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Location: Towadako, Aomori Prefecture

Welcome to Tsuta Onsen Ryokan. This classic, north-country inn dates to 1909 and is one of Tohoku's most famous traditional ryokan. Tsuta means "ivy" in Japanese, a theme carried out in the decor and also in the dense, surrounding beech forest.
Rooms in the oldest wooden structure (built in 1918) and an annex (built in 1960), both up a long flight of stairs, have beautiful wood-carved details and good views, while the west wing, a 1988 addition, has an elevator and the convenience of toilets (a few have bathrooms).
The hot-spring baths are new but preserve traditional bathhouse architecture, with high ceilings and cypress walls; they're considered beneficial for healing scars and other skin problems.
Tsuta is one of a kind and is served by the same JR bus that travels between Aomori and Lake Towada (it's about a 15-min. bus ride to Yakeyama). It also has its own 1-hour hiking trail to a nearby lake.

Minshuku

Ryokan Facilities
Guest Rooms
Yes	Japanese Style Room with Private Bath and Toilet Available	No	Non-Smoking Rooms
Yes	Japanese Style Room with Private Toilet Available	No	"Hanare" (Private Guest Residence)
Yes	Large Japanese-style Room (4 or more guests)	Yes	Towels
Hot Spring Baths
Yes	Shared Outdoor Hot Spring Bath (Same Gender Only)	Yes	Private Outdoor Hot Spring Bath (attached to Guest Room)
Yes	Shared Indoor Hot Spring Bath (Same Gender Only)	Yes	"Family Bath" (Privately Reserved Hot Spring Bath)
Yes	Private Hot Spring Bath in Guest Room	No	Mixed Outdoor Hot Spring Bath (Both Genders)
Normal Baths (Not Hot Spring Water)
Yes	Shared Outdoor Bath (Same Gender Only)	Yes	"Family Bath" (Privately Reserved Bath)
Yes	Shared Indoor Bath (Same Gender Only)	No	Mixed Outdoor Bath (Both Genders)
Yes	Private Outdoor Bath (attached to Guest Room)
Meals
No	Dinner and Breakfast Plan Available	No	No Meals Plan Available
Yes	Breakfast Only Plan Available
Special Meal Requests
Yes	Special Meal Requests (e.g. No Pork)	No	Vegetarian Meals (no fish but with fish broth)
Yes	Vegetarian Meals (with fish)	No	Western-style Breakfast
Dining Arrangements
Yes	Dinner Served in Guest Room	No	Breakfast Served in Guest Room
Other
English Ability of the Ryokan Staff/Owners: A Little English Spoken
Internet Connection: No Internet Connection
Parking: Free Parking
Curfew Time: No Curfew
No	Pick-up Service	Yes	Shops and Restaurants Near Ryokan
No	Single Guests	Yes	Children under 12 Years Old Allowed
Yes	Pay with a Credit Card