Explore genuine reviews and ratings from real travellers to find the perfect accommodation for your needs.
Posted on Feb 12, 2024|Semi Western-Style Room
Guest UserA wonderful place to stay in. The service was fantastic. The room was huge, much too large for just a solo traveler like me but it would have been perfect if I had brought my wife and child along. The onsen quality was great, albeit the fittings at the shower area were a bit old. The food was hands down amazing and featured great local produce. Honestly there was too much for one person to finish! What I especially liked was that they had a separate room on the first floor where if it was too early for you to check in, you could drop your luggage off, change, and then grab your gear and head to the slopes. Same thing if you intend to charge the slopes a bit more on your last day, just leave your stuff in the storage room, hit the slopes, come back and change out, hit the onsen for the last time, then go off. Definitely recommending this place to my friends visiting Zao.
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Price per night from:£90
Posted on Feb 16, 2024
Zoe
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.
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Price per night from:£91
Posted on Dec 28, 2025|Japanese Twin Room - Non-Smoking
Guest UserThe trip was planned few weeks ahead, accommodation options in Zao Onsen are scarce. If there were other options, I probably would not go with this hotel again.
- Before arrival, I called the hotel twice using trip.com but no one answered.
- There was only one front desk staff handling check-in. I have waited for 20 minutes for check-in and the Indian family has it waited for 35 minutes. There was another staff coming out from the office and acknowledged the queue. However no action was taken despite the long wait by guest.
- I inquired about shuttle bus service but the staff at the entrance said “No shuttle bus”. I saw shuttle bus having the hotel name around the Zao Onsen area.
- On the first day of room cleaning, the cleaning lady has not replaced the used porcelain cup and Japanese cup. Also no replenishment on tea bags and toilet amenities. At this price point of over USD500 per night, I was quite surprised.
- There are 2 onsen places, one outside the hotel and one on the 1F. The outdoor onsen inside the hotel was not opened and the reason is “snow accumulation”.
Overall, the room is spacious and clean but the service did not meet the expectations.
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Price per night from:£89
Posted on Jan 1, 2026
Guest User
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!
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Price per night from:£43
Posted on Dec 17, 2025
CHANGBEN
This hotel is excellent! I checked in a bit late, and a Filipino staff member was incredibly helpful, assisting with the check-in process and introducing all the facilities. On another note, I realized I had left something behind after checking out and called the hotel. It was the same staff member who answered and immediately helped arrange for my forgotten item to be mailed to my hotel in Sendai. I'm very grateful for the hotel's service and its warm-hearted staff. I also commend the hotel for its excellent staff training. The next time I return to Zao, I will definitely choose this hotel again. Not only that, but the hotel's facilities are also fantastic, especially the large public bath – soaking in the hot spring after a long day really helps to relieve fatigue!
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Price per night from:£75
Posted on Oct 20, 2025
Guest User
Nice and clean business hotel very near the Yamagata train station. Location is top notch! Basic hotel with everything you'd need. There is an artificial onsen on the 14th floor, which was good for a soak after a long day. Breakfast buffet was basic but tasty. Warm foods like rice, miso soup, bacon, stir fried veggies, etc were available in addition to some pastries and bread with butter and jams.
Will definitely stay again when in the Yamagata area.
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Price per night from:£34
Posted on Jan 3, 2026
Guest User
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.
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Price per night from:£60
Posted on Aug 30, 2025
mihamoonlove
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.
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Price per night from:£76
Posted on Feb 2, 2025
啾啾啾啾啾
The accommodation is about a 10-minute walk from the station, which is a bit more difficult when it snows. It seems that he provides parking lot, which is more suitable for people who drive.
There is also a large supermarket within a 10-minute walk nearby, which is very convenient.
The baths for men and women are separate, so you don't have to wait for a long time, which is very convenient! Very recommended
There is a free bar and snacks downstairs which is a good deal.
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Price per night from:£30
Posted on Aug 18, 2025
YJong
The location is excellent, just a 2-3 minute walk to the left from the Yamagata JR station exit. It's very close to the No. 1 bus stop for Zao, and Kasumi Park is within 1 kilometer, within walking distance. The rooms are clean and spacious, and although a bit old, they are well maintained! Note that the check-in counter is on the 3rd floor, so please pay attention when you go there to avoid getting lost like I did.
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Price per night from:£24