Hot Springs Hotels in Yamagata Prefecture, Japan

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!

My biggest mistake of this trip to Yamagata is to book this hotel. It's a good hotel but it's in the middle of nowhere. You will want to stay around the city of Yamagata province which is also called Yamagata city just so you can get to famous tourist spots. However this is 4 hours away from all of these. I had to book another hotel so I can stay 1 day in the city when I wanted to visit these places and the traveling time just completely made me exhausted. It took like 1 day to go to a place and 1 day to go back. It was so terrible, I was crying. This place is closed to Shonai airport not Yamagata airport so I also had to book another flight from Shonai. I wasted so much money for transportation. It was such a terrible experience. However the hotel is incredibly beautiful with smart design in everything. I loved the onsen very much. If it was just a vacation/restcation for relaxing purpose or isolate yourself from the human word, it's the best choice for you. Since its in the middle of the endless rice field, there is nothing to eat except for paying very high price to eat at the hotel's restaurant. And the food was just okay. The beauty of this hotel was like a trap. Its like I was blind from its beauty and couldn't see all other disavantages.

The room was very spacious, and the facilities were decent. The hotel staff were very friendly. There's also a private onsen available for an extra charge. You can buy lift tickets and rent ski equipment directly at the hotel, and the prices are slightly cheaper. The hotel dinners tend to be kaiseki-style, different every day but feeling somewhat similar. Breakfast is a buffet. Overall, it was pretty good, but the lack of a washing machine was inconvenient, especially since clothes can get a bit smelly after skiing.

The hotel's onsen (hot spring) was incredibly appealing and clean. Its location is super convenient, less than a 10-minute walk to both Zao Onsen town and the ski resort. The staff were also very professional and attentive. I experienced this firsthand after checking out: there was an issue with my luggage that I had asked them to ship for me, as the delivery information was incomplete and the courier refused to accept it. The hotel promptly emailed me to understand the situation. Given that I only had two days left in Japan and had already traveled far from Zao, the hotel thoughtfully assisted by explaining things to the logistics company and advocating on my behalf. In the end, they even arranged for a special vehicle to deliver the refused luggage to the nearest JR station's courier counter for immediate arrangement. I am truly grateful for the hotel's assistance and swift action!

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.

They offer different wines throughout the day, which is a great choice for anyone who enjoys drinking. The private onsen is also highly recommended and worth experiencing. The entire hotel has a strong artistic vibe. The only downside to the public bath is that there's a building in the view, which feels a bit strange.

The service attitude of the hotel staff is really great. It is estimated that the breakfast Japanese dinner will be sold in China.

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.

I wanted to stay at a ryokan, so I made a big decision and booked a place with a private bath!! Sendai is a bit far, so I rented a car. The staff were surprisingly friendly and the facilities were fantastic. There was a communal bath, and best of all, the breakfast and dinner were delicious. The menu was different every day, which made eating there even more enjoyable. I was worried because there weren't many Korean reviews, but it exceeded my expectations!!