Stay period: Tuesday, November 10 – December 23, 2026 (reservations open)
HOTEL Jogakura (ホテル城ヶ倉) in Aomori City, Aomori Prefecture, is offering a stay plan called "The Luxury of Doing Nothing" (何もしない、という贅沢。). The plan is themed around spending time slowly in the rich nature of Hakkoda, without packing in a schedule.
Unlike a conventional trip built around visiting sightseeing spots, this is a stay-focused plan in which time spent at the hotel is itself the purpose of the trip.
Modern life is full of commitments, from work and housework to family. Even on a holiday trip, it is easy to fill the days with sightseeing, meals, and shopping because "we came all this way," only to feel more tired after getting home than before. Many travelers may recognize that experience.
HOTEL Jogakura's suggestion is a way of spending time it describes as "traveling in order to do nothing."
- Soak slowly in the hot springs.
- Enjoy dishes made with Aomori ingredients.
- Have a favorite drink with the meal.
- Talk at leisure with family or friends while looking out at the forest.
Or simply spend time quietly alone.
The plan was created for guests who want to enjoy the time that comes from deliberately leaving some space in the schedule.
"Doing Nothing" in Hakkoda
HOTEL Jogakura is located in the Hakkoda area, surrounded by rich nature that changes dramatically with the seasons. Many visitors come during the busy tourist seasons, but the periods in between offer a chance to feel the stillness of the forest more closely.
The plan presents these relatively calm periods not as "a time with nothing going on," but as "a season in which being able to spend time quietly is itself the value."
Hot Springs First, Then a Slow Evening
After arriving at the hotel, the first stop is the hot springs.
After the bath, guests can relax inside the hotel. They might read a book while looking out at the Hakkoda scenery, reminisce with a spouse about past trips, or enjoy a long-overdue conversation with a friend.
At dinner, guests can take their time with dishes featuring seasonal Aomori ingredients. After the meal, it is up to them whether to enjoy the hot springs once more or head straight back to the room and turn in early.
The idea is to spend the day however the mood strikes, without thinking "I have to do something." HOTEL Jogakura presents these ordinary hours as a luxury that is hard to find in daily life.
There is no need to check the clock and wonder where to go next.
Do nothing. Don't rush. Make no plans.
HOTEL Jogakura sees this "time to do nothing," which is surprisingly hard to create in everyday life, as one of the luxuries of an adult trip.
Not Only for Couples, but Also for Two Women Traveling Together and Solo Trips
The plan is designed for a wide range of guests: adults mainly in their 40s to 60s, couples who want to enjoy a leisurely trip after retirement, women traveling together, and solo travelers.
- A trip for two as a couple, for the first time in a while, now that child-rearing has settled down.
- A trip for two women who want to enjoy hot springs and good food with a close friend.
- A solo trip spent quietly at one's own pace, away from work.
Although the style of travel differs, what they share is the wish to cherish their own time.
A Drink of Your Choice at Dinner
As a perk that makes the stay a little richer, the plan includes one drink of choice per guest at dinner.
Guests can choose to suit the mood of the day from options such as Aomori local sake, wine, beer, and soft drinks.
- Clink glasses with a spouse.
- Talk about old times with a friend.
- Savor the meal and drink slowly, alone.
These moments are also part of "The Luxury of Doing Nothing."
Hot Springs With a View of Hakkoda's Nature
HOTEL Jogakura lets guests enjoy hot springs while feeling the nature of Hakkoda.
The hot spring and large public bath are open from 2:00 PM to 9:00 AM the next morning.
Guests can soak while looking out at the nature, taking their time without watching the clock.
The large bath includes a mist sauna, vibra bath, cold-water bath, and rain shower, among other facilities. The "Jogakura Mist Sauna" uses subsurface water flowing through Mount Hakkoda.
Making the hot spring itself the day's plan, rather than staying in order to sightsee, is another way to spend time in Hakkoda.
Dinner and Breakfast Featuring Aomori Ingredients
Dinner: Kaiseki course
- Available: 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM
The kaiseki course is made with carefully selected seasonal ingredients. It features local ingredients and regional flavors, including moderately fatty "Aomori Salmon" and beef from Aomori Prefecture.
For stays of consecutive nights, the menu changes from the second night onward.
Breakfast: Japanese and Western buffet
- Available: 7:00 AM to 9:00 AM
The buffet includes fresh sashimi caught in the waters off Aomori, Ogawarako beef barayaki from Aomori Prefecture, and squid menchi, among many other Aomori specialties. A live kitchen also serves freshly made egg dishes on the spot.
Stay Plan Overview
Sales period: November 10 – December 23, 2026 (reservations open)
Plan name: "The Luxury of Doing Nothing" (何もしない、という贅沢。) — enjoy hot springs, fine food, and a drink at dinner
Do nothing. Don't rush. Make no plans.
In the forest of Hakkoda, the plan is about taking back time for yourself. That is what HOTEL Jogakura proposes with "The Luxury of Doing Nothing."
Facility Information
Hotel name: HOTEL Jogakura
Official website: https://www.jogakura.com/
Address: Arakawa Aza Minami-Arakawa Hakkodasan-chu, Aomori City, Aomori Prefecture 030-0111 (青森県青森市荒川字南荒川八甲田山中)
Phone: 017-738-0658
Email: jogakura@jomon.ne.jp
Rooms: 31 rooms (check-in 2:00 PM / check-out 10:00 AM)
Access: About 60 minutes by car from Aomori Station. JR Bus Mizuumi-go, in front of the Jogakura Onsen stop.
Free shuttle service:
- JR Aomori Station 3:30 PM → HOTEL Jogakura
- HOTEL Jogakura 9:00 AM → JR Aomori Station (in front of the police box)
Shuttle reservations must be made by phone at least 3 days in advance.
