Hoshino Resorts KAI Tsugaru

We had a great stay at Kai Tsugaru. The onsen was great and we loved the decoration as well as the little handcraft experience at the hotel. I would like to express my appreciation to the staff who took care of us during our stay, and helped us with taxi booking. Especially the staff at the restaurant who noted down our drink preference and brought it up at the second dinner we had. It was very impressive.

I had the pleasure of visiting this Hoshino ryokan during the Winter of 2022, and my overall experience was truly delightful. Despite facing delays due to fire incidents at nearby JR stations, the staff went above and beyond to keep me informed via email. Although there were some inconveniences and waiting times, they arranged a minivan to transport me from the JR station to the ryokan late into the night. The hospitality I received was exceptional; all the staff were welcoming and professional. Upon my arrival, they promptly helped organize my dinner, which was incredibly thoughtful due delay of the fire incidents. The food was not only fresh and delicious, but also served in generous portions. My room was spacious and beautifully designed, enhancing the overall ambiance of my stay. I particularly enjoyed the shamisen performance after dinner, which added a cultural touch to the experience. The onsen, though a bit small, was charming, with floating apples adding a unique flair, and the outdoor view featured a stunning blanket of fresh snow. Overall, while it is on the pricier side, the quality of service and experience makes it well worth it.

I have mixed feelings about this hotel. We chose Hoshino because we wanted to enjoy a top class hotel. Undeniably the service is top level. All staffs are very welcoming and professional. The room is also spacious with excellent interior design. We enjoyed the activities such as shamisen and making bookmarks. The dinner is nicely designed with fine dining level, and the handmade bowls are particularly beautiful. However, the reason I rated 3 stars is based on the fact that: 1. There were cockroach and spider in the room. 2. The public bath isn’t as described as the pictures on the website. If you use the interior bath, the window has blurred film and there was absolutely no view can be seen. The outdoor bath doesn’t have floating apples. 3. With an expensive price that’s paid, you still have to pay extra for a lot of things, including non-alcohol drinks in the minibar and during dinner. It could just be my expectation for at least a free welcome drink, based on my past experience with other high end hotels. 4. During dinner, there was a tourist group in the main dining area, and the foreign tour guide was quite loud to explain the food or maybe itinerary to their group. I feel disturbed and not comfortable with fine dining in a noisy environment. Overall, I don’t think the stay is worth the money and would not stay with Hoshino again.