Hotels With Gym in Aomori Prefecture, Japan

It's been half a month since I returned from Aomori, and I'm just now getting around to writing this hotel review. This is my second time choosing a 'Daiwa' brand hotel; my previous experience at the Kyoto Station location was so-so, but the Aomori branch was generally quite good. Here are my specific thoughts: **I. Pros** 1. **Convenient Location:** The hotel is situated in the central area near JR Aomori Station. From the station's East Exit, walk straight along the main road where Toyoko Inn is located for about 6-7 minutes, and you'll reach it. Nearby attractions such as the Tourist Museum (the PAM PAM apple pie inside is a bit sweet but has a very crispy crust), Nebuta House, A-Factory, and Hirota Shrine are all within walking distance. 2. **Abundant Dining Options Nearby:** There are many restaurants along the way to the hotel, including Aomori Shokudo, which often has a queue. I tried the scallops when they opened in the afternoon, and they were fresh and delicious. The Aomori Seafood Market, about an 8-minute walk from the hotel, is also highly recommended. Go early in the morning to experience the locals' 'seafood freedom'. 3. **Smooth Check-in Experience:** The hotel lobby is on the second floor, and there's a Lawson convenience store downstairs. Guests can directly access the lobby through the store using their room card. I checked in around noon; although there were self-check-in machines, a staff member proactively assisted with manual check-in. They were enthusiastic and accommodating, fulfilling my request for a higher floor. Disposable toiletries, including facial cleanser, toner, lotion, toothbrush sets, and tea bags, were available for self-service next to the front desk. The toner had a nice texture. 4. **Well-equipped Guest Room:** My room was on the 14th (top) floor. Although small, it was fully functional with an expansive window view. The bathroom was spacious with a wet/dry separation and no steps between it and the bedroom, preventing tripping hazards. The bath amenities felt good, but the conditioner had a slight urea-like scent. 5. **Thorough Cleaning and Service:** I stayed for three consecutive nights. Each day, after I hung out the 'Please clean my room' sign, I returned to a clean and tidy room. The room provided two pillows of different heights, and the bedding had no noticeable disinfectant smell. A complimentary bottle of drinking water was provided daily, a thoughtful touch. 6. **Corridor Signage:** There was a sign in the corridor indicating that guests could activate TV channels. **II. Areas for Improvement** 1. **Small Room Size:** My 28-inch suitcase couldn't be fully opened on the luggage rack without blocking the walkway. 2. **Lack of Hanging Space in Bathroom:** After the wet/dry separation, there was no place to hang clothes. Washed clothes at night had to be hung on the indoor drying rack, and water drops could easily fall onto the carpet. 3. **Central Air Conditioning Limitations:** In April, the central air conditioning only offered heating mode, with no option for cooling. This was a minor inconvenience for guests who wanted ventilation or to cool down. **Overall Rating:** The hotel has a high rating, and my overall experience was good. It's highly recommended. If I visit Aomori again, I would still consider staying here.

Check-in was very smooth. In fact, they allowed us to check in earlier - about 1 to 2 hours earlier, I think. The room was already ready, so they allocated it to us when we arrived. The room itself was rather small but functional and clean, so we don’t really have any complaints other than it being a bit small. I guess this is Japanese standards. The pricing is fairly more expensive than the inns across the road, perhaps because of the location and also because it is very new. The property itself has a very nice onsen. The female onsen had a lot of apples floating in it, which was a very nice touch to showcase Aomori apples. The front desk staff are very nice and very friendly. They also have staff who can speak Chinese. Not that I am Chinese, but I can speak some Chinese better than Japanese, which I can’t speak at all. Nevertheless, the staff could converse in English, or at least some basic English. There’s free yoga and some classes, but we didn’t utilise them as it’s not really useful for tourists who would rather spend time outside the hotel. This seems more suited for locals who want a short getaway, but still a very lovely touch. Breakfast is paid separately and does not come with the room, so there is no comment on that. The property provides Nespresso capsules in the room, and there is also a better Nespresso machine near the check-in counter. I also love that they provide water for free without having to pay extra. The lounge is available for everybody and overlooks the bridge. They provide some free snacks and drinks depending on the timing - different items in the morning and in the evening. That being said, there is no alcohol being served. Also, the coffee there is very bad. I don’t understand why they don’t put the Nespresso machine in the lounge since they have one at the lobby. Overall, everything was quite perfect for this hotel. In fact, the location was the most perfect part. Once you exit the train station, you enter an elevator that goes up to the hotel. Since it was winter, I was afraid I would need to drag my bags for a long time, but it’s right outside the exit after you tap your card and turn left. If I remember correctly, the elevator is right there and there is no need to go outside at all. However, there are only two elevators servicing the entire building, so there might be some waiting time. I would advise leaving earlier if you have a train to catch. The only reason this is not a full-star review is because I requested about a one-hour late checkout due to our train time, and they told us we needed to pay - if I remember correctly, ¥2,000 per hour. I felt they were very rigid about the 11 am checkout time. To be honest, even if they had given it to us, we probably wouldn’t have used it anyway, as we later decided to change our train time to leave Aomori, since there isn’t much to do here. Still, the rejection and inflexibility made us feel very uneasy and unwelcome. I think they could have handled this better by being less rigid and more human. So that’s minus points from us. After all, this is part of hospitality, and it doesn’t hurt.

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.

My favorite home away from home. The staff and hot tubs are my favorite part of this hotel. Just know that EVERY room smells like smoking, so I always have to air it out when I first arrive!!!