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!

This hotel boasts an excellent location right in front of Morioka Station, and I found it incredibly convenient throughout my stay with plenty of convenience stores, restaurants, and cafes nearby. The front desk is on the first floor, and the breakfast restaurant is on the second. The breakfast is good for a quick meal. There were some Chinese tour groups staying at the hotel. Compared to a typical business hotel, the room was a bit more spacious and comfortable. The bed had just the right amount of firmness, the new TV and Hitachi air conditioner worked perfectly, and the water pressure in the TOTO bathroom shower was also very satisfying. I was worried about congestion with only two elevators, but they were fast, so the wait time wasn't long. However, since it hasn't been open for long, the staff's service was a bit unpolished, and the cleaning in some corners left a little to be desired. Nevertheless, thanks to the excellent location and superb room condition, I was generally very satisfied with my stay.

We had a pleasant stay in general. However, room ceaning service needs to be improved. Our group of people have a few bad experiences. 1) after returning to room after the day, there was a used mask left in the bathroom. There’s also a day without providing onsen towels and we had to bring over the mid size ones 2) the door of my friend’s room remained open after the cleaning service (a 3M sticker with なすし2 sticked on wall). Glad there’s no missing items 3) another room, there was blood and urine stint left on the toilet cover! I hope the hotel can take it seriously as it indeed ruins the brand of IHG and bad customer experience.

The room was great although a bit small for anyone carrying a luggage bigger than 24 inches. You need to grab your amenities in the lobby. The room was very clean and the walk-in shower was much more convenient than a tub. The internet was amazingly fast. The breakfast was absolutely the most enjoyable part of the stay. You have different options including some local ones. The view of the seats are fascinating. You never get tired of just sitting there and enjoying a cup of morning coffee.

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!