Esashi Vacations from $615

This is a hard review to write as the staff was polite and the hotel very clean. I just can’t say it was an overall good vibe as an American. Very limited English from staff. We have very limited Japanese, just the basics (hello, thank you, excuse me). I have tattoos so not allowed in the onsen. I understand the yakuza thing, but it’s 2026 and I’m clearly an American and I thought no one looks or judges you in onsen? The hotel while very clean is very dated and depressing. The bathroom felt like an RV camper bathroom. Hard bed, flat pillow. Just not a comfortable or relaxing stay for us. The room at least had a nice view of the water. We did the breakfast buffet both mornings and one dinner reservation, which thankfully for because we tried finding a place to eat in town and were turned away at three restaurants. I understand it’s a rural fishing community, but we simply came to see the seals at Tokkari. The nicest interactions we had were at the ice museum and Tokkari center. They couldn’t believe we came all the way from the US. Otherwise we felt very unwelcome in their town which is sad, it’s beautiful with the mountains and water.