Zaborin

Having explored Japan for three decades and staying in numerous luxury Ryokans, Zaborin in Hokkaido has made an indelible impression. It strikes a remarkable balance between Western modern living and Japanese tradition in its architecture. The Northern Kaiseki cuisine was an unforgettable delight. Despite a minor setback with a broken hot spring pump, the attentive manager, Nobue Shiozawa, ensured our satisfaction. Zaborin's tranquil mountain location and warm hospitality only added to our appreciation. We would have given it a 5-star rating, but due to the temporary inconvenience of not enjoying the en-suite open-air Onsen, we rate it 4 stars this time. Nonetheless, we're already planning our return, as Zaborin's value and charm are truly exceptional.

It's a quietly nestled ryokan amid nature. The scenery is, of course, splendid, but the cuisine and service are also excellent, making it a ryokan you'd want to visit over and over again. You can enjoy beautiful snowscapes here. Even without snow, you can still feel the changing seasons, though the most popular time for reservations seems to be the current season. There are open-air baths where you can indulge while surrounded by the grandeur of nature.

Overall, it was a fantastic Ryokan (Japanese style hotel) with authentic private Japanese onsen. Few things I really enjoyed and not enjoyed. Pros: 1. Fantastic private onsen. I've been to many onsen in Japan so I know the good quality onsen and almost plain water onse, this place had amazing quality onsen in each room with inside and outside options. I loved taking outside onsen with serenity view so I ended up taking 3 bath a day. 2: Nice interior design through out that gives you a tranquil feeling. 3. For those Japanese Kaisen food ( traditional Japanese course menu) lovers, it is a fantastic place to enjoy the top notch Kaisen dinner as the hotel plan includes dinner and breakfast, though for those who are not good at the food, it may be difficult to enjoy. 4: Friendly and attentive staff Cons: 1. It was a huge regret for us that we couldn't get a room with beds but instead we were assigned to a bed with Futon. Futon was so thin so I asked them to provide me a couple more futon mattresses but even with those, I could hardly sleep. 2. The room was very basic, unlike the lobby area and other public area.

I only stayed for one night with my husband and we both agreed that this was the best part of our 2.5 week trip in Japan, which was a pretty amazing trip regardless. But Zaborin just blew us away. They are the epitome of luxury hospitality. There is such a meticulous level of care they put into making their guests feel special, welcome and cared for. The staff members are truly exceptional. They are gracious and thoughtful and each one of them treats you with warmth. There is a quick tour of the accommodation as you check in. During our dinner, the general manager personally welcomed us and inquired about our stay, and when we left, a staff member personally escorted us to our car and waved us off. It The food is a showcase of Japanese cuisine at its best and one of the best dining experiences of my life. Just the meals itself (there's dinner and breakfast) is worth the price of the stay. The overall space, room, amenities, toiletries, bed - we booked a western style bed and it was the best sleep we had during our trip, the view(!) with both private indoor and outdoor baths! Everything was high quality so you can truly enjoy a relaxing stay with the luxury of privacy. Even the complimentary tea and coffee was of good quality. There is free parking for anyone driving. They also have a bar that I recommend getting a drink or two before or after dinner. My only regret is not staying longer to enjoy the additional experiences available. While not cheap, Zaborin must be experienced if given the opportunity. My husband and I found our stay to be more than worth the rate given the hospitality, services, the cuisine, and the amenities provided. Many thanks to the Zaborin staff. We look forward to returning.

A warm magical ryokan experience, ranks among the top places we’ve ever stayed at. Everything from the room to the service to the food was amazing. Each room has a private indoor and outdoor onsen!! Dinner (many courses) and breakfast (full Japanese) was included in the nightly rate when we visited. The characters for the poetic hotel name means to “sit” and “forget” among “trees”. Super close to the ski slopes for those who want to ski.

My best luxury ryokan experience and probably the best reward to myself to celebrate my milestone birthday. The location is a great escape from the urban jungle and is completely Zen and truly peaceful allowing for some self reflection and self care. My room was wrapped with outdoor natural scenes even in the middle of winter and I was left with unforgettable memories of tranquility while soaking in my private onsen; the delicateness, artistry, and superb taste of every meal and morsel; and the utmost hospitality, kindness, and respect of the staff. The rest is unexplainable. You have to be there to experience it.

We stayed 3 nights at Zaborin right at the beginning of the pandemic. And I have to say, 3 nights did not feel enough, I wished we stayed longer. We flew into Sapporo and took the local train to the town, which I highly recommend to do! Once we arrived to the train station, Zaborin picked us up promptly and drove us to the Ryokan. Once we stepped in, we were completely relaxed and at ease. The space evoked a meditative calm. Each room as its own hot springs bath, which is not so usual. And to top it off, there are TWO hot springs baths to enjoy. 1 outdoor and 1 indoor. In the winter time the outdoor batch was just perfection. With snowy views of the forest and icicles forming at the end of our terrace, we greatly enjoyed dipping in the hot water and enjoying the nature. Bathroom amenities were top notch and one doesn't need to pack much for a stay here. The bed was very comfortable as well. The food is delicious and we looked forward to it every day. The menu is constantly in flux. And the bar is a real treat after dinner with gorgeous views of the mountain and creeks. We also really enjoyed the tea ceremony. Service is excellent and I cannot recommend this place enough. This was for us the best ryokan we had the chance to stay at in Japan.

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