Cottage Hotel Chocolat

The room had cups as its only tableware, and the curtains were flimsy and see-through. The mirror faced the bed directly. Furniture and amenities felt ancient, and the roomwear was worn through in places. There’s karaoke, too. The soundproofing is practically nonexistent, so if one cottage is using it, everyone else will hear it clearly. Luckily, nobody sang the night we stayed. The stairs were heavily waxed and very slippery for a dog, with no safety gates on either the first or second floor. They charged 2,500 yen for our pet, and all we got was a bucket and a towel, no bowl or pee pads. This was the worst “pet-friendly” accommodation I’ve ever seen. I don’t think management has ever had a dog or stayed in the cottage themselves.

I booked this “hotel” because everywhere else was full during cherry blossom season. The price pretty much says it all: it was either a few hundred US$ a night during the peak or stay here. I was there for three nights in April, and stink bugs were everywhere. I spent time dealing with about three or four an hour, using the vacuum machine they provide specifically for sucking up bugs. The kitchen cloth was old and the sponge was dirty, dark inside. The bathroom was big and clean, and the only part of the cabin I liked. The location was okay, about a 10-minute drive to the nearest restaurant, 25 minutes to the city center, and 30 minutes to Aomori domestic airport.

The name looks cool on Google Maps, and access was easy. No stink bugs in July. The wooden entrance was a bit old, as expected, and it’s nice if you like quiet outdoors. We chose the most expensive cabin, though I’m not sure karaoke was needed. The kids liked hearing their voices, and a cheaper cabin would have been comfortable enough. Elementary school kids staying free was good. It wasn’t dusty inside, but some furniture was old and the cobwebs weren’t okay. No laundry, and no shampoo. Lawson is a five-minute drive away. I think the owner could do well with a fresh, younger touch. It might rate under three stars, but it’s tough to run a business after COVID-19.

There aren’t many pet-friendly places in Aomori City, so I ended up staying here. The cabin feels like a slightly renovated love hotel, with the DAM and out-of-service USEN beside the bed giving that impression. The bathroom is large, and the mini kitchen on the second floor lets you cook a little, which kids may enjoy. But the hardwood floor downstairs is slippery for dogs. There’s no tissue in the living room, only by the bed upstairs, and no spare stock. The only soap or shampoo is a strange all-in-one kind. Bring your own amenities to avoid hassle. There’s also nowhere to dry towels, so for stays longer than two nights you’ll need to improvise.