Overview

Stay directly beside Lake Gosho at Hotel Shion, where every room faces the water and the mountains of Iwate. Wide windows frame Mount Iwate beyond the lake, giving you a changing view of spring greenery, summer skies, autumn colour, and winter snow.

The high-ceilinged lobby continues the connection with the landscape. You can sit beside the broad windows, watch the light move across the lake, and ease into the slower pace of Tsunagi Onsen.

Hotel Shion combines two very different hot spring experiences. Hitorijime no Yu focuses on panoramic lake views, while Nanbu Magariya no Yu recreates the timber architecture of a traditional Iwate farmhouse and uses free-flowing water from a private source.

Seasonal Iwate cuisine, private dining choices, nightly garden illumination, and local Sansa Odori performances add more character to your evening. Central Morioka is around 25 minutes away by car, while Koiwai Farm and several lakeside attractions are even closer.

Accommodation

Every room faces Lake Gosho, allowing you to enjoy the lake, Mount Iwate, and the surrounding mountains from your own space. The collection includes traditional Japanese rooms, Western twins, high-floor rooms with Simmons beds, large top-floor suites, and Premium Rooms with private natural hot spring baths.

The standard Japanese rooms provide 10, 12, or 14 tatami mats with traditional futon bedding. The 14-tatami rooms occupy corner positions and give you more space when you prefer to stay together in one open room.

Western Twin Rooms sit on the fourth floor and also face the lake. Two beds make these rooms suitable when you prefer Western-style sleeping while keeping the same Mount Iwate and Lake Gosho views.

The High-Floor Lake-View Twin places Simmons beds beside a large picture window. This room works especially well when the view is a priority and you want a quieter bed-style setting above the lower floors.

Wakutake and Oimatsu occupy the 12th floor. Both special rooms face Lake Gosho and give you an elevated view across Tsunagi’s seasonal landscape.

Kiraku combines a ten-tatami Japanese room, an eight-tatami Japanese room, and a twin bedroom. Tsurumai adds a separate living room to the same two Japanese rooms and twin-bedroom arrangement, giving you additional space for conversation and celebrations.

The Premium Rooms provide Hotel Shion’s most private bathing experience. Premium Room Type A measures approximately 90 square metres and combines a twin bedroom with a separate living room. The lake-facing side contains both an indoor hot spring bath and an open-air bath, allowing you to look across Lake Gosho and Mount Iwate while you soak.

Premium Room Type B measures approximately 75 square metres and adds a private terrace. You can enjoy the lake view from the living room, terrace, indoor bath, or open-air bath. Both Premium Room types use free-flowing water in the outdoor bath and 100% source water in the indoor bath.

Your room includes a television, refrigerator, kettle, tea, safe, yukata, towels, toiletries, slippers, and a bag for carrying items to the baths. Mineral water is also prepared in the refrigerator. Every room has a ceiling-mounted Nanoe air-cleaning system.

Dining

Dinner brings together seafood from the Sanriku coast, meat raised in the rich farming areas of Kitakami and Oshu, mountain vegetables, mushrooms, and other seasonal ingredients from Iwate.

Your meal style depends on your confirmed plan. Nanbu Magariya Kaiseki introduces you to regional flavours through a structured Japanese dinner. Another choice, Megumi Marugoto Gozen, presents seasonal Iwate ingredients as a carefully arranged set meal served at a table with chairs.

Some plans include a half-buffet, allowing you to combine prepared courses with dishes selected from the counter. Other plans offer a traditional meal served inside your room, giving you more privacy while you dine.

Private dining rooms are available when you prefer a separate space away from the larger venues. The table-and-chair arrangement lets you dine comfortably without sitting on the floor. Tatami-style banquet dining can also be arranged for selected groups.

The exact dinner changes with the season, but you can expect a balance of seafood, meat, vegetables, warm dishes, rice, soup, and dessert. Additional dishes can be arranged before arrival when you want to expand your meal.

Breakfast is served as a Japanese and Western buffet. You can choose rice, soup, bread, vegetables, warm dishes, and other morning favourites according to your appetite. Breakfast normally takes place in the large Shuhou banquet hall or the Tenka convention hall.

Food-allergy requests should be completed at least three days before arrival. Simple single-ingredient adjustments may be possible, although seasonings such as soy sauce and shared kitchen equipment can make complete separation difficult. The breakfast buffet displays information for nine major allergens where possible.

Onsen and Wellness

Hotel Shion has two main hot spring areas, each with its own water source, architecture, bath design, and view. By bathing in the evening and again the following morning, you can experience more than one side.

Hitorijime no Yu sits on the second floor and looks directly across Lake Gosho towards Mount Iwate. The water is classified as an alkaline simple spring with a pH of 8.6 and a source temperature of 52.1°C.

Kin no Yu includes a large indoor bath, reclining bath, and a broad silk-bubble bath beside the lake. Fine bubbles surround your skin and give the water a soft white appearance.

Hinoki no Yu includes another spacious indoor bath and a lake-facing cypress open-air bath. From the edge of the tub, the water appears to continue towards Lake Gosho, creating a wide, open view across the landscape.

The two Hitorijime no Yu sides change between men and women. One side is available during the afternoon and evening, while the other opens the following morning. Evening bathing normally continues until 1:00, with morning access from 5:00 until 9:30.

Nanbu Magariya no Yu sits on the third floor and draws from a separate private source. The water is classified as an alkaline simple spring with a pH of 8.7 and a source temperature of 61.7°C. These baths use free-flowing spring water.

The bathing area takes its design from a Nanbu magariya, the traditional L-shaped farmhouse once common around Morioka. Exposed beams, timber ceilings, stonework, and garden views give this area a strong connection with Iwate’s architectural heritage.

Akamatsu no Yu includes a timber-lined indoor bath and an open-air bath beneath an octagonal roof. Soft garden lighting changes the atmosphere after dark.

Oiwa no Yu surrounds you with large natural rocks. The outdoor tub becomes gradually deeper and reaches approximately 90 centimetres at its lowest point. Stones set into part of the floor stimulate the soles of your feet, while built-in seating at different heights lets you choose a comfortable bathing depth.

Akamatsu no Yu and Oiwa no Yu change between men and women each day. They normally open from 15:00 until 22:00 and again from 5:00 until 10:00.

A private open-air bath gives you approximately 45 minutes with free-flowing spring water. It includes its own changing area and washing space and must be reserved. Sessions are available from the morning until late evening, subject to availability.

Premium Room Type A and Type B provide another private option. Each room includes both an indoor natural spring bath and an open-air onsen, which you can use throughout your stay.

Full-body massage and foot-reflexology treatments are available in the relaxation area. Reserve your preferred treatment early, as operating hours and appointments depend on the daily schedule.

Guests with Tattoos

If your tattoos can be completely concealed with the designated cover seals, you can use the shared hot spring baths. The seals are available on site.

You cannot enter Hitorijime no Yu, Nanbu Magariya no Yu, or the communal changing areas when any part of a tattoo remains visible.

The private open-air bath gives you a self-contained alternative when your tattoos cannot be covered. You can also choose Premium Room Type A or Type B, where you have an indoor onsen and an open-air hot spring bath inside your accommodation.

Facilities

The lake-facing lobby gives you a spacious place to sit after arrival or between activities. Its high ceiling and large windows keep Lake Gosho and Mount Iwate in view while you relax.

After bathing, you can stop at the complimentary lounge for soft drinks and ice pops. A separate paid lounge offers selected beer and a quieter place to spend the early evening.

Shop Nanbu Koji carries Morioka cold noodles, Nanbu rice crackers, Iwate foods, drinks, and local souvenirs. A separate shop displays amber jewellery and accessories produced in Kuji.

A baby amenity station provides useful equipment such as baby baths, toilet seats, bottle-preparation kettles, strollers, step stools, and children’s bathing products. Items are limited and should be requested early.

Hanagoyomi serves rice bowls and noodles at lunchtime and returns later as a casual evening spot for noodles, small dishes, and drinks. Bar Starlight provides a quieter setting for an after-dinner drink, while Club Crescent has a stage and karaoke for larger gatherings.

Private dining rooms, banquet halls, meeting rooms, and a convention hall support celebrations, organised meals, conferences, and training stays. Wheelchairs and bath chairs can be borrowed, and accessible routes connect several of the main public areas.

Activities

After dinner, walk into the courtyard for the Night Arts Garden. Lights and original music transform the trees and garden into a nightly illumination display, giving you an easy evening experience without leaving the property.

Sansa Odori performances take place on selected evenings. Powerful drums, flutes, dancing, and the call of “Sakkora Choiwayasse” bring one of Iwate’s best-known traditions directly into the ryokan. During the current programme, performances generally begin at 20:15, although exclusions and schedule changes apply.

Morioka Handi-Works Square is around five minutes away by car. You can watch craftspeople producing Nanbu ironware, dyed textiles, pottery, bamboo work, rice crackers, and Morioka cold noodles. Selected workshops allow you to make or decorate your own item.

Koiwai Farm is around 15 minutes away. Seasonal attractions include animal encounters, food made with farm dairy products, walking areas, illuminations, flowers, and winter activities.

Gosho Lake Regional Park is around ten minutes away and includes waterside paths, playgrounds, gardens, sports areas, and seasonal flower displays. Canoeing and boating experiences may operate at the park’s boathouse during suitable weather.

You can also travel into central Morioka to visit the castle ruins, Iwate Bank Red Brick Building, museums, cafés, and restaurants serving the city’s three famous noodle dishes: wanko soba, Morioka reimen, and jajamen.

Additional Features

Check-in begins at 15:00, and check-out is by 10:00. Complimentary parking is available for approximately 150 vehicles.

A scheduled Tsunagi Onsen Liner connects Morioka Station with Hotel Shion. The service requires an advance reservation and carries a fare. Reserve your seat by the stated deadline, as the number of places is limited.

A regular public bus also connects Morioka Station with Tsunagi Onsen. From the nearest stop, you can reach Hotel Shion in around five minutes on foot.

Complimentary Wi-Fi is available inside the property. Yukata, towels, toiletries, and mineral water are prepared for your stay.