Room: very big by Japanese standards. Main room had 3 beds, with 2 beds in a connected room. The bathroom looks newly refurbished, but we mostly used the excellent onsen.

Service: most of the staff spoke a smattering of English at best, but service was still top-notch. Whatever they couldn’t express, they used Google Translate to get the message across.

What prompted me to write this review was the help they rendered when we had to catch an early Shinkansen. We had multiple big suitcases, making it hard to convey to the nearest train station by foot and the shuttle bus hadn’t begun service yet. Even the taxis refused to take us. The front desk staff kindly advised us to take the shuttle to the nearby Motoyu onsen which was a 2-min walk away to the station. When we arrived at the reception to board the shuttle the next morning, we were pleasantly surprised to find our luggage already loaded onto the bus for us. What’s more, when we requested that the shuttle bus driver send us to the station, he kindly obliged despite it not being the usual practice. We were extremely grateful to the staff for their attentiveness and going the extra mile.

Location: honestly not the most accessible of locations. We rode the Shinkansen from Tokyo to Hachinohe and transferred to the Aoimori Railway to Misawa. Unfortunately the train service at Aoimori Railway was about an hour apart. We missed the train and had to wait an hour to board the next one. From Misawa, the resort shuttle picks you up. It’s a short walk when the weather is pleasant and you packed light. Alternatively there’s a nearby airport also served by the resort shuttle.

Food: the resort is half board, and the meals are buffet-style. The 2 nights we stayed, the selection was almost identical, but no complaints about the quality and variety. The restaurant specializes in regional cuisine (scallops and apples everywhere), particularly good were the tepanyaki beef and seafood rice bowls.

Ambience: the resort is meant to be self-contained, with next to nothing to do around the area. The whole resort is culturally themed, decorated by apple-shaped lanterns and nebuta sculptures, providing lots of photo spots. The resort offers activities such as craft-making and scallop fishing to keep you entertained. Otherwise, venture outdoors and stroll around the lake located on the grounds. At night, partake in a well-produced performance featuring the cultural elements unique to the region.

All in all a relaxing and memorable stay for adults and kids. Recommended, will come back, but probably fly in the next time.