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.

Stunning location! Walked into the lobby and was floored by panoramic views of the cape. The hotel isn't modern or new, but it's well-maintained. Stayed in the tatami room and it's extremely spacious. Opt for the dinner buffet as there aren't lots of dining options unless you drive. Breakfast was full of Western and Japanese options. Oiishi!

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!

I chose this hotel because it was a new, conveniently located hotel right by the station. **What I liked:** * The room was clean and spacious. * They offered three different kinds of soup as amenities. * The room wear was a separate top and bottom set. * There was a large public bath. * Welcome drinks and post-bath ice cream were available until 1 AM. * I could check various things on the in-room TV (e.g., public bath crowding, availability and end time of laundry machines). **What was a bit confusing:** * The room's air conditioning control panel (it was a digital display under the TV). * There was no coffee with the amenities (located next to the lobby on the 1st floor), so I had to go to the welcome drink area (on the 2nd floor) to get some. Overall, it was a very comfortable space with attention to detail. I'd like to stay here again.

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 hotel is really convenient and just 7 mins walk from the Morioka station. It’s close to the famous pyon pyon sha restaurant and also a 20mins walk along the shops to the red brick Iwate bank building. Lots to explore with a great base location of the hotel. The soundproofing of the walls were unfortunately a little lacking as there were loud walking and stomping noise from the neighbouring room.

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.

Overall, the room is standard in the typical Japanese hotel style. They provide an ergonomic pillow, but I didn’t like it very much. There was still some dust found around the headboard area. The in-room safe was not working, and no water was provided. However, the location is good—not far from the station. Free sachet creams are available, and the price is reasonable. I would recommend staying here.

The main reason for staying at the Hongyeguan Hotel was its convenient location for cherry blossom viewing in the north. It's only a little over half an hour's drive to the exhibition center. The hotel includes two meals: a buffet breakfast and dinner. After cherry blossom viewing, guests can enjoy various delicacies such as king crab, soak in the hot springs, and there are even ethnic performances in the evening. The cherry blossoms were in full bloom on the day we checked in, and Hongyeguan was surrounded by them – it was beautiful!