This hot spring ryokan is located in the inner recesses of Tsugaru, a place known for its hot springs since ancient times. In April 2019, it was renovated and the Tsugaru Four Seasons Water Garden was created, allowing guests to experience Tsugaru culture and the four seasons. Guests can enjoy the historic Owani hot spring in a bathhouse made of Aomori hiba cypress wood and savor Oma tuna with local sake. The live Tsugaru shamisen performances held every night in front of the mural "Shunju Hato" by the master Japanese painter Matazo Kayama are a must-see.
KAI Local Flavors
Aomori is surrounded by rich fishing grounds, such as the Sea of Japan, the Pacific Ocean, and the Tsugaru Strait, and is abundant in luxurious seafood. The dishes, carefully prepared one by one with Tsugaru's food culture in mind, vividly convey the changing of the seasons.
Special Kaiseki Cuisine to Enjoy the Best of Aomori
Seasonal special kaiseki cuisine features local ingredients prepared using both traditional and innovative cooking methods. The pairing of Aomori's prized local sake with the dishes is another way to enjoy the meal. You can savor dishes that showcase the best of Aomori.
Spring (April to May): Oma Tuna and Hanami Crab Kaiseki
Togekuri-gani, or helmet crab, is indispensable for spring in Aomori. It is a small crab about the size of a fist, and its name comes from the fact that its meat is as sweet as a chestnut ("kuri" in Japanese). It is in season during the cherry blossom viewing season, so it is called Hanami crab in the local area and is eaten at cherry blossom viewing parties. At KAI Tsugaru, the fresh crab meat is gently steamed with herbs to enhance its aroma.
Summer (June to August): Abalone Ice Shabu-Shabu Kaiseki
"Abalone Ice Shabu-Shabu" is a summer delicacy in which slices of raw abalone are dipped in herb-scented hot water and eaten with two types of chilled broth. It is served on ice, which makes it look cool and refreshing. You can enjoy it at your preferred level of doneness, from firm sashimi to a softer, cooked state.
Autumn to Winter (September to March): Oma Tuna Kaiseki
Aomori Prefecture is surrounded by rich fishing grounds and is home to a wealth of luxurious seafood. Oma tuna caught in the Tsugaru Strait is called "black diamond" and is known as the best tuna in both name and reality. Enjoy the straightforward flavor of Oma tuna sashimi, the melt-in-your-mouth goodness of nigiri sushi, and other dishes. For the main dish, we offer negima nabe (hot pot with tuna and green onions), which you can enjoy with local ingredients.
KAI Cultural Discovery
KAI, a hot spring ryokan brand with locations throughout Japan, offers you with KAI Cultural Discovery different activities and events, where you can enjoy traditional crafts, performing arts, and food to experience the unique appeal of each region.
Tsugaru Shamisen Live
Tsugaru shamisen is a style of shamisen music unique to the Tsugaru region. It is characterized by a percussive playing style that mainly uses "tataki" (striking). The unique sound that vibrates the air overwhelms both the audience and the listener. Live Tsugaru shamisen performances are held every night in front of the mural "Shunju Hato" (Spring and Autumn Waves), which depicts the scenery of Tsugaru by the master Japanese painter Matazo Kayama.
Time: Every night around 9:00 PM
Fee: Free
Tsugaru Koginzashi Workshop
Tsugaru koginzashi is one of Aomori's most representative traditional crafts. We offer an original paper bookmark-making experience that has been arranged so that anyone can easily participate. With each stitch, you will feel relaxed and enjoy seeing the pattern come together.
Time: 24 hours
Fee: Free
KAI Signature Rooms
The beautiful symmetrical patterns of Tsugaru koginzashi can be arranged in both retro and modern styles, blending into modern life. At KAI Tsugaru, we offer rooms incorporating the charm of koginzashi in abundance, produced by Aomori-born kogin artist Iemasa Yamahata. Koginzashi is incorporated everywhere, including shoji screens, hanging scrolls, and lanterns. The design was handled by the architectural design firm founded by Junzo Sakakura, a Japanese architect who studied under Le Corbusier, a master of modern architecture, and practiced modernist architecture.
Special Features
Public Hot Spring
In November 2022, the Igloo Outdoor Hot Spring was created. Soak in the open-air bath with an arched roof like a "kamakura" (snow hut) and enjoy the scenery of the four seasons. The water garden is decorated with Tsugaru koginzashi lanterns, allowing you to experience traditional crafts. The indoor bath is made of Aomori hiba cypress wood. You can immerse yourself in the thick waters of Owani Onsen, which has been used for therapeutic bathing since ancient times, and feel the warmth from the core of your body.
Tsugaru Shiki no Mizuniwa (Tsugaru Four Seasons Water Garden)
The Tsugaru Four Seasons Water Garden was created on April 1st, 2019, with the desire for guests to experience the culture and performing arts deeply rooted in Tsugaru and to feel the seasonal atmosphere. You can enjoy the scenery of the water garden, which changes with the seasons, while experiencing Tsugaru's traditional crafts, such as Tsugaru Kanayama-yaki pottery, which is characterized by its deep, unique texture, and Tsugaru Vidro glass, which is made by beautifully blending colored glass and is inspired by the Hirosaki Nebuta Festival.
Overview of KAI Tsugaru
Address: 36-1 Owani Aza Kamibotanmori, Owani Town, Minamitsugaru District, Aomori Prefecture
Number of Rooms: 40
Starting Room Rate: Starting from 25,000 JPY per night (per person for a 2 person room, includes tax, service charge, breakfast, and dinner)
Directions: About 5 minutes by car from JR Ou Main Line Owani Onsen Station
About KAI Brand
"Japanese Auberge" in classic hot spring regions
KAI is a leading brand of hot spring ryokan where every establishment offers a contemporary take on traditional Japanese inn whilst keeping Western comforts. KAI invites one to discover the multifaceted aspects of Japan through natural hot springs, exploration of local arts and entertainment, and classic Kaiseki-style course meals using local and seasonal flavors. Experience Washoku, Japanese cuisine, presented on carefully selected ceramics for full exposure to culinary sensations.
About Hoshino Resorts
Hoshino Resorts was first established as a Japanese inn/ryokan in 1914 in Karuizawa in Nagano Prefecture before it began the operation of other resorts in Japan. Today, it has evolved into a highly influential hotel management company and is run by 4th-generation family member Yoshiharu Hoshino. Providing a unique experience focused on the local charms of each destination and a high level of omotenashi, Japanese-style hospitality, the company has expanded rapidly out of Karuizawa since 2001 and now operates more than 60 accommodations both in and outside Japan with one of the following categories: luxury hotel brand “HOSHINOYA,” hot spring ryokan brand “KAI,” countryside resort hotel brand “RISONARE,” city tourism hotel brand “OMO,” free-spirited hotel brand “BEB,” or other unique lodgings.
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