Name: Towadako Lakeside Hotel
Address: 486 Yasumiya, Towadako Lake Side, Towada 018-5501, Aomori, Towada, Towada, Towada, 018-5501, Japan
Rating: 7

Aomori Airport

Misawa Airport

Odate Noshiro Airport

Towadako Lakeside Hotel

We were there during early winter so the entire town looks like a movie set in resident evil (with no residents) which made this hotel stands out even more! The room is a typical ryokan style. For first timer, they actually help you to lay your futon out while you have dinner so don't be taken by surprise that the interior of the room changed after dinner! The most amazing part of this hotel would be the onsen. They have 2 styles of onsen so make sure to try out at least once a day as they exchange the male and female side daily (make sure you are on the right side of door as well). We enjoyed the outdoor onsen very much as it was snowing in the morning so it felt really magical, soaking in onsen while watching the snow! The heater in the room was really drying as we were able to wash all our clothes and dry it on the same night so be sure to turn it off before going to bed.

We stayed here at the start of April and only just managed to get over the pass from Aomori due to snow. Most of the rest of the town was still closed for winter and the hotel had a very "Shining" feel to it.

Staff were very friendly and helpful, although as everywhere in Japan no English is spoken, we had no issues in communicating with staff.

We ate at a small restaurant on the ground floor with 5 menu options. The food was great value (600yen for Udon or curry) and very tasty.

The springs (Onsen) are small but very relaxing.

No breakfast was available so bear this in mind and we found a small coffee shop open near to the place the sight seeing boats leave.

It felt as if the hotel is far more geared to large groups and coach tours, but we did feel welcome and would recommend the hotel.

The only problem was that the pillows were like large bean bags. I found them too uncomfortable to sleep on, but the rest of the family were fine with them.

The autumn foliage change season is the peak season to visit Lake Towada. It offers fishing and sampling tasty lake salmon Kokanee; relaxing in Yasumiya town's onsens and hiking around national park. Hotel Towadaso is at a very convenient location where dense forests surround the property and is an easy walk to the scenic lakefront of double caldera lake. Visitors can enjoy beauty of the vibrant colored forest trees and their reflections onto the shimmering blue water surface. Hotel is also a short walk to and from JR East Bus Yasumiya terminal which serving the entire 14 km of Oirase Gorge scenic routes then split journey route at Yakiyama like a Y; then onward to JR Hachinohe or JR Shin-Aomori/ Aomori. 

Hotel Towadaso is a large tourist ryokan with Japanese room settings, large indoor onsen and forest views of outdoor onsen, entertainment center, restaurants, vending machines, lounges and souvenir shop. Guests can choose with or without breakfast, or half-board options. Hotel also provides guests with free shuttles to and from Hachinohe JR Station West Exit. We enjoyed one night stay in its quiet setting, good choices of indoor/outdoor onsens and leisure walks to the lakefront and lake shore promenade. The only drawback is Towadaso is not totally smoke-free. For the non-smokers like us can still be bothered by the odors from the cigarette smoking. Non-English speaking service staff is also a challenge for the westerners.

Tired furnishings. Large tatami room, complete with sofa and coffee table on the veranda. They will fix your futon when you go for dinner. You need to book your time slot for the dinner you prepaid.  Note. Not many options for dinner outside the hotel. Many items for dinner.  Lady brings you everything and shows you how to eat. Generally, the dinner is a pass as most of the items need acquired taste!

Provides yogatta for public onsen in your room.  You get changed before you go.

The layout of the room: own separate bathroom with little stool for a shower before bath ( a sitting type bath, not very long). No conditioner. Separate vanity with sink outside the bathroom. Separate toilet with slippers.

Electric kettle.   Green tea powder only. Traditional teacup. Glasses for wine and alcohol. Toothbrush w toothpaste. A very small LCD TV which turns itself on at around 6:30am. Breakfast: 6:45 till 9am.Standard Japanese set: rice, soup, 2 pieces sweet chicken, pumpkin, cold veggie salad, condiments, egg(sweet), mushroom, tofu fish ball etc. There are tiny pieces of bread of different variety plus butter no toast, coffee w milk, orange juice. Check out at 10am.  Very large complex. Very hard pillow. Thin walls. Quiet & dark after you turn off the light. Wifi no need for password but not fast.

I thought maybe three stars for this hotel but on reflection gave it an extra one for its epic scale. This place is huge with hundreds of rooms, more wings than a dragonfly, a very large souvenir shop, an indoor waterfall that covers three floors in height, onsens with Doric columns, numerous restaurants and more. It is definitely what I term 'shabby chic' which is common in Japan in rural hotels (its heydey was sometime between the 60's and the 80's) but it has an indefinable charm. Pluses: you are unlikely to ever stay anywhere like it again so take the chance now, service is with the standard Japanese courtesy and efficiency, rooms are large and comfortable and very clean, Onsens are relaxing, particularly the smaller outside baths (if you beat the tour bus hordes). Minuses: we had prepaid dinners and opted for 7:30pm but found that the meals which included a lot of raw and cold seafood had been put out unrefrigerated for an unknown but probably long period (eat earlier, say 6:00pm as is usual in Japan); our room was adjacent to and above the bus parking area and at one stage there were 13 tour buses outside our windows loading in the morning and unloading in the evening (if you can speak Japanese ask to avoid this), breakfasts were served like a hospital meal (but were more tasty). In summary I have stayed in many better places but I couldn't tell you where they all were but I will always remember the Hotel Towadaso fondly.

This hotel is very close to the lake towada that offers a nice strolling or Jogging area. What the hotel lacks in most amenities more than made up with scenic views. The Onsen is good with both outdoor and indoor available. A long walk though if you are booked on the west side. The rooms are large also enough to lay flat our 2 luggage.

Towada

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Grand Hotel with nice Onsen!

Hot springs hotel in a quiet town. Great value for money.

Nice indoor and outdoor onsens and a short walk to the lakefront of Towadako

Great Value for a Japanese experience

Hotel on an epic scale

Nice expansive hotel 

The hotel is a bit dated especially at the onsen; food quality not impressive.  Yet, considering it as a 2 meals included onsen hotel, price offered is pretty attractive.  If you come to Towada Lake in Winter time without a car, Hotel Towadako will be a good choice.  City bus runs between Hachinohe and Towada Lake stops 10 mins away.  Another JR tourist bus run between Hanchinohe station and Towada Lake stops right in front of the hotel.  In addition, this tourist bus runs along the Oirase scenic road and will stop at 3 main attractions for few minutes allowing the passengers come out to enjoy the view.  The 3rd option to take the hotel free shuttle running between Hachinohe station; which can drop you (or pick up) at the Towada Art Center or Oirase Keiryu Hotel on request.

Towadako Lakeside Hotel

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