Hot Springs Hotels in Yamagata City

Absolutely lovely place. At first I thought I'd be uncomfortable with how spaceous the room was (I'm a very jumpy solo traveller), but the room was just so comfy with an excellent view. The heater was a bit hot, but there was an electric fan too, so all was great. The hotel allows you to have a free 50 minute private bath each night, and the private baths are amazing, able to accommodate up to five persons and with windows to let in the light and stuff. Excellent onsen water -- very acidic and very hot. Takes some time getting used to the heat, but once you do it's a heavenly experience. There are also public baths (free of charge) that you could enjoy throughout the night and into early morning (they're closed for cleaning only during 9-12 in the morning), one indoor and one outdoor, both connected to one another. The outdoor one is a bit small, but it's so refreshing to be able to flee from the stifling indoor onsen to enjoy the crisp winter air while soaking up in the heat.

Extremely nice staffs in the hotel, although some staffs can’t speak fluent English, there’s no problem in communicating as they are very willing to understand the customer by using translator. Breakfast and dinner were fantastic Japanese meals with no repeated dishes. Hotel room was spacious and clean. Hotel will drive you in and out to cater your itinerary! Wish I could’ve stayed longer!

This ryokan-style hotel boasts a beautiful location on a snow-covered mountain, right next to a stunning ski resort. The accommodations are very convenient, featuring separate shower and toilet facilities within the room. There's also a private onsen available for a small fee, offering a wonderfully private outdoor bathing experience. The hotel provides excellent shuttle services to various destinations; you can easily request a ride to the Zao Ropeway to see the Snow Monsters, as well as to restaurants, the bus station, and more.

Hotel located at hilltop adjacent to Zao ropeway station. It’s onsen is really good despite quite acidic. Don’t soak too long or it’ll be exceptionally itchy to your skin. Package dinner is ok.

I've stayed in over a dozen onsen ryokans of this type, but this one really missed the mark, especially considering the price of over 3000 yen per night. 1. The hot spring water itself is excellent, but any onsen in Zao is bound to be good. 2. The rooms don't have private bathrooms. Here's the main issue: the entire ryokan only has two small onsen pools. One has 2 shower stalls, and the other has 6. Imagine 8 men squeezed into a pool of about 2 square meters, then queuing to take a shower – what a scene! Plus, all these are indoor pools; the ryokan doesn't offer any outdoor baths. 3. The pictures show the public bath in front of the hotel, which I ended up paying a few hundred yen to use because the hotel's own pools were so disappointing. Overall, if you're looking to enjoy hot spring bathing, do not book here. If your main purpose is skiing, you might consider it, as it's only a 5-minute walk from the ski slopes.

Although it is a traditional Japanese-style inn, there are art decorations and piano music playing for a long time, making it feel leisurely and comfortable. The food quality is better than expected, with western elements added, I am very satisfied. The hotel has a shuttle bus service, but no relevant information was provided during the booking process. We walked to the hotel by ourselves, which took more than ten minutes. It was a bit embarrassing in the snow in winter.

The hotel has a Showa-era feel. There's no elevator, so you have to carry your luggage up yourself, thankfully it's only on the second floor. There are six private baths that can be booked in advance, and you can use them freely after 9 pm as long as no one is there – it's fantastic! After soaking in the hot springs, they even give you complimentary milk. Dinner was Yamagata beef shabu-shabu, which was delicious. I'd definitely stay here again next time I'm in Zao!

Overall a practical hotel close to the slopes, room was simple but fine. Free shuttle provided which proved very convenient. Breakfast was good with different options both Japanese and western styles. Staff was helpful especially the Japanese personnel and the young lady in the breakfast room however there was one Indian-like man who was not really hospitable, never smiling and never talking (no hello, nothing at all) staring at you which made me uncomfortable.

After arriving at the bus stop, I found out that there are no taxis in the Zao Onsen area in the summer. I was in a pinch, so I called the inn and they arranged a free shuttle, which was very helpful! As soon as I got off the bus, a staff member greeted me with a smile and quickly carried my luggage into the inn. Once I arrived, all the staff were very polite and pleasant, leaving a very good impression! The man at the front desk was especially kind and warm, and his soft Yamagata accent was very soothing. The hot spring water temperature and quality were excellent, and the open-air bath allowed me to relax and unwind while feeling the nature. It was also very convenient to be able to watch YouTube and Netflix on the TV in my room. There was an event going on, so the menu was different from usual, but the food was excellent. Everything was delicious, and I was especially impressed by the large selection of fresh vegetables and the many options available, including one that catered to vegetarians and vegans! Overall, it was a wonderful inn, but there were some disappointments. Even though the room was renovated and comfortable, the unit bath was quite old and dated. Also, while soaking in the smaller of the two large (small) baths, the bath was so small that body soap and shampoo from people washing their bodies and hair kept getting into the hot spring, which was very unpleasant. It's a real shame to have such a wonderful hot spring bath only to be soaked in dirty water and soaps constantly seeping in. 😢 I really wish this smaller bath would be a private bath where only those who have thoroughly washed themselves in the larger large bath could enjoy a leisurely soak, eliminating the body soap and shampoo.

The location is super convenient, just a 2-minute walk from Zao Onsen Ropeway Station. There's a ski rental shop about a 1-minute walk away. You can store your ski equipment in a specific locker in your room on the ground floor, or use the password-locked lockers in the lobby. Zao Bus Terminal is about a 7-minute walk. They even offer a free ride back to Zao Bus Terminal when you check out. For dinner, there are six delicious and beautifully presented options to choose from. A Lawson convenience store is about a 5-minute walk for evening snacks. The onsen (hot spring) is a good size, not too big, not too small. And since there weren't many guests, it was a very pleasant experience.