Unbelievable Luxury Awaits: Hotel New Palace Aizuwakamatsu
Unbelievable Luxury…Or Just Believable? My Whirlwind at Hotel New Palace Aizuwakamatsu (Brace Yourself, It's Got Quirks!)
Okay, buckle up buttercups, because I just got back from Hotel New Palace Aizuwakamatsu and I'm still unpacking the experience. "Unbelievable Luxury Awaits," they promised. Well, let's just say the 'unbelievable' part was… how many things they packed into one hotel. And, well, how my expectations, um, shifted.
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- Keywords: Hotel New Palace Aizuwakamatsu, Aizuwakamatsu, Japan, Hotel Review, Accessibility, Spa, Swimming Pool, Restaurant, Wi-Fi, Cleanliness, Luxury Hotel, Accessible Hotel, Family Friendly, Fitness Center, Onsen Area, Japanese Hotel, Travel Japan, Fukushima Prefecture.
- Meta Description: A candid review of Hotel New Palace Aizuwakamatsu, from accessibility to the spa to the food – the good, the bad, and the gloriously weird! Find out if this Fukushima hotel truly delivers on its promise of "unbelievable luxury." With details on Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and EVERYTHING in between.
Right, back to the actual hotel. First impressions? Classic Japanese hotel vibes. Not the super-modern, minimalist thing; more like, solid, reliable, and packed. Like, a sensory overload in a good way (most of the time).
Accessibility:
Okay, huge thumbs up here. The hotel is surprisingly accessible. I'm always nervous about this, but they've clearly put some thought into it. Wheelchair accessible throughout, which is a huge relief. Elevators were plentiful and actually worked. My room had ample space and the bathroom, thankfully, was well-designed for accessibility. See? Already winning points!
Rooms & Creature Comforts (aka, The Cozy Fortress):
My room? Hmmm, let's just say it was a room. Not sprawling, but functional. I loved the blackout curtains. A Godsend! (Jet lag, you know?) The air conditioning worked like a charm (phew, because summer in Aizu-Wakamatsu can be sticky). They had complimentary tea and, surprisingly, free bottled water. Little things, but they make a difference, right? Wi-Fi [free] was a HUGE plus – and it actually worked! Internet access – wireless and Internet access – LAN were both available, which is a nice option. They also had a laptop workspace, which was practical. Bathrobes, slippers, and a desk – all the necessities to feel pampered, but I was getting the impression of just okay, so I'll leave it at that. The additional toilet, the bathtub, and separate shower/bathtub were also, well, there – all for the standard room.
Cleaning & Safety (aka, Keeping the Germs at Bay – And My Sanity Intact):
This is where Hotel New Palace Aizuwakamatsu really shines. In the (post-)pandemic world, this matters. Daily disinfection in common areas was evident. They also offered room sanitization opt-out available. And! They used anti-viral cleaning products and, frankly, the whole hotel felt clean. Hand sanitizer stations were everywhere (not just a token gesture, genuinely plentiful). Staff trained in safety protocol. Very reassuring. Individually-wrapped food options – good for peace of mind. First aid kit on hand (thank goodness, I'm always a walking hazard). The rooms sanitized between stays thing? Gold star. They even had a doctor/nurse on call. Okay, maybe it is unbelievable in this department!
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking (aka, The Eternal Question: Where's the Ramen?):
Alright, the food. Where do I even begin? The hotel had SO MANY options. Honestly, overwhelming. Restaurants, Coffee/tea in restaurant, coffee shop, poolside bar. The Asian cuisine in restaurant made me giddy. Western cuisine in restaurant kept my more boring companion happy. Breakfast [buffet] was a mixed bag. The Asian breakfast was great, but the western version was somewhat underwhelming and the vegetarian restaurant was alright, but I could have ordered a lot more.
- The Good: The Asian breakfast was a revelation. Miso soup, pickled vegetables, beautifully cooked rice… I could have consumed it daily! They made a bottle of water easily available. Breakfast takeaway service! Happy hour seemed a little pointless. The buffet in restaurant was surprisingly extensive, but the quality wavered.
- The Quirks: There was a salad in restaurant on the buffet, which was a little sad in comparison of what could be and desserts in restaurant that didn't tempt me as much as the coffee shop did.
- The Not-So-Great: Honestly, some of the hot food at breakfast seemed a little…lukewarm. And the coffee? Let's just say I relied on the coffee shop for my caffeine fix. Their room service [24-hour] was tempting.
Things to Do, Ways to Relax (aka, Will This Spa Actually De-Stress Me?):
Okay, the spa! This was a big draw for me. They had a spa/sauna, swimming pool [outdoor, but it's cold! and they had a gym/fitness. The massage was decent. But the real star? The sauna. Heavenly after a day of exploring. Maybe they even had a steamroom, but I was too tired to find them. The fitness center was adequate. There's also the pool with view, but when I was there, the cloudy weather didn't help much. Body scrub? Tempting, but maybe next time. Foot bath? Yes, please!
Services and Conveniences (aka, They Thought of Everything – Almost):
This is where the hotel really flexed its organizational muscles. Concierge, Luggage storage, Daily housekeeping (thank you, universe!), Doorman. Currency exchange was available! Cash withdrawal. Elevator! Meeting/banquet facilities. The convenience store was a lifesaver. The laundry service… well, let's just say I appreciated it after a particularly messy ramen incident. Air conditioning in public area! Wi-Fi for special events. But also a dry cleaning option! The staff were all very friendly, helpful, and trained to the best of their ability.
For the Kids (aka, Are My Nieces Welcome?):
Family/child friendly? Yes, absolutely. Kids meal? Check. I saw a babysitting service, so parents, rejoice! Not that I needed it, but it's a great option.
Getting Around (aka, Can I Actually Escape the Hotel If I Need To?):
Airport transfer? Yes, but I didn't use it. They had car park [free of charge]! Bonus! Taxi service? Easy to arrange. They had bicycle parking. CCTV in common areas and CCTV outside property.
Final Verdict (aka, Would I Go Back?):
Hotel New Palace Aizuwakamatsu is a bit of a paradox. Ultra-convenient, super-clean, and packed with amenities. "Unbelievable Luxury"? Maybe not. But definitely a solid base for exploring Aizu-Wakamatsu. Definitely worth the trip!
My advice? Go with realistic expectations. Embrace the quirky vibe. And definitely hit that sauna. You won't regret it.
(Metadata Revisited):
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars (would be 4.5 if the buffet food was consistently hot!)
- Best For: Travelers who appreciate convenience, accessibility, and a wide range of services. Those who like a classic Japanese hotel experience. Families.
- Consider This: If you're looking for a super-modern, minimalist hotel with a Michelin-starred restaurant, this might not be for you.
- Worth Noting: The staff were incredibly helpful and friendly, even when I managed to spill soy sauce everywhere. (Don't ask.)
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because this isn't your grandma's meticulously color-coded itinerary. This is MY trip. My imperfect, ramen-stained, slightly-hungover adventure at the Hotel New Palace in Aizuwakamatsu. And trust me, it's going to be a ride.
Hotel New Palace Aizuwakamatsu: Operation Relaxation… or Maybe Not
Day 1: Arrival, Bewilderment, and Ramen-Induced Bliss
- 3:00 PM: Touchdown (Sort Of). Okay, so I got slightly lost on the train. Turns out "Aizuwakamatsu Station" isn't exactly hidden, but my Japanese isn't exactly fluent, so I ended up wandering directionless for a solid fifteen minutes, dragging my suitcase that felt like it was filled with bricks. Finally found the hotel. Whew.
- 3:30 PM: Check-In Chaos (and a surprisingly lovely lobby). The lobby is actually really gorgeous. This weird, imposing, very… Japanese lobby with a gigantic floral arrangement that looks like it's about to eat small children. Check-in was… a process. My attempts at polite Japanese were met with polite, slightly bewildered Japanese. Eventually, we sorted it out. Key card acquired!
- 4:00 PM: Room Reveal! (And a minor existential crisis). The room is… compact. But clean. And has that wonderfully sterile, slightly-institutional Japanese hotel smell. You know the one. The window offers a view, mostly of other buildings and a sliver of a grey sky, which, hey, I'll take it after the train adventure. I spent a good ten minutes just staring out the window, wondering if I'd accidentally wandered into a David Lynch film. Is this what getting old feels like?
- 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM: Ramen Rescue! (Thank God for Google Maps). Okay, the hunger was REAL. My stomach was staging a protest. I knew I needed ramen, and I needed it now. After some serious Googling and a frantic sprint, I found a tiny ramen shop a few blocks away. The broth was perfection. The noodles? Slippery heaven. The whole experience? Pure, unadulterated bliss. I slurped so loudly I'm pretty sure I offended a few locals, but honestly, I didn't care. It was that good.
- 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM: Wandering & Wondering (and a slightly embarrassing photo). So, I decided to take a stroll around the block, see what was what. The town is quaint, quiet, a little… sleepy, but in a good way. I came across a little park and, of course, wanted to take a picture with a statue. I got totally engrossed in finding the right angle and, in a moment of pure artistic inspiration, tripped and fell over a small, perfectly manicured bush. Thankfully, no one saw.
- 8:00 PM - 9:00 PM: Back to the room and TV marathon!: I started watching that show about the guy who eats food and travels at random places again. God, it is so good. Just me, the show, and a cold bottle of water, my happy place.
- 9:00 PM - Bedtime! Sleep… Glorious sleep. The Japanese pillow is weirdly hard but that is okay.
Day 2: Castle, Culture, and Questionable Decisions
- 8:00 AM: Breakfast of Champions (or at least, hotel breakfast). The breakfast buffet was… interesting. A mix of Japanese staples (pickled vegetables! Miso soup!) and things I didn't recognize. I stuck to the toast, the scrambled eggs (surprisingly good!), and the strong coffee. I have a theory that Japanese coffee is stronger than normal coffee.
- 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM: Tsuruga Castle: A Historical Hunt! Okay, the castle! Stunning. Absolutely stunning. I'm not even THAT into castles, but this one… wow. The views from the top were amazing. Walking the grounds made me feel like I was in a Samurai movie, I was just missing the Samurai. Trying to read the historical placards was simultaneously fascinating and utterly overwhelming. I spent half an hour staring at a particularly complicated diagram, trying to decipher how castle walls were built, and then gave up and took photos instead.
- 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM: Lunch, More Ramen? (Or Not?). Okay, I had to decide. More ramen, or try something new? My stomach, bless its little, growing, expanding heart, was screaming for ramen, but my brain was saying, "Expand your horizons, you noodle!". I actually ran into the Ramen shop owner at the supermarket and he smiled super big! So cool. I decided on the adventure and ate the local curry rice instead. It was… good.
- 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM: Sake Brewery Visit (and a Slightly Tipsy Tour). I went to a local sake brewery. The tour was mostly in Japanese, which meant I understood about 20%. But the sake tasting? Now that's a language I understood perfectly. I sampled a few different varieties, and, let's just say, my coordination suffered slightly. Okay, a lot. I ended up buying a bottle of something called "Midnight Mystique," which tasted of pure, liquid magic.
- 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM: Samurai Residence (Historical Hysteria). I had to go and sit down somewhere after the Sake. I visited a well-preserved samurai residence. I got lost again. It was a labyrinth of little rooms separated by sliding doors. I tried to be all Zen and appreciate the history and instead kept imagining a host of Samurai ghosts suddenly appearing and scaring me.
- 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM: Dinner Drama (And a Plea for Western Cuisine). After the sake and the Samurai ghosts, I needed something solid. I wanted steak. Steak, fries, and a big ol' salad. But I was in Japan. I ended up in a tiny, traditional restaurant and ate… fish. I'm not complaining! It was delicious! But, I was still craving beef.
- 9:00 PM - ??: Midnight Mystique and a Meltdown (in a Good Way). Okay, so I'm back in my room. After my second bottle of Midnight Mystique, I had a minor breakdown which involved a whole lot of crying. All the beautiful sights, sounds, tastes and smells of Aizuwakamatsu were too much. I ended up watching some nature documentaries on TV until I passed out.
Day 3: Departure (and a Vow to Return)
- 8:00 AM: The Last Breakfast. (So many pickled things!). Same as yesterday. Sticking to the toast and caffeine to get myself in order
- 9:00 AM: Goodbye & Good Riddance! Packing. Easy, right? I swear, my suitcase is growing. I barely fit everything in. The hotel staff were all so polite.
- 10:00 AM: The Train Adventure (Round 2). Made it to the station with time to spare, got on the right train. The ride? Peaceful. Contemplative. Thinking of all the good and all of the mess.
- 10:30 PM: Departure! (Goodbye, magical Aizuwakamatsu!)
Reflections: The Hotel New Palace? Fine. Clean. Functional. Certainly nothing to write home about, but also not terrible. The real magic was outside, in the city. It was fun. It was chaotic. It was exactly the kind of messy, wonderful adventure I needed. And honestly? I'm already planning my return. This trip wasn't perfect but it was real. And that's all that matters.
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Okay, Seriously, Is the Hotel New Palace Aizuwakamatsu Worth It? My Wallet's Already Crying.
Ugh, the eternal question. Look, let's be real. It *is* pricey. My bank account whimpered a little. But... and this is a big but... remember the time I booked that "budget" hotel in Bangkok and got bedbugs? Yeah. New Palace? Way, *way* better. It's the kind of place where you feel like you're accidentally supposed to be royalty. Think less "budget backpacker" and more "eccentric aunt who inherited a castle but still wears mismatched socks." So, yes. Probably. Depends on how much you value your sanity (and a really, *really* good soak in a private onsen).
My Honest Take: Depends on your travel style. Looking for luxury, comfort, and being pampered? Go for it. Budget-conscious? Maybe save up an extra month or two. Or maybe just... skip the shoes for a while. Priorities, people!
What's the Food Like? 'Cause, Let's Be Honest, I Live to Eat.
Okay, buckle up. The food… the food is an experience. They have multiple restaurants, and I tried ALL of them. Okay, not literally. But close. Breakfast? A glorious spread. Think mountains of perfectly cooked eggs, glistening bacon, and maybe the most incredible miso soup I've ever tasted. I actually embarrassed myself by going back for thirds. Literally, I'm pretty sure the waiter was judging me, but the food was *that* good.
Dinner Disaster Story: One night I attempted the Kaiseki (multi-course) dinner. It was… elaborate. Like art on plates. I’m a simple girl, I usually go for pasta. But I tried everything. Except for the raw fish. Not for me. (I almost choked on a particularly pungent sea urchin.) But the rest? Divine. The duck? Perfect. The service? Impeccable. It's an investment, but the flavors! They stay with you. Be prepared to unbutton your pants.
Pro Tip: Don’t skip the local sake. You’ll regret it. Trust me.
The Onsen (Hot Spring Baths): Is It Awkward? I’m Kinda Shy.
Ahhh, the onsen. The moment of truth. Yes, it’s naked. Yes, it’s a little awkward at first. I’m a shy person generally, so I was a sweaty mess of awkwardness the first time. But honestly?. The onsen at New Palace are *amazing*. The indoor ones are lovely, but the outdoor ones? Pure bliss. Picture this: me, perched precariously on a rock, overlooking a Japanese garden, steam rising, the air crisp, the sky… whatever color the sky decides to be. And naked. It sounds weird. It *felt* weird for about two minutes. But then? Bliss. Pure, unadulterated relaxation. And honestly, everyone's kinda just… doing their own thing. It's less "swimsuit competition" and more "communal appreciation of hot water."
My Advice: Embrace the weirdness. Bring a small, hand towel (provided by the way), and remember to wash before you get in. Seriously, basic onsen courtesy. And try the different pools! They have varying temperatures and the water is so good for your skin, you'll glow. I felt like a different person after each soak.
Oh, and the private onsen in some of the rooms? If money is *actually* no object: go for it. Worth (almost) every penny.
What's a "Japanese Room" Room Like? Should I Get One?
YES! Get the Japanese room. Seriously. I didn't at first. I booked a Western-style room, thinking "Oh, I'm used to beds." WRONG. The Japanese rooms at the New Palace are special. You have a tatami mat floor (so comfy!), futon bedding (surprisingly good sleep!), sliding paper doors, and simple, elegant furnishings. It really enhances the whole experience. It's like stepping into a different world.
The Biggest Surprise: How much I *loved* sleeping on the floor! I fell asleep like a baby every night. And the view from my room? Stunning. I spent hours just sitting there, looking out at the garden. The only downside? Getting up off the floor in the morning can involve some creaking and groaning. But, it's worth it.
Is There Anything... Bad? Because Perfection is Boring.
Okay, okay, let's get real. Nothing is perfect. Here's the small print: The price. It's pricey. The walking distance to some of the attractions if you want to wander around on foot (but there is shuttle service available, and taxis or local buses too). Also, if you're *really* sensitive to noise, maybe bring earplugs. Sometimes, the hallways can echo a bit. It's a popular hotel, after all.
My Minor Complaint: I wish the spa treatments were a little less expensive. They look amazing, but my budget couldn't quite stretch that far. I did get to try a facial using some local ingredients, well, a sample of it. It was wonderful. But let's just say I skipped a few lunches to afford it.
Overall? Those are small potatoes. Honestly, any "bad" parts are easily outweighed by the rest of the experience.
Location, Location, Location! Is It Convenient to Things?
It's a good location, not perfect, not bad, but good. Close enough to walk if you are fine with those distances
Overall: The hotel is a great base for exploring the area. Plus, the staff can arrange tours and transportation. Easy peasy.
The Staff: Are They Actually Helpful (and Not Just Saying "Yes" to Everything)?
Oh. Em. Gee. The staff. They are *amazing*. I mean, truly. They’re not just saying “yes” to everything; they are genuinely helpful and unbelievably polite. I once accidentally spilled a large quantity of sake on myself (don’t ask) and the staff sprang into action like they were performing some crazy, well-rehearsed sake-spill ballet. They were calm and efficient, and cleaned everything up without making me feel like a complete idiot. They even offered to dry clean my kimono and gave me a fresh one to wear (which I needed, and I was extremely grateful! ).
The Detail I StillBook Hotels Now
