Apikogen Mori no Hotel
8,6/10 Excellent - Based on 260 reviews
Apikogen Mori no Hotel sits on the highland slopes of Appi Kogen in Hachimantai, offering a compact, nature-focused stay that blends traditional Japanese touches with modern comforts. The property operates as a forest-side ryokan-style hotel with a mix of tatami rooms and Western beds, a small lounge area and a restaurant that focuses on seasonal, course-style Japanese meals alongside breakfast options. Located within easy reach of the Appi Kogen ski lifts, the setting suits both winter sports guests and visitors seeking quiet forest walks in the shoulder seasons; the hotel’s design emphasizes timber interiors and large windows that frame the surrounding pines.
Bath facilities are a defining feature: guests can choose between a public onsen area with indoor and outdoor elements and rentable private open-air baths that allow secluded soaking by stone and wood surrounds. The property maintains a sauna and supports ski guests with a dedicated drying room and practical guest services; complimentary soft drinks and a small gift shop are available on site. For search optimization, this is presented as a ryokan with onsen Hachimantai and, where guests seek exclusive bathing, as a ryokan with private onsen Iwate.
Service is focused and pragmatic: staff provide local information, luggage assistance and can advise on lift timings and nearby trails, while the restaurant serves multi-course dinners prepared from local produce and seafood during evening service. Check-in typically begins in the mid-afternoon and checkout is by mid-morning, and the property operates a limited number of rooms to preserve a calm atmosphere. Practical features include on-site parking and facilities aimed at ski visitors, making the hotel a straightforward choice for those combining outdoor activity with an onsen experience.
Highlights of this ryokan
Detailed Ratings
Points of interest nearby
Review summary for: Apikogen Mori no Hotel
Positive Reviews
Outstanding onsen experience
Multiple reviewers praised the hot springs — both intimate private onsen and public baths were described as dreamy, comfortable and a highlight of the stay (including outdoor stone onsen).
Excellent, traditional cuisine
Dinner and restaurant meals were repeatedly called exceptional or divine; the full traditional multi-course dinners were recommended and a major reason guests enjoyed their stay.
Friendly, attentive staff and service
Staff were described as very helpful, accommodating and pleasant; guests noted attentive service, good housekeeping and flexible support (including shuttle arrangements).
Comfortable, clean rooms with authentic ryokan feel
Guests appreciated clean, comfortable rooms that combine ryokan tatami features with modern comforts; comments mention cozy atmosphere, spacious family rooms and overall cleanliness.
Great location for skiing and seasonal scenery with shuttle access
The property is well located for ski access and seasonal sightseeing (autumn colours); reviewers valued the daily shuttle to Appi ski resort and facilities for ski/snowboard guests (dry/wax rooms).
Negative Reviews
Quiet and somewhat remote in summer
Several guests noted the area can feel remote and not very lively outside the winter season, with fewer activities in summer unless arriving by car.
Rooms need occasional maintenance or updating
Some reviewers said rooms felt a bit outdated or in need of TLC, and a few found rooms overcrowded with furniture, suggesting selective refurbishment would help.
Bedding comfort issues
A number of comments mentioned mattress or pillow comfort — requests for a mattress topper or firmer bedding were made by guests who found beds too soft.
Isolated incident of poor staff attitude
Most staff were praised, but one reviewer reported a negative interaction with a front desk staff member; this appeared to be an isolated concern amid generally positive comments about personnel.
Minor cleanliness and facility inconveniences
A few small issues were reported such as an unclean towel in one room, lack of a public trash can and some inconvenient stairs or chilly counters — minor points compared with overall positive feedback.
Frequently Asked Questions
Room types include family rooms and some Japanese-style rooms that sleep up to 5 guests, quadruple rooms for 4, doubles and twins for 2; no extra beds or baby cots are available.
The hotel offers public indoor onsen, an outdoor (open-air) onsen and a sauna; private (family/kashikiri) baths are available but may need to be reserved or are subject to seasonal availability—ask the front desk.
The property operates shuttle service to the Appi Kogen ski area and can provide arrival/departure transfers if arranged in advance; please notify the hotel of your arrival time to reserve the shuttle.
The nearest airport is Iwate-Hanamaki (about 78 km away); travellers typically use a rental car, taxi or arranged transfer to reach the hotel.
Staff are primarily Japanese speakers; some staff can assist in basic English, so bring a translation app or confirm language support before arrival if you need detailed English assistance.
Rooms range from Japanese-style tatami with futons to Western twin/double rooms, and the ryokan offers traditional Japanese meals and onsen bathing for an authentic local stay.
The hotel is located in Appi Kogen beside the ski resort and close to outdoor activities such as skiing, golf and hiking; larger towns and national-park scenery (Towada‑Hachimantai region) are within driving distance.
The hotel provides free private on-site parking for guests; taxis and car rentals are common for reaching the area from nearby train stations and airports.
Check-in is from 15:00 to 22:00 and check-out is until 10:00 (some sources show check-out windows from 07:00–10:00); please inform the hotel of your expected arrival time in advance.
Pets are not permitted; private onsen can be booked (availability may vary by season), and while the hotel has a souvenir shop and small resort shops, there is no full supermarket on-site—ask reception for the nearest convenience or supermarket locations.