Hoshino Resorts Aomoriya

This was my favorite hotel in Japan! The outdoor onsen was absolutely beautiful, with floating lanterns gently swaying on the water, perfectly complementing the moonlight. There were so many Japanese grandmas and their friends enjoying a getaway together. I hope when I'm old, I can also vacation with my besties like that!

Second time at Aomoriya, and I love it! The hot springs are especially amazing! And the back garden is even more stunning, so beautiful! It's a place you'll want to come back to again and again. The transportation is convenient, and every staff member is incredibly nice.

I absolutely love Japanese onsen hotels. Imagine, after a long day of traveling, you can just soak in a hot bath all evening – pure bliss! (╹◡╹) Overall, Hoshino Resorts is very conveniently located. It's just a 10-minute walk from the nearest JR Misawa Station, or you can easily book the hotel's shuttle bus. For dining, you can book the buffet in advance through their official website, which is convenient and hassle-free. The variety of dishes is also quite extensive. Regarding activities, the hotel has a fairly concentrated game area. Some activities are free, while others have a fee. You can check the details and plan ahead on their official website.

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.

The rooms are quite spacious, and the hotel offers plenty of facilities and activities, so it's worth setting aside extra time to enjoy them. It's suitable for both seniors and children. The buffet doesn't have a huge variety, but the quality and taste are pretty good. During busy times, waiting for the elevator can take a while. Also, some hotel services weren't communicated to us; we only found out about them by observing other Japanese guests and then asking at the front desk.

The rooms are quite old, but the dining and the park that comes with it are beautiful. I highly recommend the foot bath in the park and the hot springs at the hotel; the views are incredible and definitely worth the price. The rooms themselves are just average, like a 3 or 4-star hotel, and there were even cobwebs in the bathroom. Given that it's also inconvenient to get to, requiring both a bullet train and a local train, it's generally not worth traveling all this way just for it.