Family-Friendly Hotels in Aizu: Hot Springs Along the Gorge

When choosing a family place to stay in Aizu, plenty of parents wonder what they should judge by: the hot spring, the size of the dining area, something else entirely. Staying with a baby or a small child brings a long list of things worth checking in advance: the room type, whether there is a reservable private bath, whether food allergies can be accommodated.

Aizu centers on the old castle town of Aizuwakamatsu and is dotted with historic hot spring areas such as Aizu Higashiyama Onsen and Aizu Ashinomaki Onsen. Quiet hot spring inns line the mountain gorges, and with the thatched-roof streetscape of Ouchi-juku, Lake Inawashiro and Mt. Bandai all close by, it is a place where a family can easily combine hot springs with time in nature. The prefecture also includes areas such as Fukushima, and what sets Aizu apart is its calm atmosphere, ringed by mountains and lakes.

The first thing that stands out when choosing a hotel is how many have Japanese-style or Japanese-Western rooms, 9 of them, which brings the reassurance of a tatami room where a crawling child can move around freely. On the food side, 7 hotels have private or semi-private dining rooms and 4 can serve meals in your room, so it is easy to find somewhere you can eat without worrying about other guests, very much an Aizu strength. Allergy support is confirmed at 5 hotels and a reservable private bath at 5, so there are options for children with food allergies and for families who want the hot spring to themselves.

At Aizu Higashiyama Onsen and Aizu Ashinomaki Onsen the inns stand along the gorge, and as a rough guide, spring into early summer is the season for fresh greenery and autumn for fall foliage. Winter brings snowy landscapes and snow play, but also the need to prepare for snowfall and icy roads, so it is essential to check your clothing and transportation for the season. Reviews on Rakuten Travel include several comments from families who felt at ease with their children without worrying about the people around them.

The Aizu area has 9 places to stay with facilities for families with children, ranging from hotels built around Japanese-style rooms to those with private dining rooms. The combination of a calm hot spring setting with easy access to nature and history at Ouchi-juku and Lake Inawashiro is exactly why families choose it for a trip.