Nanokaichi, Kitaakita hotel rooms at the Independent

"Very clean hotel. The building almost feels more like a small university dorm than a traditional business hotel. The staff doesn't speak much English, so make sure you have at least a rudimentary level of Japanese or a translation device if you're staying here, but they are very helpful and friendly. Of note, there are no elevators or escalators in this hotel, so you need to carry your luggage up the stairs if you're staying on the second floor. If you have mobility issues, I would recommend requesting a room on the first floor. The hotel is located in a fairly quiet area of Odate. Odate Station is within walking distance, but it's a bit of a hike (about 15-20 minutes, depending on how fast you go). The hotel is located near train tracks and the sound-proofing isn't great, so you will hear both trains outside and any neighbours you may have - the trains are infrequent and don't run past about midnight, but if you wind up with a neighbour who makes noise (even if it's just snoring), you will definitely be aware of it. Odate Station has regular trains running to Hirosaki and Aomori City in Aomori, as well as Akita City in Akita, so the hotel works great for getting to those areas. The hotel is located next to an onsen and an overnight stay comes with a free voucher. I didn't get a chance to use mine, but it was a nice bonus. Overall, I found the hotel to be a very relaxing stay and a good spot to use to explore nearby Akita and Aomori. Would happily recommend!"