Yanagi no Yu, a Historic Tsugaru Domain Honjin Inn

This hot spring inn is located in Aomori’s Asamushi Onsen, an area with more than 1,200 years of history. Guests can experience free-flowing water from a historic hot spring once used by generations of Tsugaru feudal lords while falconing or taking therapeutic baths during the Edo period.

Four private hot spring sources emerge on the property. Each bathing area has its own distinctive character, from open-air baths with seasonal views, including snowy landscapes, to spacious public baths where guests can unwind. The inn’s highlight is the Tonosama-buro, or “Lord’s Bath,” a 250-year-old bath made entirely of Japanese hiba wood. With water reaching waist height, it is known for warming bathers to the core while offering a taste of how the Tsugaru feudal lords once bathed.

The inn has 22 guest rooms overlooking either the river or the garden. Most are Japanese-style rooms, though some are furnished with beds. Dinner features seafood and vegetables from Aomori, which is surrounded by the Sea of Japan, the Pacific Ocean, and Mutsu Bay, with the Hakkoda mountain range rising behind it. The chef carefully prepares multi-course kaiseki meals that bring out the flavors of seasonal ingredients and pair especially well with local sake.