Ideal as it is between Sendai and Aomori. It is right across Sendai train station so our friend could find us without catching a taxi. Turns out Kitakami has a drum and dance festival which was an easy 5 min walk from the hotel. Every morning would enjoy free breakfast. Either hard boiled egg or scrambled with sausage, miso soup, rice balls, cold cereal with milk, espresso coffee machine! It was so good!