34 Best Hotels in Tohoku, Japan

Akita Castle Hotel has bright and airy rooms overlooking the moats of Senshu Park, with those on the fifth or sixth floor offering the better views, as do the window seats at the Japanese restaurant for breakfast. Upon entering the lobby you are greeted by a Picasso painting. Azaleas are in full bloom in the park in May and June. For a big splurge, request the Room Imperial where the imperial family stays.

The largest hotel in town, formerly the Akita View but now a member of the Crowne Plaza group, sits beside the Seibu Department Store right in the thick of all the shops that line the arcade extending out from the station, with many eateries located nearby. The hotel's facilities include a gym and sauna (for an extra ¥500), as well as several different dining options. A three-minute walk east will take you to JR Akita Station, and a seven-minute walk takes you to the edge of the entertainment district.

One of the most pleasant modern lodgings in Hirosaki, the Art Hotel Hirosaki is next to the JR Hirosaki Station. Many of the double rooms are small but smartly furnished, so they don't feel as cramped.

This spartan lodge connected to Dewa-Sanzan Jinja by a long stairway allows you to enjoy the shrine and scenery at the summit after most tourists have gone home. Early birds should join priests at the main shrine for morning prayers—a great way to start the day. The cedar-lined approach is more than majestic, but inside, this shukubo, or monk's lodging, is spartan. The large tatami-mat rooms can be separated by fusuma (sliding paper doors) to create smaller rooms. Two vegetarian meals are served daily. (If you are not vegetarian, ask for fish.) The signature dish, tasty sesame tofu, is thicker, richer, and creamier than regular tofu. Ask the lodge to have your bags carried up to your room if you plan to climb Mt. Haguro. Or you can check in first, as the lodge is a bit down from the summit. If you are taking the bus, take it to the final stop.

The main reason to stay here is to have the opportunity to steep in the venerable Namari Onsen, which has a high ceiling and a round shape that resembles nothing so much as a giant inkwell. The water in the hot spring, however, is clear and mild, offering primarily mixed-sex bathing with a few hours reserved solely for women. The dark wooden house made of Japanese zelkova trees has red-carpeted corridors that squeak pleasantly as people pass by. Although the rooms in the main building have no private toilet, many find them nicer and more rustic (in a good way) than those in the newer concrete annex; the corner rooms overlooking a waterfall are particularly roomy and tastefully furnished. You can also use their bath for ¥700 per person without staying, but keep in mind that it's not the easiest area to reach.

Modern luxury permeates Fujiya Ryokan, which has the ambiance of an art gallery. Designed by architect Kuma Kengo, the sleek guest rooms are equipped with state-of-art amenities, and there are five hot spring baths. The five exquisite hot-spring pools made from different natural materials such as granite, bamboo, and Japanese cypress provide total relaxation, and each is available to all guests for private use. Because the inn does not have dining facilities, you'll receive two substantial yet sublime Japanese meals served in your room.

Once a ryokan, this resort hotel combines the best of both worlds: there are great mountain views, two meals are served each day, and yukata robes are provided (and you are encouraged to walk around in them). The magnificent lobby is dominated by a soaring chimney decorated by Okamoto Taro, and enormous plate-glass windows overlook a beautiful natural setting. Both Japanese- and Western-style rooms are available. There's a relaxing onsen, dinner offering a choice of Japanese, Chinese, and Italian food, and a Western-style breakfast. Free shuttle buses take you from Hachinohe Station, Shin-Aomori Station, and Aomori Airport. In addition to outdoor activities, they also run things like open-air bus tours. If you go in winter, take advantage of the tours to see frozen waterfalls.

Everything is large here: an enormous lobby, large public areas, roomy restaurants, spacious but tame rooms. Because many wedding parties are held here on weekends, the hotel tends to be crowded with lots of families and kids. The top floor of the 17-story hotel houses a French restaurant and a bar, and the view beats even that of the 13th-floor observatory of ASPAM.

This low-rise hotel next to the train station has Western-style standard twin rooms with private baths; larger deluxe twins with sofas are worth the extra ¥2,000 or so per night. A simple buffet breakfast is included. An attached restaurant is on the first floor.

This nine-story art deco–style hotel curves around a corner just up from the ASPAM building as if it belonged in a periodically snowbound Miami Beach. The lobby is open and bright and has an adjacent restaurant. A prime location makes shopping and exploring the city center easier, and because it's close to the harbor, you can easily walk along the waterfront in the morning. The rooms are spacious, some have sea views and some accommodate wheelchairs.

Adjacent to the JR Akita Station and ALS shopping mall, this hotel's location makes it a perfect choice for shopping and exploring the sights. Rooms are adequate, decorated with wood accents; some deluxe rooms include locally produced crafts and ornaments. Guests can also use a beautiful lounge filled with photography books and local crafts. 

Tastefully furnished, spacious rooms and English-speaking staff make this hotel—run by the same group as the Hotel Metropolitan Morioka (original branch)—a safe choice for visitors to Morioka. The hotel is conveniently close to Morioka Station. The presence of a large wedding altar right in the middle of the coffee lounge in the lobby gives it a rather unusual atmosphere.

This upscale hotel adjacent to the railway station is a great value, with spacious, tastefully furnished rooms. Ask for a room on the 14th floor or higher (these have been more recently renovated). The restaurant and café on the second floor are bright and airy, with a fabulous glass-front view for people-watching.

Yamagata's most centrally located upscale hotel caters to many busy corporate travelers from Tokyo and other big cities. There are two connected wings, but breakfast is served in the main building. The lounge and rooms are spacious, the staff are breezily efficient, and decor is snappy and stylish. Upper-floor rooms have views you won't want to turn away from.

The biggest advantage to this hotel is its location, a block and a half from Hirosaki Castle. Ask for a room on the seventh or eighth floor for their more modern decor and views. If the weather is cooperative, get some fresh brioche from the bakery and take a stroll to Hirosaki Park.

The old and new are elegantly juxtaposed in this upscale ryokan, where a century-old four-story wooden building stands next to a newly built luxury lodging. Museum-quality art of the Edo period (1603–1868) is exhibited in public areas. Each room is unique and all have state-of-art amenities like heated towel racks and Nikko china and many have beds instead of futons. You'll enjoy fine dining in the evenings accompanied by music in the well-restored original building. The 600-year-old onsen here was used by none other than Date Masamune himself; the beautiful natural surroundings attract many honeymooners and couples. Call to arrange free pick-up from either Shiroishi-Zao Station on the Tohoku Shinkansen line or from Shiroishi Station on the Tohoku main line.

Along the Hirose River, this large ryokan has rooms that peer out over the stream and mountains. A sumptuous lobby has abundant sofas, an enormous banquet hall offers breakfast with a large selection of Japanese and Western items. The ryokan boasts a 20-meter pool, table tennis, and a children's play area. Nevertheless, the reason to stay here is the original rotenburo—or open-air bath. Although the rotenburo generally offers mixed-sex bathing, some hours are reserved for women only. Five different springs fill the four rocky baths, and you can see the warm water bubbling up from the bottom of the river while you are soaking. Request a room with beds if you are not interested in sleeping on futons. Some rooms even have private baths with views.

One of seven rustic ryokan in the Nyuto area, this one is the coziest, but no rooms have a private bath, though several categories (including the Western-style rooms) have private toilets in the room. The water in the onsen is milky white and cool enough that even babies can bathe in it. In addition to three outdoor and five indoor pools, there's a waterfall to massage—rather strongly—your stiff shoulders. The accommodations are all basic tatami rooms, and the two meals are typical Japanese fare. Don't miss tasty, half-cooked onsen eggs at breakfast. Families often rent the remote cottage that has a fully equipped kitchen, dining area, and living room. Best of all, the staff here are genuinely friendly and helpful.

Smiling staff welcome you to this charming small inn that adjoins the town baths. Join the locals for an evening dip before heading back to your room, which is decorated in Japanese folk-art style. Located on a quiet street, you are nevertheless just a few minutes' walk from the main sights. The optional Japanese breakfast is well worth the cost.

This large old-fashioned hotel sits on the island-studded bay near tourist attractions such as Zuigan-ji. The communal, open-air onsen has perhaps the best view of all if you do not mind the tour buses parking in front. Many rooms are lavish, some have private rotenburo baths on their balconies, and each room has a slightly different view, but all facing the sea. You can also reserve a family onsen room if you are shy about the shared baths. There is also a very small pool. 

This posh resort hotel has a gorgeous garden that stays illuminated at night. All the large, bright rooms overlook the bay, as do the delightfully relaxing tea room and the public hot spring baths on the top floor. The hotel affords gorgeous panoramic views of the bay. Affluent travelers may enjoy this splurge, but it's also a favorite among locals celebrating anniversaries. The Kyohei Fujita Museum of Glass, within the hotel complex, contains many opulent pieces by an artist inspired by the area. There are shops in the hotel and bicycles for rent at the hotel, but the route to all the sights might be a bit busy. Confirm the times of shuttle buses to and from both Matsushima and Matsushimakaigan Stations when you make your reservations. They will also arrange pickup at other times if you call.

This pleasingly secluded hotel sits near the top of a wooded hill, with a breezy view over the rolling green hills that surround the city. An elegant lounge and a French-Japanese restaurant have equally splendid views of downtown, as do the Western-style guest rooms. All the large rooms have relaxing color schemes and minimal furnishings. Public areas have lots of marble and massive, shiny columns. The staff are extremely polite and attentive (guests often include celebrities, politicians, and the imperial family). The hotel also often hosts celebratory events like weddings.

A central location on a busy corner with bus connections and comfortably furnished rooms make this moderately priced hotel a good choice in Aomori. After going to the front desk, the staff will help you with an automated check-in system that can speed things up, or at least remove any language barrier. The lobby is located on the 5th of 13th floors, and some east-side rooms overlook Mt. Hakkoda. The rooms are bright and modern.

Two minutes from JR Yamagata Station, this sleek 12-story hotel offers reasonable rates and comfortable rooms with many amenities: bath salts, skin-care products, and special packages for kids. The breakfast offers local dishes including cold ramen and imoni, a potato hot pot. There is also a cultural arts center (Yamagin Kenmin Hall) across the street that might have interesting performances or events going on.

This simple, well-kept hotel's location makes it a good base for visiting Dewa Sanzan or exploring other cities in Yamagata Prefecture. The hotel offers modern rooms done up in shades of cream and chocolate. A brisk three-minute walk takes you to the S-Mall shopping center, where you can find coffee or snacks and catch a bus to Mt. Haguro.

This friendly and cozy Japanese inn attracts budget-minded travelers, and it is a lot like visiting someone's grandmother's house. There's a small dining area where optional Japanese and Western breakfasts and Japanese dinners are served. Locals often gather in the restaurant for drinks or dinner. The clean and comfortable rooms are traditional in style, with no private baths but a range of bedding options, from futons to beds.

A half-hour bus ride from JR Morioka Station takes you to this quiet hot-spring town and upscale (and expensive), traditional ryokan, which serves two meals a day in your tatami room. High walls around the premises prevent you from seeing some picturesque mountain views, but rooms peer out on a Japanese garden where goldfish swim in a pond. Some rooms have a private outdoor bath.

The sounds of nature will lull you to sleep at this hot-spring inn set among the rice paddies outside Hiraizumi. Dinner—included in the price and featuring local dishes such as handmade soba noodles as well as sashimi, grilled vegetables, and other traditional cuisine—is served in your room, and the food just keeps on coming. The inn can also accommodate those in wheelchairs, which is not the norm for most small inns. This could be a nice, relaxing change for someone looking to experience the countryside. Soba-making, cloth-dyeing, and other events also happen depending on the season, so ask what is going on when you make your reservations. If you wake up early,  join the staff in the vegetable patch and pick the ingredients for breakfast, also included. The location is quite remote, but the staff will take you to the station or to Chuson-ji Temple. They will even take you to Hiraizumi Station, wait for you to put your luggage in a locker, and then drop you off at the temple, so you can enjoy your time there. 

Ask in advance for a pickup if you're arriving by train.

This plush, sedate ryokan sits quietly on the edge of a peninsula called Oku-Matsushima. Stay here if you intend on just relaxing, enjoying nature, and the onsen as it is not easily accessible from other sights in Matsushima. Many regulars stay several nights because of its sublime dinners, perfect privacy, and breathtaking views. If you come in winter, take advantage of the package deals. The snowcapped pine trees add to the serenity.

This budget hotel chain has a welcome bar where you can make your own drinks until 8 pm, but you might not want to spend too much time in the small but functional rooms. Business travelers dominate on weekdays, but families fill the place on weekends. Many different kinds of pillows and a range of amenities are available at reception. Complimentary breakfast includes simple Western fare such as breads, eggs, sausages, and salads. The doors to the hotel lock at midnight, so you'll have to use the code to get into your room as the rooms have no keys. The code comes on a small receipt-sized sheet of paper, so snap a photo of that so you don't lose it.