Amihari Onsen Hotel
Amihari Onsen Hotel (Kyukamura Iwate Amihari Onsen) is located slopeside at the base of the Amihari ski resort in Iwate. Whilst you can't technically ski in and out of the hotel, it is very close to the main access lift.
In addition to providing very convenient access to Amihari Ski Resort, it also makes a great base to explore the various other Iwate ski resorts.
Hotel Rooms
The Amihari Onsen Hotel has twin western rooms with a private toilet & basin. Each room has a TV (but nothing worth watching unless you can understand Japanese), a small fridge and a small table/seating area.
Alternatively there are triple Japanese-style rooms available with futons on the tatami floor.
The rooms have a private toilet and washbasin, whilst in typical onsen hotel style, communal bathing takes place in the lovely natural hot springs bathhouses.
Facilities
The onsen baths are a highlight of the hotel. Each gender has two hot spring baths of differing temperatures to choose from, and one also has an outdoor bath.
Other services and facilities:
- communal lounge
- karaoke room
- free on-site parking
- coin-operated laundry
- wifi throughout the hotel
- gift shop with a few snacks
- massage services for an additional fee
There was very little to no English spoken so have your Google translate handy.
Dining
The onsite restaurant served buffet meals for breakfast and dinner, with a broad range of Japanese and western items. Simple alcoholic drinks can be purchased during dinner.
Or for a special dinner, kaiseki multi-course meals are also available.
The communal lounge area had a basic bar/ice cream bar, which was never open when we were there, however there were plenty of drinks vending machines where you could get beer, a chu-hi & soft drinks. The communal lounge area was an ideal place to congregate with family & friends at the end of a day on the slopes.