Hotéis Mercure em Kitashiobara

Living in Japan as a vegetarian for many years I am used to having to tough it out at hotels. Although there are exceptions, the majority of these facilities in Japan are still in the dark ages when it comes to vegetarian food options and unfortunately this hotel is no exception. This was our second time to stay here and we had hoped in vain that the food selection would be better. Shame on us, yes, but shame on the hotel even more, in my opinion. First, the positives. It is in a great location: you step out of the hotel and you are practically launched on the Goshiknuma trail. If you have a car it is easy to drive to nearby starting points for various excellent hiking options. If you don't have a car you are very limited in how many hiking spots you can access. The staff is friendly and helpful. The previous time we stayed, during the pandemic, there was a near-fluent in English tri-lingual front desk staff member who was great. We don't really need that, however, so I cannot say that this time we encountered any English speaking staff. The room was clean and comfortable. On our previous stay we had a gigantic room for less than what we paid this time but that was during the pandemic when hotels were practically begging for business and we were also able to avail ourselves of the government subsidy program for travel, which has long been discontinued. Anyway, we were happy enough with the room. The onsen is good: spacious and properly maintained. This facility is actually two joined hotels and if you stay on this side (pricier and with nicer rooms) the onsen is less crowded and nicer. The food was another story. Both the first time we stayed and this time, we opted for the buffet meal package: breakfast and dinner. Breakfast is passable if you are lacto-ovo as I am and not super strict, meaning you can drink miso soup that will doubtlessly have at least some fish stock as part of it. Dinner is, frankly, pathetic. There is nothing of substance for vegetarians unless you consider a salad, rice, pickles, and a couple of fried vegetables to be a meal. I do not. Virtually every dish had some meat or fish in it. Why does the pasta have to have bacon? Why does the stir fry vegetables have to have chicken? This hotel is far from the only one that does this, but in 2023 is it not possible to have one or two entree type offerings entirely meat or fish free? The buffet is gigantic and has huge variety but all of that variety is thoroughly saturated with meat and fish. Total fail. We will not stay here again, regretfully. Note: the buffet was equally poor during our first stay and it was entirely on us that we hoped there would be some improvement a few years later. Like I said, shame on us. That does not excuse the hotel from not providing better food options for vegetarians.

There is a station connection. As soon as you leave the train station, you can clearly find the shuttle bus. It is very convenient. After arriving at the hotel, the service staff will immediately receive the reception. It is very thoughtful. The relevant needs are also tried to help. The room is spacious and comfortable, clean and tidy. If you do not arrange other outdoor trips, The hotel has everything you need to hang out for a whole day!

休暇村はどこもサービスがいいと思いますし、建物も広々としていい感じ。ロビーが開放的で磐梯山が眺められるのが素敵です。 部屋は広く、リラックスして滞在できます。 食事はその土地のものを利用していて好感度抜群。 休暇村の無料会員で、平日宿泊1000円引きがあったり(投稿時)、夜にタイムサービスで買い物5％off(投稿時)など様々なサービスがあってお得感があります。 また来たいです。

Offering gender separated dormitory type rooms as well as private rooms, it is a guest house for solo travelers, of which price is fixed, 3,500 yen. Pick-up service from Inawashiro station is available by booking.

The chef from Sri Lanka will serve you. It was very delicious. I didn't expect it to be a common Indian curry restaurant, but I was very satisfied with the delicious curry that was properly Sri Lanka and used local ingredients. Especially bean curry, it may be the best bean curry I have ever eaten. I also ate the dishes of the course (appetizer, soup, fish main, meat main), but curry is completely delicious. The staff was not familiar with course cooking, and the Sri Lankan dishes were great, so I thought it was not necessary to make it a common course. I feel that it is better to make a delicious course dish in Sri Lanka cuisine. Rooms are suitable for the price. I think it is comfortable in winter because all rooms and corridors are equipped with oil heaters. The hot spring is very small and seems to be filled with 2 〜 3 people, but you can use the large bath at the facility next door for free. It is said that it is a facility managed by the same affiliated company. You can go to the hot springs of the next building while you feel like going to the public bath in the neighborhood. A little walk, there were many water Basho around and it was a good hotel to see Bandai mountain far away.

Urabandai Kogen Hotel is located at the best place in Urabandai plateau, for it is at the south of Hibara-lake and can see the mouth of volcano eruption. Please enjoy hiking and cycling around Gosiki-numa (5 different colored pond), playing tennis and riding boat in the cool breeze of the plateau. Skiing in winter is able to enjoy at the ski slope directly operated by the hotel.

I and ７０ Mother and dog 🐕 (Toy Poodle) bothered me. Both my mother and I are very grateful to the owner's warmth! The toilets, washrooms, baths, etc. were clean and the owner was worried, especially the bath was comfortable, so I stayed at ３ but after all I didn't go to the hot springs and took a pension bath all the time. The meal was voluminous and the herbal tea that I put in for my mother was very delicious for the last dessert & coffee. I was happy that the owner's dog Tomte didn't dislike me and let me hugged it U ^ ^ U Fukushima Prefecture is a little far away, so I don't think I can visit so often, but If you have another chance, I would like to bother you (* ^^ *) I had a very nice memory with my mother and my dog 🐕. Thank you 😃

A storyteller's hotel in Oshio Urabandai Onsen, where Aizu rock salt originates

ホテルではないことは覚悟していきましょう！！ ワンコ連れのファミリーが多い中、「三密を避ける」ことが出来るので、 このコテージを選びました。 経年劣化は覚悟の上。設備も寝具もアメニティも何も期待せずに行きましたから、 その意味では、”ガッカリ”は、少なかったかな。 「露天風呂付きスイートコテージ」との触れ込みでしたが、確かに露天風呂ですが、すのこがボロボロでいつ踏み抜いても不思議はないっ！！って感じで夫は不服そうでした。 スイートってどういう意味？？　　ま、昔はスイートだったのでしょう。 広さは十分ありますし、外観はめちゃ旧いですが、室内はそれなりに・・・ 食事も午後3時には、コテージに運ばれてきますから、 あとは自由に食べたいときに食べれば良い。 自由に過ごせるので、のんびり出来ます。 夕食のオススメは、地鶏鍋。豚しゃぶ。グレードアップして牛しゃぶ。 すき焼きは、牛肉が固くて不味いと感じました。タレが甘すぎて不合格。 （個人的な感想ですから、好き嫌いは違うかもしれませんね） 朝食用のパンは、美味しいですが、2種類しかありません。 4泊したので同じものを2回ずつ食べました。 近くには、セブンイレブンとデイリーヤマザキしかありませんから、 必要な食材などは、揃えていきましょう。 旧いですが、コインランドリーもあります。4台あるのに、2台は、故障中。 洗剤は置かれていますが、お好みのものを持参することをオススメします。 都会の喧噪を離れ、自然の中でゆっくり過ごす・・・この目的なら、果たせます。