, retreating into the kitchen. If there's a communication barrier, they should use a friendly translation app or clearly guide guests with actions instead of a kitchen staff member standing like a king with arms outstretched, shouting. Also, it was uncomfortable to have restaurant staff constantly watching how many plates people took, probably because individual dishes were served one by one. It's been a while since our trip ended, but that incident still pops into my mind. My family also talks about it. I hope they don't ruin tourists' enjoyable trips with rigid and inappropriate behavior. We felt disrespected as foreigners. I briefly explained this to the front desk using a translator, and a female staff member repeatedly offered polite apologies. Due to our departure schedule, we couldn't speak with the old man again or receive an apology, which is probably why we won't be returning to Japan."

"Here’s a polished Trip.com-style review you can use: ⸻ We stayed at Dormy Inn Aomori in a twin bed room and had a very pleasant experience. We were assigned a high-floor room on the 12th floor with a beautiful ocean view, which made the stay even more enjoyable. The room was spacious, and the beds were large and very comfortable, ensuring a good night’s sleep. The hotel is well-equipped with excellent hot spring facilities, including both indoor and outdoor baths as well as a sauna — a perfect way to relax after a day of exploring Aomori. Hotel breakfast is delicious and many choices. We also appreciated the practical amenities provided. The laundry machines are free to use, with a 30-minute wash cycle. The dryer costs only 100 yen for 20 minutes, which is very convenient for longer stays. The room also features a large, modern TV, and the hair dryer provided is a premium Refa brand, which was a nice touch. Overall, a very comfortable and convenient stay with great onsen facilities and thoughtful amenities. Would definitely recommend for anyone visiting Aomori."

"We stayed with three adults, junior high school students and elementary school seniors. I was happy to have a large communal bath. It was good that there was a parking lot in front of the hotel and another place across the back and road, so it was stopped even in the evening. It was said that the breakfast venue was under renovation, but it was good to have lunch and tea."

"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."

"Breakfast and dinner are divided into Japanese and Western styles. Dinner is very ceremonial, especially French food. The hotel is very close to the ski resort and Suantang Hot Spring, and there is a shuttle bus. The restaurant has a good view. It is very pleasant to sit in the warm restaurant, drink hot coffee, and look at the snow outside."