Hachinohe Park

DO NOT STAY AT THIS HOTEL. Dirty linen, I'll politely call it human chocolate on bed covers, management moved us to another room (more on that later), I thought surely what we just experienced must be a one off.....well I checked the bed in the new room, no human chocolate but a nice curly pubic hair. Reported it to management, they asked if they could clean the room as we went to dinner, obviously I said yes, please clean it. Well we returned from dinner and the pubic hair was gone but had been replaced with a nice long hair..... We asked management if they were aware of the bed bug plague across Japan at the moment, they said of course they were, obviously they don't care about it, basic hygiene, or their customers. The room we were transferred to was a suite, a suite straight out of somewhere around 1980, if your into filthy beds, old carpet, peeling wall paper and tiny bathrooms with cracked basins that even the smallest person will struggle with, this is the place for you, otherwise choose a park bench closer to the centre of town. How this shack gets 4 stars is a mystery. One positive is management did refund us and gave us a fresh fruit, however, I would not stay here again even if it was free.

This was an amazing experience, staying in a renovated samurai home. I stayed in the larger suite and had a full view of the garden and a lanterned alcove just outside the bath. Everything is new and clean, and the owners clearly take pride in this historic home. Even the tatami seams are artful. The staff was so friendly. I only speak a little Japanese, but they were patient and kind while I thought of the right words, and check-in was lovely. They also held my bag while I went sightseeing. It was so quiet at night that I slept very well. I didn't hear anything from the restaurant, just the occasional road noise, but it wasn't a bother at all. The traditional futon was cozy! I would absolutely stay here again, especially if I returned with a group because it's a rare 2-bedroom (4 futons) and very spacious.

The room was actually a trailer- which was unexpected. It was kind of very tight. The sofa bed was pretty uncomfortable and blocked the whole rooms. Kind of tripping hazard if the others want to use the bathroom at night. The facility was very clean. The onsen was very nice.