9 Hoshino Resorts for Families, Compared by Type (A Dad's Take)

A lot of families feel like they can't go too wrong just by checking out Hoshino Resorts when choosing a family hotel. In reality, though, Hoshino Resorts' brands each have a clearly defined role, and how family-friendly a given property is varies quite a bit. If you're traveling with kids, the first thing worth knowing about is RISONARE, their brand built specifically for families.

Here, we've sorted the Hoshino Resorts properties listed on this site by type, from a family-travel point of view. Click any hotel's name to jump to its detail page.

The First 5 to Consider: RISONARE

RISONARE is Hoshino Resorts' family-focused brand, with kids' play areas, pools, and childcare services across the board. Its strength is that it holds up regardless of the weather or your child's age.

RISONARE Atami — Indoor Activities and Childcare, Rain or Shine

Hoshino Resorts RISONARE Atami is a guests-only resort perched on a hill overlooking the ocean. It's built specifically for families, with a climbing wall, ball pit, kids' pool, and a childcare service, plus baby food and bottle warmers on request. It's an easy shinkansen ride from Tokyo, and within the Atami area, it's one property where you can spend a whole day without worrying about the weather.

RISONARE Yatsugatake — An Indoor Pool You Can Enjoy Year-Round

Hoshino Resorts RISONARE Yatsugatake is anchored by its year-round indoor pool, "Il Mare." There's also a hot spring called "Mokumoku-yu," an indoor play area, a crib, baby food, and childcare, so kids can play regardless of the season. A stroll down the cobblestone "Piiman Dori" (Pepper Street) is popular with kids too, making this an easy base for exploring the Yatsugatake area.

RISONARE Nasu — Net Play Equipment and Farm Experiences

Hoshino Resorts RISONARE Nasu is an agritourism resort with a bouncy net play structure called "POKO POKO" and hands-on farming experiences. There's also an indoor play area, childcare, and the Nasu hot spring, making it a great fit for families who want to be active outdoors.

RISONARE Tomamu — Wave Pool, Snow, and a Sea of Clouds

Hoshino Resorts RISONARE Tomamu is an all-suite property where every room is at least 100 square meters. It's packed with once-in-a-lifetime experiences: a wave pool called "Minamina Beach," the Unkai (Sea of Clouds) Terrace, and snow play in winter. Baby gear here is especially thorough too — crib, bed guard, bottle warmer, baby food, and childcare — which is reassuring if you're traveling with a baby.

RISONARE Kohamajima — All-Suite Living on a Yaeyama Island

Hoshino Resorts RISONARE Kohamajima is an all-suite resort on Kohama Island in the Yaeyama chain. It has a beach, a pool, a kids' studio, rentals for a crib, stroller, and bottle warmer, and childcare (the pool closes in winter). It's a great fit for families who want to relax slowly on one of the Yaeyama islands.

For a Relaxed Stay on a Remote Island or in Nature

Iriomote Hotel by Hoshino Resorts — A World Natural Heritage Site with Thorough Baby Support

Iriomote Hotel by Hoshino Resorts is an eco-tourism resort on Iriomote Island, a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site. It offers a crib, baby food, a high chair, and kids' tableware for rent, and the beach is about 30 seconds away. Nature tours that kids can join, plus free stays for children sharing a bed with parents up to age 6, are welcome perks for families. It's the best-equipped property in the Iriomote area.

Hoshinoya Taketomi — A Special Kind of Island Time, Lived Rather Than Toured

Hoshinoya Taketomi is an island resort with rooms scattered like a traditional red-tiled-roof village. It has a year-round pool and restaurant, allows children under 12 to share a bed with parents, and lets you reserve kids' amenities in advance. Rather than a resort built around active play, it suits families with slightly older children who want to spend a quiet stretch of time "living" on the island rather than just sightseeing.

For Hot Springs or Exploring Town on Foot

Hoshino Resorts Aomoriya — An Apple Juice Faucet and a Nightly Festival Show

Hoshino Resorts Aomoriya is a hot-spring hotel where a faucet that pours apple juice and a nightly festival show let parents and kids enjoy Aomori culture together. Thoughtful touches for families with young children include a crib, baby bath, baby food, a diaper trash bin, late checkout, and animal encounters.

OMO5 Kanazawa Katamachi by Hoshino Resorts — Experience Kanazawa Culture in the City

OMO5 Kanazawa Katamachi by Hoshino Resorts is a city-center base in Katamachi, one of Kanazawa's main downtown districts. Staff-guided neighborhood activities let you explore the city of Kanazawa on foot with your kids. Stroller rental is available too, making this a good match for a sightseeing-focused family trip.

Choosing by Type: A Quick Cheat Sheet

• First family trip / want to play regardless of weather: RISONARE Yatsugatake (year-round pool), RISONARE Atami (indoor activities and childcare)
• Traveling with a baby, prioritizing gear: RISONARE Tomamu, RISONARE Kohamajima, Iriomote Hotel (baby gear plus childcare or free child stays)
• Want snow, cloud seas, and other once-in-a-lifetime experiences: RISONARE Tomamu
• A special stay on a remote island: Hoshinoya Taketomi, RISONARE Kohamajima, Iriomote Hotel
• Hot springs or cultural experiences: Aomoriya, OMO5 Kanazawa Katamachi

Even within the same Hoshino Resorts brand family, how well a property fits a family trip varies this much. Choosing by working backward from your child's age and what you actually want to do should help you avoid a mismatch. For the latest facilities and rates at each property, please check its detail page and the official booking site.