4-Star Hotels in Yamagata Prefecture, Japan

This hotel exceeded my expectations completely. The yamagata airport shuttle (from airport) has a drop-off point right in front of the hotel. The hotel is a 5minutes walk from yamagata station. There is a seven-konbini on 1F of the hotel building, and a toyota car rental directly across the street (1min walk). The hotel room was much bigger than hotel rooms in tokyo, with an amazingly luxurious toilet. Bottled water is provided everyday, as long as you remember to place the ”Make-up room” magnet outside your room door by 10am. The restaurant on 1F sells delicious yamagata beef sukiyaki, it is highly recommended though semi-expensive. The surrounding area of the hotel has a good mix of izakayas, konbinis (all 3 big brands incl lawsons & familymart), and fast food; you'll never go hungry. The reception desk is on 3F and the self-service amenities were of good quality (i.e., scented and thick oshibori, 2 different brands of facial cleansers & lotions, and drip coffee). The staff deserve praise for being so friendly, helpful, and accomodating; they allowed our request for cleaning to be done after 11.30am instead of the usual 10am, and gladly provided extra hangers and laundry bags. Speaking of laundry, there are coin operated laundry machines in this hotel, which have both washing and drying in a single machine; the machine is also password-protected per wash, which gives one a peace of mind. Stayed here for 9 nights as my base of operations for this holiday, I thoroughly enjoyed my stay at Daiwa Roynet Yamagata Ekimae. 10/10.

This hotel is about 1.5 km from Tsuruoka JR Station. The nearest bus stop is 'Science Park.' There's a direct bus from Yamagata Airport, but other bus connections are unavailable, making transportation a bit inconvenient; it's more suitable for those traveling by car. The hotel itself is newly renovated, surrounded by rice paddies, offering a beautiful and clean environment. Breakfast is a Japanese-style buffet featuring locally sourced ingredients. Dinner requires a reservation, as dining options nearby are limited to a convenience store. There are three dinner set menus, which I found a bit pricey, but the food was delicious, especially the bread and desserts. Service was, as always, attentive, and the hot spring facilities were excellent. The only downside is its relative distance from famous Tsuruoka attractions like the Dewa Sanzan mountains and Kamo Aquarium. It's also a bit far from the S-mall bus terminal and the JR station.

As it is a long-established luxury inn, there are no problems with the facilities or the service. However, one thing that bothered me was that I had to wait a long time for dinner when I went to the dining room at the designated time. There were no strings to fasten the sleeves of the yukata anymore. It may have been a coincidence, but it was a great disappointment for a luxury inn that I rarely go to.

We had an amazing ryokan stay at Takamiya with its rich history and culture. Our room was on the highest floor, which gave us beautiful views of the town. The food prepared was delicious and the staff were welcoming and helpful. The ryokan is located on top of a flight of stairs, and there are only stairs within the complex, so those with mobility issues would face difficulties. The staff will help out with your luggages during check-in and check-out though, and all amenities are provided for!

This hotel is located conveniently. There are railway stations and bus terminals near. You can use this hotel as a base and visit other places by public transport. Some travelers live in this hotel and go to Zao Onsen ski resort for skiing or snowboarding. There are a lot of places to eat or go shopping.

I stayed here while traveling from Kyushu. I had a comfortable time. The staff were warm and welcoming, and were full of hospitality. The room was neatly arranged, and I was very satisfied with the cleanliness, including the fact that there were chilled towels in the refrigerator and that we could choose our yukata. The large public bath was bright and very clean, not a single hair was found, and the water felt great. I usually don't bathe in the morning, but I couldn't help but take a dip! I was also very satisfied with the food, both dinner and breakfast! The flavors were mild and the portions were just right, neither too much nor too little. I was able to relax in the lounge as well. The grapefruit juice was delicious! I felt that the entire hotel was carefully thought out. I would like to stay here again. It was a fond memory. Thank you.

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.

We arrived late (20:15) due to temporary closure of Sendai Airport (tsunami warning), and obviously we were late for the hotel dinner after having to travel all the way up from Narita instead. We were tired and hungry when we arrived, but the hotel disappointed us even more for not reserving our paid dinners for us, nor was there a reimbursement. Did they just throw the food away after all the preparation work? The (presumably) manager's attitude was one of inflexibility and apathy, so atypical of Japanese etiquette. The restaurants nearby were all closed already and we had to starve for the first night there. Very unpleasant and inconsiderate arrangement.

Enjoyable Ryokan experience. Loved the huge private dining table/room. The room was also spacious and came with proper bath. Very tasty cuisine made with local Yamagata produces. All staff did their jobs properly, especially the restaurant/free drinks staff.

The room was a bit small, but it had all the necessary facilities and amenities. The staff were generally friendly and helpful. While the breakfast didn't offer a huge variety, the taste was quite agreeable. My only real complaint about breakfast was how crowded it got; I felt quite squeezed in with other guests, which made conversations awkward and a bit uncomfortable. Another minor issue was the strict check-in time. You couldn't get into your room until 3 PM, and checking in earlier required an additional fee.