Since we came all the way to Akita, we definitely wanted to soak in an onsen on the Oga Peninsula! We chose “Seiko Grand Hotel,” a charming Japanese-style inn that looked perfect for kids. It turned out to be a wonderful hotel where both adults and children could fully relax and unwind.
Seiko Grand Hotel
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- We arrived at the hotel!
- Relaxing in a Traditional Japanese-Style Tatami Room
- Experiencing the Healing Waters of Oga Onsen
- Savoring Akita Cuisine: Dinner Time!
- A Cute Japanese-Style Kids’ Play Area
- Hotel Facilities and Services
- Time to Sleep
- A Traditional Japanese-Style Breakfast
- A Little Fun Out in the Snow!
- Heading to Our Next Destination: The Akita Prefectural Museum
We arrived at the hotel!
The exterior of the building in the distance looked a bit dated, and to be honest, I couldn’t help but wonder, “Is this going to be okay?”
But once inside, it was stunning! The lobby was incredibly spacious and clean, with a open ceiling that had the kids beaming with excitement.
Right in the center, there was a stylish sunken hearth with a crackling fire, which looked so sophisticated.
I found out that the older-looking part of the building is no longer in use (though Dad had to head over there for a certain reason later that night).
They also offered a welcome drink service, which allowed us to take a deep breath and relax.
Meanwhile, the two of them were completely absorbed in playing in the lobby with their Namahage bus—a souvenir they picked up at the OGA Aquarium and absolutely loved.
ナマハゲに会える？
We were invited to a “Namahage” event just a three-minute walk away, but the kids were firmly against it, so we decided to save it for next time. I was really tempted to go, especially since they were giving away wooden “Deba” kitchen knives as gifts, but I had to give it up…
You can go by yourself, Dad. We’ll stay right here and wait.
Relaxing in a Traditional Japanese-Style Tatami Room
We finally made it to our room around 5:00 PM.
Opening the door, we found a spacious area with a sofa before even reaching the main room (Bottom Left).
In the back, there was a 10-tatami mat Japanese room plus a smaller 3-mat cozy space (Bottom Right). With a pillar standing right in the center, the kids were having a blast running around it in circles!
Looking out, we could see the coastline stretching into the distance. My eldest son, who has incredibly sharp eyesight, said he could even spot the wind turbines spinning far away.
The room had no paper sliding doors (shoji) or fragile ornaments like flower vases, so I could just relax and let the kids play without any worries.
There was a bathroom in our room as well, and it was sparkling clean—every single corner had been scrubbed to perfection.
They also gave us some adorable amenities for the kids, which was a lovely touch.
In our room, they had some “Namahage Daiko” sweets, which I believe is a famous local treat.
My eldest son was munching away on them, and they were so delicious that we ended up buying some as souvenirs to take home!
Experiencing the Healing Waters of Oga Onsen
Since my eldest son skipped his nap and looked like he was about to crash, we decided to hit the hot springs before dinner.
The water was relatively hot. My sensitive eldest son would only dip his feet in, but my younger son jumped right in without a problem. The bath was fairly deep, so letting the kids sit on the ledge-like seat along the edge was perfect.
For me, it was pure bliss! It was exactly what I needed to soothe my body after such an active day.
Outside, the open-air bath was surrounded by a beautiful blanket of snow—it looked stunning, but the kids were too cold to step out, so we couldn’t go in…
It was such a wonderful place that next time, I’d love to just take my time and soak in the scenery.
Complimentary Ice Pops!
After our bath, we spotted a complimentary popsicle station! Even though dinner was right around the corner, we couldn’t just walk past them (lol). They had a variety of flavors, but we all decided on the soda-flavored ones.
Savoring Akita Cuisine: Dinner Time!
Finally, the dinner we’d been waiting for! I can’t even remember the last time I had a chance to enjoy such an authentic, traditional Japanese feast.
We were treated to Sea Bream Shabu-shabu, featuring fresh Red Sea Bream caught right here in Oga.
…and succulent Japanese beef round steaks…
The seeds on the meet is called Tonburi, local food of Akita. It is called Field Caviar as well. But the taste is unlike real caviar, tonburi has a very subtle, mild, and slightly nutty flavor.
It was truly delicious to be able to savor so many of Akita’s local specialties, including the fresh sashimi.
The “Oga Salt” provided for the sashimi was so flavorful that I just had to buy some as a souvenir!
Meals for children
Since both of them absolutely love sashimi, they were practically fighting over the adults’ portions too! (lol)
Wait, they have Udon, too?!
Just as we were finishing up, I noticed “udon” on the a la carte menu… I really wish I had ordered it sooner!
The menu was right there in our room, too, but I was so focused on the delicious food in front of me that I completely missed it. Since everything tasted so amazing, I really should have ordered more!
By the way, they had two different types of high chairs available for children, so they were well-equipped to accommodate kids of any age.
A Cute Japanese-Style Kids’ Play Area
After our bath, we headed to the kids’ play area. It was a charming tatami room decorated just like a children’s bedroom, with a tiger-skin style rug laid out inside a play tent.
They also had a corner with Namahage-themed coloring pages and a variety of picture books.
Suddenly, disaster struck! My eldest son accidentally popped a balloon and started sobbing, overwhelmed with guilt. The staff were so incredibly kind, saying things like, “Don’t worry about it, that was a loud bang, wasn’t it?” But he just couldn’t cheer up, so we decided to head down to the hotel shop to buy some ice cream.
Hotel Facilities and Services
The lobby was spacious and warm, featuring a cozy fireplace that made it the perfect spot to sit back and relax. The decorations also captured the essence of Akita, creating a very comfortable and welcoming atmosphere.
売店（ストア）
Although there isn’t a convenience store nearby, the gift shop sells a wide variety of drinks and souvenirs. They had a surprisingly great selection, which was fun to browse.
I even found the same snacks that were provided in our room for sale there!
I bought the “Oga Gelato” I’d been curious about—specifically the Strawberry Milk and Oga Sea Salt Milk flavors. The Sea Salt Milk was a pale light blue, and my younger son, who absolutely loves the color blue, was fascinated by it! My eldest son also finally cheered up thanks to the gelato.
A Sake Bar in the Lobby?
There was an area in the lobby where you could try various types of Japanese sake. It looks like there are specific plans that include access to this tasting.
None of us in my family drink alcohol, but I thought it would be an irresistible spot for sake lovers since you can savor so many different kinds!
Seiko Grand Hotel
For more photos, guest reviews, and current rates, check these platforms:
Laundromat (Coin Laundry)
The shop was located in the annex we had seen from outside. It’s connected to the main building, but the staff warned us that the walkway gets quite cold in the winter. My husband was the one who made the trip back and forth, but each time he went, he’d stop for a quick soak in the hot spring, claiming it was his “way of staying warm!” (lol)
Time to Sleep
When we returned from dinner, the futons had already been laid out. Since we had booked for co-sleeping, there were two sets. Seeing our kids growing up so fast, my husband ended up sleeping on the tatami floor! We talked about how we’ll definitely need three sets next time.
It was so peaceful and quiet that we were all able to get a great night’s sleep.
In Japan, there is a traditional culture where the staff enters your room to lay out the futons while you are out for dinner. Because of this, I always make sure to keep my valuables with me and tuck our luggage away in the corner before heading to the dining hall. I’ve never experienced any theft in my life, but just in case, there is a safe in the room as well!
A Traditional Japanese-Style Breakfast
Breakfast was a Japanese-style set meal with a half-buffet. I was so excited to see beef served right from the start of the day—it felt so luxurious for breakfast!
In addition to the bread, salad bar, and drinks (like apple juice and milk), there were also fermented soybeans (natto) and hot spring eggs (onsen tamago). The kids were able to eat a hearty breakfast of natto over rice and fresh fruit.
A Little Fun Out in the Snow!
Our shuttle bus to Oga Station wasn’t leaving until 10:00 AM, so we decided to take a short walk nearby since we had about 30 minutes. Before coming to Oga, I had imagined the snow would be heavy and wet, but it was actually beautiful powder snow—light and fluffy, making that perfect “fasa-fasa” sound with every step. I absolutely love this kind of snow!
After walking for a bit, we came across the site where the Namahage event had been held the night before.
We also found a footbath where you can soak while sitting next to a statue of Amabie, a legendary Japanese spirit believed to ward off plagues.
There were also various restaurants and bars along the way, and they all looked delicious.
Looking around, I couldn’t help but think it must be a stunning spot when the cherry blossoms are in full bloom, too.
The snowy landscape was absolutely breathtaking, and it made me feel that this place must be beautiful all year round. I’d love to come back again.
Heading to Our Next Destination: The Akita Prefectural Museum
We checked out at 10:00 AM, and the hotel’s shuttle bus (a Hiace van) kindly drove us to Oga Station.
Now, we’re heading off to our next stop: the Akita Prefectural Museum!
