A trip to Oirase Gorge wouldn’t feel complete without staying at least one night at the Hoshino Resorts Oirase Keiryu Hotel. It’s the only accommodation located along the Oirase stream – perfect for fully immersing yourself in Oirase’s natural beauty. Nestled within the gorge, you can experience the lush forests and the gentle rush of the Oirase stream right at its doorsteps. It certainly makes for a great anniversary stay!
The hotel is part of an award-winning and very well-known luxury hot spring and resort ryokan brand in Japan. You can tell from the above photo of its grand lobby to get a sense of how lux this establishment is. Rooms at this hotel are designed to blend beautifully with the surrounding nature. Large windows overlook the mountain stream. Some premium rooms even have private balconies with an outdoor bath where you can relax and listen to the water flowing by. Alas, I can only dream…
Our stay
We stayed in the Superior Room, a spacious 44㎡ room (huge by Japan’s standards) with twin beds, a bathroom and a sofa where we could sit and enjoy the gorgeous mountain view. Here’s a view of the room we stayed at.
We booked the dinner and breakfast package and it did not disappoint. The buffet-style dining at the Aomori Ringo Kitchen featured some of Aomori’s finest produce – fresh seafood, seasonal vegetables, and hearty northern dishes. And of course, the hotel’s big onsen was such a luxury!
Getting there (and out)
We took the resort’s shuttle bus from JR Hachinohe station. The hotel offers direct shuttles only from JR Hachinohe Station or Aomori Station (or its sister property, Aomoriya).
Important: Shuttle reservations are required, and they do fill up — so be sure to book early! I’d advise you to book early. Check here for the various options and timings.
The resort shuttle for the return journey typically leaves in the morning (around 10–11am), which limits your time for exploring Oirase Gorge if you’re only staying one night.
Our suggestion:
- Take the shuttle in.
- Skip the shuttle out — instead, hop on a JR bus back to JR Hachinohe Station (approx. 1hr 45min). You can check the schedule here.
- Take note of the timing for the last bus so you don’t miss it. Also, some stops are not in operation during the late autumn or winter season.
- Alternatively, you can manage your own time and pace if you’re renting a car.
Here’s a sneak preview of what you get to experience at Hoshino Resorts Oirase Keiryu Hotel.
Suggested itinerary
Here’s a simple plan if you’re staying one night:
Day 1
- Arrive by shuttle and check-in.
- Go for a short walk to explore the nearby surroundings (ideally before sunset at ~4pm in autumn).
- Soak in the onsen with hot spring waters from Mt Hakkoda. Try the outdoor bath for a magical experience under the crisp mountain air.
- Enjoy the scrumptious dinner at Aomori Ringo Kitchen — definitely worth booking in advance!
- Explore the resort’s charming interiors and cosy atmosphere.
Day 2
- Wake up early and head out to explore more of Oirase Gorge.
- Not keen on walking? You can book a seat on the open-top sightseeing bus (3,850yen/pax). It runs round-trips to Lake Towada, with two daily departures — but only operates between May to early November (we missed it, unfortunately).
- If you are staying for more than a night, consider signing up for other activities like moss ball making workshop, Oirase Lamp making workshop, guided walks (in Japanese) and afternoon tea by the river.
You really can’t go too far wrong with Hoshino Resorts and Oirase Gorge. For us, it was a great way to celebrate our anniversary and a memorable time spent. Will you give this a try?
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(P.S. Here’s the resort’s video clip of the open-top bus ride — a great way to get a preview!)