Lamp No Yado Aoni Onsen

This was one of my wish list. It is actually not VERY far from Kuroishi or even Hirosaki. If you drive then you can get there easily, except in winter. Takijg public transport is troublesome but doable. Visitors may take a bus no. 97 from Kuroishi station at 2:20pm to Rainbow Lake (Nijinoko) which is last stop. Then take a shuttle bus to the ryokan. Please make an arrangement with the ryokan in advance. The room is very basic. No electricity, no wifi, no mobile coverage. Bathroom and toilet are shared. Food is ok, but not great. Diners sit on the floor while dining on low table. Onsen is good, clean. The entire building has kerosene smell. This may make visitors feel uncomfortable. Staff were ok. They can barely speak English. Just be patient.

Did not realise how dark the venue was. My partner and I are not Japanese so naturally we were not aware that the rooms were only lit in kerosene lamps. In fact the whole place was lit up with kerosene lamps. We were not informed that we had to wait at a public car park. When the driver came picked us, he just stayed in the bus without helping us on luggage. While the onsen were great there could be better communication in terms of brightness (I have nigh blindness), transport arrangement and the room.

Living off the grid without internet and electricity is an excellent experience especially in a paradise setting by the roaring river, surrounded by the mountain and forest, and a waterfall, with authentic onsen, traditional Japanese food, grilled fish and best Aomori rice! It is the best holiday ever.

Truly amazing experience. Traditional Japanese Onsen hotel. Beautiful foliage. Amazing Onsen facility quiet, peaceful, private this is where you experience real Japanese traditional Onsen. Decoration and Onsen design are very classic and tasteful. We loved it.

A very special experience to stay in this hotel! Hope I can come back again when the two outdoor baths open again.

We thought it's going to be fresh in August up the mountain but it wasn't. Very hot and without air-conditioning you'll be suffering. Rooms are tiny and it barely fit 4 people. Road to get there is rough so make sure you have an off road car (the last 5 min only). The onsen is insanely beautiful especially the women's. Food was pre-served and left out in the heat to stand. Didn't look particularly appealing. Shared bathrooms.

Location is faraway. 3+ hours on the trains/buses from Aomori airport. Food is traditional. Environs is beautiful. There is a grocery store in this hotel, where you can buy almost everything. 2 out of 4 baths was out of service due to excavation works.

Goodgood