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forumWhat families say
Rakuten Travel rating 4.4 out of 5 (1,872 reviews). Guests praise the children's meals for how cute they look, and some report that their children enjoyed the mystery-solving game and stamp rally held around the hotel. Several reviews also describe the onsen, which flows directly from the source, as high-quality water that is gentle on the skin. On the other hand, guests point out that many of the shared toilets are Japanese-style squat toilets, which families with small children may want to keep in mind.
Categories
Kids Facilities
Oiwa no Yu (Nambu Magariya no Yu)
Oiwa no Yu (Nambu Magariya no Yu)
- paymentsPrice:Free for guests
Oiwa no Yu, the indoor bath at Nambu Magariya no Yu, has a sloped floor reaching 90 cm at its deepest point. Chairs of differing heights line the right-hand half, so a parent and child can bathe side by side.
- •The bathing hours alternate between men and women each day
Private-hire bath
Private-hire bath
The private-hire bath at Nambu Magariya no Yu is open-air only, with no indoor bath, and lets you enjoy onsen flowing directly from the source privately with family or close friends. It costs 2,000 yen including tax for 45 minutes.
- •Advance reservation is required (same-day bookings are also accepted)
- •Available from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., with the last session starting at 9 p.m.
Children's meals (allergy accommodation)
Children's meals (allergy accommodation)
Children's meals can be prepared without the seven specified allergenic ingredients: egg, dairy, wheat, buckwheat, peanuts, shrimp and crab. Other ingredients can be discussed with the hotel.
- •Other allergens require consultation with the hotel
Rental bicycles (including a children's bicycle)
Rental bicycles (including a children's bicycle)
Rental bicycles are available for exploring around Lake Gosho: 3 standard bicycles, 1 electric-assist bicycle and 2 hybrid bikes, plus 1 children's bicycle. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with last reception at 4 p.m.
- •Closed for the winter from November 20
Overview
Hotel Shion is an onsen ryokan where every room is a lake view room looking out over Lake Gosho and Mount Iwate. Children ages 0 to 2 can stay by co-sleeping, and the bathing areas are set up with families in mind: the indoor bath has chairs of differing heights so a parent and child can bathe side by side, and a private-hire bath lets a family soak on their own. Dinner can be chosen from a Nambu Magariya kaiseki course or a half-buffet, and children's meals can be prepared without the seven specified allergenic ingredients: egg, dairy, wheat, buckwheat, peanuts, shrimp and crab.
Rooms
All guest rooms face Lake Gosho and have a lake view. Room types are matched to the size of your group: Japanese-style tatami rooms of 10 to 12 tatami mats (for 1 to 5 guests) and 20 sq m Western-style twin rooms (for 1 to 2 guests, on the 4th floor), the 63 sq m special rooms Wakatake and Oimatsu (for 2 to 6 guests), and the Japanese-Western special room Kiraku, which combines a 10-tatami room, an 8-tatami room and a twin room. The special room Tsurumai has the same layout with a living room added; both accommodate 1 to 8 guests, counting adults and children together. Premium Room Type A is about 90 sq m and Type B is about 75 sq m with a terrace; both have a twin room, a living room and their own onsen bath flowing directly from the source. In July 2026, upper-floor lake view twin rooms were also added on the 10th and 11th floors of the annex.
Dining
For dinner you can choose the style that suits your stay, from a half-buffet in the dining area to in-room dining with a set-tray meal that you can take your time over without worrying about other guests. Breakfast is a buffet of more than 40 Japanese and Western dishes, served in the large banquet hall Shuho or the convention hall Tenga from 6:30 a.m. to 9 a.m., with last entry at 8:30 a.m. Children's meals can be prepared without the seven specified allergenic ingredients: egg, dairy, wheat, buckwheat, peanuts, shrimp and crab. For individual food allergies, the hotel will change the menu and accommodate requests as far as possible if notified by 3 days before your stay, though some items such as wheat and soy are contained in seasonings and cannot always be fully avoided. The private dining room Kozukata-tei, in Japanese style with chairs and tables, is also available for families and small groups.
Baths and Onsen
There are two bathing areas: the communal bath Hitorijime no Yu, which has an open-air bath, and Nambu Magariya no Yu, where the onsen flows directly from the source. The indoor bath at Nambu Magariya no Yu, Oiwa no Yu, has a sloped floor reaching 90 cm at its deepest point, and chairs of differing heights along the right-hand half so a parent and child can bathe side by side. The bathing hours alternate between men and women each day. For bathing as a family, there is also a private-hire bath, which is open-air only with no indoor bath: 2,000 yen including tax for 45 minutes, from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., by reservation, including same-day bookings.
Family-friendly features
Children ages 0 to 2 can stay by co-sleeping. The Tsunagi Onsen Liner shuttle bus between Morioka Station and the hotel is reservation-only, with bookings required by 5 p.m. 3 days in advance; the fare is 250 yen for elementary school children, and children who have not yet started elementary school ride free. In the lobby, staying guests can watch Sansa Odori, a traditional performing art of Morioka, free of charge from 8:15 p.m. to 8:45 p.m., with performances planned on 333 days a year. The rental bicycles for exploring around Lake Gosho include one children's bicycle. Child seats can be rented with a rental car from Orix Rent-A-Car for 1,100 yen each.
Access
The hotel is about 20 minutes by car from Morioka Station and about 15 minutes from the Morioka IC on the Tohoku Expressway. By public bus, it takes about 40 minutes from Morioka Station to Tsunagi Onsen, and the hotel is a 5-minute walk from the bus stop. There are 150 parking spaces, free for staying guests. Late checkout is available until 11 a.m.
Access & Information
| location_onAddress | 74-2 Tsunagi Yunodate, Morioka, Iwate 020-0055 |
|---|---|
| directions_carAccess | A shuttle bus runs on a fixed schedule from the West Exit of JR Morioka Station (reservation required; a fee applies). By car, it is about 15 minutes from Morioka IC on the Tohoku Expressway, taking Route 46 toward Akita. |
| trainNearest station | Morioka Station |
| local_parkingParking | Parking for 150 cars, free of charge. |
| callPhone | +81-19-689-2288 |
| paymentsCards | VISA, JCB, American Express, Diners Club, UC, DC, NICOS, UFJ Card, Saison, ORICO, JTB |
| languageOfficial site | https://www.hotel-shion.com/open_in_new |
Reference price as of August 28, 2026 (stay date 2026-09-19). Please check the booking site for actual rates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can children ages 0 to 2 stay free of charge if they co-sleep with us?
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Co-sleeping is free of charge for children ages 0 to 2 who do not need futon bedding. Please note this in the remarks field when you book.
Can the hotel prepare allergy-friendly meals for our child?
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Children's meals can be prepared without the seven specified allergenic ingredients: egg, dairy, wheat, buckwheat, peanuts, shrimp and crab. You can also consult the hotel about other ingredients.
Does breakfast include dishes that are easy for children to eat?
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Breakfast is a Japanese and Western buffet, and alongside the standard vegetable, fish, meat and egg dishes, the menu includes curry, fried items and other dishes that are easy for children to eat.
What are the rates for elementary school children?
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Elementary school children in the upper grades pay 70% of the adult rate, and those in the lower grades pay 50%. Junior high school students and older pay the adult rate, and children below elementary school age stay free of charge.
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Information on this page was compiled by directly consulting Official website, Rakuten Travel, Ikyu.com (a Japanese booking site), Jalan (last verified: August 2026). Prices, availability and seasonal operations change — please check each booking site for the latest information.
We take care to keep information accurate, but always confirm the latest details on the hotel's official site and booking sites before you book or visit.