During this trip, I stayed at Hotel JAL City Aomori, which is super convenient—just a 6-minute walk from Aomori Station. They also have a partner parking lot, making it stress-free for car travelers.
One of the best parts is the relaxing stay, with check-in at 2:00 PM and check-out at 11:00 AM the next day.
As soon as you enter the lobby, a hotel-original Nebuta float welcomes you! At the front desk, I got my room key, breakfast ticket, and lounge pass. They also offer a welcome drink service, and the next morning, delicious local apple juice was waiting for guests.
Drowning in Aomori’s Bounty! Luxurious Self-Service at the “A Lounge”
This time, I stayed in a renovated room on the top floor (9th floor). It’s a special room that comes with access to the “A Lounge.” From 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the 1st-floor restaurant, “La Sera,” you can enjoy all-you-can-drink beverages and snacks, all self-service.
The alcohol selection is incredibly luxurious. It includes:
Aomori Apple Cider
Tsugaru Wine (Red Steuben & White Steuben)
JAL Original Sweet Potato Shochu “Tsurusora”
Sparkling wine
Even if you don’t drink alcohol, they have plenty of options like Aomori apple juice, coffee, black tea, and flavored sodas.
The snacks are also a perfect showcase of Aomori! There is a wonderful lineup of famous local sweets, including apple baumkuchen, Hachinohe’s delicacy “Nakayoshi” (a squid and cheese snack), Nanbu Senbei (rice crackers), and Ita-karinto (sweet fried dough). Open the refrigerator, and you’ll find chilled snacks perfect for wine, such as smoked scallops from Mutsu Bay, smoked mackerel, vegetable sticks with an Aomori black garlic dip, cheese, and salami—all free to take.
Thanks to checking in early, I toasted with cider while it was still bright outside! Feeling the fatigue of travel melt away was pure bliss. It’s also the perfect spot for a light drink before dinner.
Spacious Top-Floor Room and Thoughtful Hospitality
The twin room on the top floor felt very open, with wide walkways and plenty of storage space. Outside the window, a beautiful view of the Aomori Bay Bridge stretched out. The beds were large and perfect for relaxing.
The desk, integrated with the TV stand, transforms into a vanity with a large mirror when you open the lid. Looking inside the fridge, I was delighted to find chilled apple juice! Pouring it into the stylish “Tsugaru Vidro” glass found in the drawer made the moment feel extra special. The complimentary mineral water and original cookies were also a nice touch.
After changing into pajamas, it was relaxation time. The bathroom is a standard unit type, but the bathtub is wide and easy to use. I was highly satisfied with the amenities, which included not just towels and bath toiletries, but also skincare products and bath salts.
Lines Even on Weekdays! The Ultimate 80-Dish Breakfast Buffet
The next morning was the highly anticipated breakfast time. Having added 30 new items since April, the buffet has been upgraded to a total of 80 dishes—it’s so hearty it feels like dinner! It makes total sense that a line forms at the entrance at 6:30 AM when it opens, even on weekdays.
First, I headed straight for the local cuisine corner, which you absolutely cannot miss. It gathers Aomori’s famous dishes all in one place, including:
“Keno-jiru” (a traditional vegetable soup)
Packed-with-ingredients “Hachinohe Senbei-jiru” (soup with cracked local crackers)
“Aomori Oden”
“Aomori Kaisendon” (Nokke-don), where you can top your bowl with as many scallops and fresh seafood as you like.
There are also plenty of creative dishes that fully utilize ingredients from Aomori. For the rice, you can choose between white rice and barley rice. The menu features irresistible dishes like Scallop Curry topped generously with Mutsu Bay scallops, Aomori Apple Black Vinegar Sweet and Sour Pork, Grilled Pork Belly with Aomori Garlic Sauce, and Aomori Scallop with Egg Miso.
The piping hot steamed vegetables were amazing paired with a bagna cauda sauce made with salted fish entrails (shiokara) and black garlic mayo. The buffet counter was packed with bread, local delicacies, and side dishes for rice. Everything looked so delicious that I went back for seconds multiple times.
The desserts and drinks at the end did not disappoint either. With fresh juice and a wide selection of flavored teas in hand, I savored elaborate sweets like Aomori apple pound cake, Denshu sake kasu (sake lees) pudding, and Denshu cheesecake. Before I knew it, I had eaten more than twice my usual breakfast, leaving me incredibly full and satisfied.
With an amazing hotel stay and wonderful sightseeing, this trip became the best memory, packed to the brim with the charms of Aomori.
information and access to Hotel JAL City Aomori
Address: 2-4-12 Yasukata, Aomori City, Aomori Prefecture 030-0803
Phone Number: 017-732-2580
Access: 6-minute walk from JR East Aomori Station, 15 minutes from Tohoku Expressway Aomori Chuo Interchange, approximately 40 minutes by bus from Aomori Airport, 2-minute walk from “Kencho-dori” bus stop.
