Zao Onsen – Ryokan-hótel

Aaron Hong Kong

perfect stay the food is great the hospitality is overwhelming, way over the japanese standard

Kathryn Japan

Stunning historical ryokan with a number of historic and new onsens. The rooms are renovated in a gorgeous traditional Japanese style and the meal was exceptional. The chef kindly catered for my allergy as I advised in advance. Staying at this ryokan was an exceptional experience and I would highly recommend it to anyone staying in Zao Onsen.

Susan Bretland

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay. Having stayed at Zao Onsen thirty years ago when I worked in Japan, I wanted to share the Zao Onsen experience with my husband, and chose this hotel on the basis of the photos and reviews on Booking.com. On arrival, it all seemed very familiar. After experiencing the onsen bath, and the location of our room, I'm quite sure I had chosen the same hotel where I stayed back then! Obviously it has been quite recently refurbished, but there are some parts that don't change so much. We opted to have dinner at the hotel, which was excellent. Due to some confusion about exactly where the Z90 bus for Zao Onsen left Yamagata city,we missed the bus we wanted to take, so arrived around 6.45pm. (According to Google Maps, we could catch the Z90 from a stop about 50 yards from our previous hotel, but the reception staff there insisted we had to go to Yamagata station... so we missed the bus by one minute. After an hour and a half wait for the next one, the first stop after Yamagata station was, yes, you guessed it, 50 yards from our previous hotel!) As dinner is set out with fresh ingredients to be cooked at your table, you can't be later than 7pm. There is a shuttle bus from the hotel to Zao bus termius, but we didn't know about it, so walked to the hotel. Unfortunately, the short cut route we had planned was closed due to road works, so it was a much longer, and steeper, walk. The next morning, we got the shuttle bus to the bus terminus to return to Yamagata city. The onsen is really wonderful. Zao has a very special PH balance to the water. The bath at this onsen is superb.

Amanda Nýja-Sjáland

Itoya could be Zao Onsen's unofficial museum, brimming with bric-a-brac and skiing memorablia. Spacious rooms with mountain views and plenty of hot water for tea. Traditional Japanese breakfast at 7.30am with jazz (definitely book the breakfast option, you won't find any better in town). A shrine of sorts to the Beatles (!). Excellent little onsen – I always had the women's one to myself, such a treat. Sweet elderly couple doing a heroic job running the place on their own. WIFI was strong. Drying room for ski gear. Many thoughtful touches, including your own kimono. Be sure to buy your ski pass from them as you get a good discount. < 10 mins walk to several ski lifts. I can't wait to go back.

Rachel Ástralía

Breakfast was traditional and nice. The staff were incredibly helpful and drove us to the places we needed to get to. Room was clean and simple but everything you need.

visessak Taíland

We have had a very remarkable stayed at omiya ryokan with fully retreated in a Japanese local life style we will comeback to this place again..

Nicola Ástralía

Big room. Every comfort has been considered. Great food. Welcoming staff. Enjoyable onsen

Alessandra Japan

Great location, 5 minutes walking from the ski resort, 1 minute from public onsen, 2 minutes walking from the bus stop. A lot of restaurants around. The stuff are friendly. The breakfast is really good, Japanese style.

Taniya Ástralía

Very beautiful onsen. Mix bath and private onsen