Hachinohe Rich Hotel

The bed was comfortable, and there was an air purifier in the room. Getting here is easy by bus, train, or on foot, and Yokocho Alley, with its tiny pubs and scenic lights, is only two minutes away. Morning staff were very friendly at checkout, though the evening staff weren't as welcoming. The room was passable if you only need a place to sleep and shower, but the fancy exterior gives the wrong impression. The fixtures, including the toilet washlet, are old and malfunctioning, and there was a lot of black mold in the bathroom crevices and on the walls. You can't order delivery from outside the hotel, even when the hotel restaurant is closed, because the rules prohibit it. It's just okay, and you can probably find the same quality for less.

That mattress was VERY comfortable, probably the best Western-style one I've slept on in Japan. The sheets and comforter were top notch too, and I don't say that lightly. We booked a deluxe queen room. It was clean and comfortable, and the bathroom was spacious and very clean, though the toilet seat wasn't heated, which was a little disappointing but not a big deal. The room was smaller than the pictures on booking.com suggested, perhaps through no fault of the hotel. The lobby and the rest of the first floor looked really nice.

The breakfast is worth trying, especially for the price. There's both Japanese and Western food, the service is attentive, and breakfast starts at 06:30. The reception ladies were very helpful too. As of 2023/12, you also get a welcome drink at reception, either a highball or a beer from the tap, which was nice after a long walk before heading to the room. The rooms are small. Bus stops are nearby, and the train station is a 10-minute walk. If you're carrying luggage, take the bus from Hachinohe station to the hotel instead. There's a great Shrine 15m from the hotel, but no park nearby. Also, despite the advertised fotos, there's no Onsen or Fitness room. Those have been closed during Covid.

It felt all new and was very clean, with everything I needed. I'm not sure whether the hotel had just opened or been refurbished, though I noticed congratulatory flowers in the lobby. It might be the farthest hotel from the Hachinohe center, but that's still no more than 5 minutes away anyway…