4-Star Hotels in Iwate Prefecture, Japan

Our second stop on this East Japan trip was Morioka. The hotel is right across from the station, but I didn't dare cross the road because there was no pedestrian sidewalk. So, I took the underground passage instead. Since it was my first time there, I wasn't familiar with the area and had to carry my suitcase up the stairs. Luckily, there weren't too many steps. I actually didn't have high hopes for this hotel, but it turned out to be surprisingly good! The service was excellent, and it's conveniently connected to a Lawson convenience store; you can enter the hotel directly with your room key. I heard the breakfast was good, so I bought one day's worth to try it out. It was 2600 JPY per person, and breakfast started at 6:15 AM. The Japanese really wake up early – there was already a queue before it even opened! The single room was very spacious, and the soundproofing was excellent. The price was also very reasonable. I'll definitely choose this place again next time I'm in Morioka.

The location is beautiful and the views from the car park assured us we had chosen well. Check in was helpful and all facilities were fully explained at this time, allowing us to book our dining time. The room was comfortable and traditional; the view, amazing! With an afternoon of sunshine, time was taken to enjoy the view in a temperature controlled setting. There was a beautiful tea set and tea provided along with some complementary snacks and water. The toiletries provided were lovely and I shall certainly be looking to purchase these for my home. Dinner was a Chinese style buffet, with an excellent selection of dishes. Barbecues for the table and delicious sashimi and hand prepared sushi. Soups, stews, salad and more! To follow was an assortment of cakes and ice creams. Staff were very helpful and polite and the food was filling and delicious. We then retired to the hotel bar where we were again greeted by a lovely member of staff. Upon return to our room, futons had been prepared and the room made ready for sleep. These were surprisingly comfortable. Breakfast was also delicious with a huge array of dishes to choose from. Check out was simple and staff were helpful and polite. I will definitely be returning! I

The best ski in and ski out and Onsen hotel in Japan so far! We loved the hotel so much in Oct 2025 so we rebooked and came again from Dec 20-24, 2025. 1. Very convenient for ski experience. Ski in and ski out. Ski rental and ski coach school are just besides hotel. Good experience for rentals and coaches hiring. 2. Breakfast and dinner buffets are great and so yummy! The food does change every night to give you diversified variation to choose from. Very delicate food preparations by great chefs so don’t worry you will never get bored. 3. Onsen is also great great great! Great view and women and men get alternate the hot spring pool everyday. 4. First floor relaxing area is great great! You have self service bar of juice / soda / coffee and popsicles. 5. The hotel staffs are so nice and make you feel at home. Motoyo-San is extremely friendly and her English is so fluent!!! We were very lucky to have her help out during our stay. 6. 3rd floor is newly renovated so pls try this beautiful room next time! Highly recommend!!!! Great for family and couple trips!

The breakfast quality is very high, I especially loved the Platinum pork. The wooden style of the rooms is new and beautiful. It's an 8-minute walk from the station, which is very convenient. The public bath is a bit small, but still a decent option. It would be even better if the elevator was larger and the front desk staff were more efficient. Overall, it's a good choice.

The facilities at Abhi Hotel are excellent, with a microwave, vending machines, an ice maker, and a washing machine – all very convenient. The food and the staff's service attitude are also great, especially the Chinese-speaking intern who was incredibly friendly and kind, helping us with all our questions. Thank you for your help!

The location is excellent, just one block away from the station, and there's a convenience store downstairs. The facilities are new and complete. The only thing that needs improvement is the washer/dryer; I'm not sure if it was because there were too many clothes, but it took a very long time to dry them. The breakfast was superb, with a wide variety of options, many local products, and especially a great selection of toppings for yogurt.

Conveniently located beside JR Morioka station and Iwate Galaxy Railway (IGR) Line with the bus terminus across the road in front of the hotel and also housed within the same building as the FESAN Shopping Mall. Room was spacious and the breakfast (buffet style) in the hotel’s Chinese restaurant was good. City sightseeing bus stops at 5pm so I opted to walk to Morioka Castle/Park which took about 20mins to reach.

1. Hotel Location The hotel is located in a relatively remote area of ​​Tsunaki Onsen. Access involves a slope and a road. Buses are infrequent, making it difficult for those without a car to reach the area. A taxi from Morioka Station costs a fixed 5,000 yen fare to the hot springs, and the journey takes over 20 minutes. 2. Neighborhood Amenities The hotel is located in a relatively remote area of ​​the hot springs. The nearest convenience store is over a 15-minute walk away. There are few other shops nearby. Once you enter the hotel, you're confined to the hotel. Even if you want to walk to the nearby river, the walk is over ten minutes. It's recommended to stock up on daily necessities, such as snacks, in the city before heading to the hotel. 3. Hotel Facilities This hotel is a very traditional hot spring inn. The building has three floors and approximately 21 rooms. The baths are separate for men and women, one indoor and one outdoor. However, the outdoor open-air bath is too close to the grass, making it prone to mosquitoes at night. The indoor bath is spacious, and since there are not many guests, you can enjoy it alone. The room facilities are a bit dated. The Wi-Fi speed is adequate, but the TV cannot connect to a tablet or YouTube. The room window overlooks the landscaped grounds next to the lobby. If you enjoy traditional Japanese inns, you will enjoy the facilities at this hotel. 4. Hotel Staff The hotel staff are very friendly and proactive in offering assistance. However, one area I think could be improved is that the dinner and breakfast service was a bit too fast.

The hotel's location is excellent, just a 3-minute walk to Kaiun Bridge. Parking is mechanical and costs 1100 JPY per day. The in-room toiletries are from DHC, which is a nice touch! What truly stands out, however, is the hotel's breakfast on the top floor. The view is absolutely stunning, with clear sights of Mount Iwate. The restaurant staff are incredibly energetic and friendly – they truly deserve praise! The cleaning staff were also very polite.

The Aoba-kan was a wonderful surprise on this trip, as it wasn't originally part of my itinerary. I'd added it because I thought it would be too far to travel from Sendai to Oirase Stream and Lake Towada all at once. As we traveled from Sendai, the snow got progressively deeper. As a 'southern sweet potato' (a playful term for someone from the south, unaccustomed to snow), I was incredibly excited to see such thick snow for the first time. The hotel room was a traditional tatami-style, and it was very spacious. An auntie offered to help me lay out the futon, but I felt a bit shy and declined. Later, I realized I had no idea how to make a tatami bed and even had to look up instructions on Xiaohongshu! That's my futon in the picture above; it's so interesting how their duvet covers are completely different from ours. The hotel itself is quite large, featuring a rose garden, various areas to explore, and even a shrine that's great for photos. While shopping at the hotel's drugstore, I spoke in Chinese to the clerk and complimented him on his excellent Chinese. He looked at me and said, 'I *am* Chinese.' He was the only Chinese staff member I encountered during my entire trip. Later that evening, when I was about to go for dinner, I found that the hotel's buffet was almost finished. I asked a staff member where I could find food, and they directed me to a small, cozy bar upstairs. The food there was surprisingly good and not expensive. Overall, the service at Aoba-kan was exceptional. The hotel hosts a lot of ********* guests, so many of the staff speak excellent Chinese. The evening performance was also very entertaining. The hotel has several different hot springs, and the outdoor private onsen was particularly interesting because you could see the snow.