Ryokans in Zao Onsen

The rooms were very spacious and the food was exceptionally. It was a fantastic authentic experience.

Both onsens were amazing. The staff were very kind. Food was out of this world, all sourced from the area. We had a Cedar tub in our room and it was great for soaking, plus it hae an amazing view.

very nice place , good vibe , kind of staff ,

We had an excellent stay, food and presentations were exquisite. We admired the thought that went into presenting food in dishes that are compatible with the “mood” of the food. Only 5 minutes walk to the lift. Staff were professional, rooms were comfortable and clean. We really enjoyed our stay.

The service was excellent, dinner and bfast served was delicious. I just amazed with their warm hospitality especially when we encountered the problems to get to the ropeway of Zao Onsen Ropeway station, the front desk without hesitate and drove 4 of us to the bus terminal for luggage kept at the locker and then further dropped us at the zao ropeway cable car. It was really unexpected and they extend their great hospitality to fetch us around especially that day it was snow heavily. We were much appreciated and enjoyed the stay in the Ryokan. Thanks to the drivers and front desk staffs, it was so touch and definitely a memorable stay and will definitely come back again!

In the heart of Zao Onsen village and a short walk to the main "ropeway" or cable car. The room was beautiful with a table and cushionbs and a cupboard with futons to put out. We went western style and left our futons out all the time we were there and had some of the cushions as a makeshift bedhead against the cupboard. The food was absolutely amazing - we had a shabu shabu hot pot dinner that was cooked on our table and it was difficult to stop eating although despite the very generous serving. Breakfast was also plentiful and nutritiously so well balanced that we could go on skiing for hours without a break. The owner is charming and although we hired a local guide for going back country we should have just talked to the owner. He has been skiing is Zao all his life and was a champion giant slalom skier and is a volunteer search and rescue patrol guy too. The mother has a shop downstairs and her delicious sweet dumplings get sold out everyday. Don't worry about not having a private bathroom (I normally prefer this) as the facilities are scrupulously clean. There is a lovely communal bath (one for men, another for women) and the best onsen in town just opposite (free voucher available from the front desk). Felt really well looked after. Will definitely come back!! Zao Onsen is like a ghibli world. There are snow rabbits running about in the breathtaking scenery of the snow monsters and apparently giant foxes and (musasabi) giant flying squirrels with 1.6m wingspan (very rare to see though). Just lovely! Zao also has a new excellent music bar/restaurant called Takiyama Studio. The chefs drum and play guitiar and various instruments and a waitress sings - it was amazing, especially the qualilty of the waitresses singing and guitar playing. The chef's singing was not my cup of tea but he knew his way around an axe!

Like it very much and Osen very nice, natural~ relax and my friend also like it very much.. highly recommended.. got free shuttle bus..

Very clean and people so nice; room super big

Wonderful location in Zao Onsen, and we were able to use the Ryokan's shuttle from Yamagata station - It's also only a 5-10 minute walk from Zao Onsen's bus terminal for trips back down to Yamagata or if the shuttle times don't suit/are full. Also only a 5-10 minute walk to the Onsen's convenience store, as well as the gondola lifts up to various peaks around. It was unseasonably warm leading up to our visit and the wintersports season hadn't quite started yet, but there was snow on the shaded side of the valley. Food was fantastic, the kaiseki was stunning for all our meals and we were really able to sample a wide range of local dishes and ingredients and they tasted great. There is a nice selection of local Sake and Sochu/etc as well. The baths are lovely (as we stayed during winter, the outdoor baths were closed) and are cycled between genders after cleaning so you can experience both baths during a multi-night stay. They're quite cosy, with room for maybe only 5-10 people at most, but given the overall size of the Ryokan and other guests' schedules it was empty most times we went for a bath, and only with one or two other people the times it wasn't. The onsen water is as advertised, heavy on the sulfur, though the smell did not bother me (I did have a bit of a stuffy nose), and very therapeutic. We stayed in a Japanese-style room which was lovely, clean, stocked with amenities etc as one would expect. Staff were wonderful, struggled a little bit with very sparing English, but we managed to get by with our sparing Japanese as well.

Hotel and room is clean and new and spacious. Friendly staff. Free shuttle van service to and fro. ski slope morning and afternoon. Buffet breakfast and included dinner is superb. Onsen in the hotel and free access to outdoor onsen which is 1min walk away.