4-Star Hotels in Aomori Prefecture, Japan

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.

The hotel staff were incredibly friendly. The Hakkoda Ropeway was canceled, and we were planning to take a public bus to Sukayu Onsen ourselves. When the staff learned of our plans, they proactively arranged a shuttle bus for us. We also found out about a snow hiking tour at Sukayu Onsen on Xiaohongshu and decided last minute to join it. A special thanks to the front desk attendant, OMA SAN, who helped us communicate with the hiking tour guide, allowing us to successfully join the tour and avoid any regrets on this trip.

We were two people. The room we stayed at was not big. If you have two suitcases it will be hard to open up both of them at the same time. We didn’t have suitcases, and therefore the space was not a problem for us. The staff were very friendly, polite and helpful. I lost my gloves at a bus, and they helped me to get them back. You also got apple juice as a welcome drink at the front desk (very nice apple juice!). We used baggage storage after checking out, which was no problem. The room was very clean. When we were there they had an eco plan, which was that the room got cleaned only once at our 4 night stay, but could get towels whenever we wanted. We though it was good from the environment perspective (but we decided to not have any cleaning at all). Overall I though our stay at this hotel was very good.

Consistent with the Daiwa chain's usual style, the service is meticulous. If you need cleaning, you have to put the 'please clean' sign on the door before 10 AM, and cleaning is mandatory every three days. The sea view from the window is spectacular and charming.

The room was spacious and comfortable. Even though it was a smoking room, the smell was still bearable, and I could open the window a little. There was a water dispenser by the elevator. The parking is a mechanical system and costs 1000 yen per day. The hotel front desk is on the fifth floor, and the cheese bread from the bakery on the first floor is really good. This hotel didn't offer a late-night snack, and there was no apple juice available, which some reviews mentioned.

Service was good. There was a staff who is stationed at the entrance, checking with guest who arrived by car. They will ask for your name, provided clear instructions of where to park. Unfortunately, I have accidentally left the lights in the car switched on. A few moments later when I was doing my check-in, the front desk staff quickly informed me about it. The facilities are good. Food is really good, very different from the other Hoshino resorts in Aomori that I have stayed. At KAI Tsugaru, it is Kaiseki instead of the usual buffet style. The staff took pains to explain and share the reason for each dish that was served. There are only 41 traditionally-furnished and generously-sized rooms offering both Western and Japanese-style designs which gives a very unique and dedicated experience as compared to other hotels which has many rooms.

It feels like the hotel isn't interested in pleasing guests; they're clearly cutting corners everywhere. The room is old and dated. The double bed was tiny, only 1.3 meters wide, and the mattress was terrible – saggy, unsupportive, and hard. The duvet was also a bit thin. Even the bathroom amenities felt budget-friendly. And the tissues on the desk ran out after just a few pulls? Honestly, it's pretty speechless... The only plus was the breakfast staff, who were very proactive and enthusiastic, and the breakfast selection was quite varied.

The location is fantastic, right by the JR station. This was incredibly convenient given the heavy snow in Hirosaki, as I didn't have to drag my luggage far. The hotel was clean and tidy, and the front desk service was excellent. It's also very close to Hirosaki Castle, within walking distance or you can catch a bus right outside. There's even a direct bus to Morioka from the front of the hotel, which I'd consider for my next trip – super convenient without having to take the Shinkansen!

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.

The hotel was great and the view is unbeatable. The ”bath with a view” is incredible and relaxing. It's a bit further out of the already very small town than other locations, so you're going to be in for a 10 ish minute walk to anywhere except the beach. The hotel staff does not speak much English, but were very helpful all the same. The WiFi didn't really reach all the way to my room. Overall, great stay!