4-Star Hotels in Yamagata Prefecture, Japan

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.

Great Ryokan and food. Thoroughly enjoyed our stay at this place. From the outside it didn’t look like a hotel for tourists but we’re pleasantly surprised after we stepped inside. It’s a beautiful Ryokan and probably the best in the area. Only complaint is there’s nothing much else around. Most of the restaurants are closed for business and not many shops around as well.

Charming onsen hotel located 5 min drive from Kaminoyama station. A shuttle pick up can be arranged with the hotel ahead of time available from 1430-1800. It’s a relatively dated property but well maintained. A small public onsen with a rotenburo, and a small private onsen within the room comfortable for two. The spring water through the property is the same. Meals provided are extensive, balanced and nutritious featuring local specialities like yam, Yamagata and Yonezawa beef. Drinks are offered at the lounge in the afternoon from 1700, morning coffee and tea available from 0800. Overall a comfortable and luxurious stay.

The hotel is in a great location, making it easy to find food nearby. The room was clean, comfortable, and well-equipped with many free amenities, including KOSÉ facial products. The breakfast was also delicious. The reception staff were friendly and helpful. We were a group of 14 people, and they had arranged our rooms ahead of time, so the check-in process was fast and efficient. Overall, I had a wonderful stay and would definitely recommend this hotel!

Although the price of accommodation including one room and two meals is nearly NT$20,000, after personal experience, I really feel that this hotel is worth it... 1. When checking in, a dedicated person will deliver the luggage to the room. Guests can enjoy the beautiful Japanese garden in the lobby on the first floor while drinking coffee/green tea/matcha/drinks carefully prepared by the hotel. At this time, they can feel the hotel's care! 2. You can pre-select a dining time for dinner and breakfast the next day, and you can dine in a small private room with your roommate, and there is a dedicated person to serve you. The meals are exquisite and delicious, and the ingredients are all served in exquisite Japanese small utensils. After experiencing it, I feel that the money spent is worth it... Third, there are hot spring pools indoors and outdoors, and the hot springs are really flowing in them. The outdoor pools are very Japanese-style. It is a rare life enjoyment to be able to soak in the hot springs in the hot springs on snowy days! Fourth, there are only 22 rooms in the entire hotel, and the floors are all tatami. The beautiful scenery and good soup really make tourists relax and sigh, what more could they ask for in a husband!

This is a very nice hotel. Loved every corner of it. A bit old. But the service and location makes it a nice place to stay. Near shinjo station by bus 20 minutes. It’s a good place to stay if you are going to ginzan onsen. They have shuttle bus to shinjo station from the hotel. They have izakaya inside of the hotel. Staff is great and helpful. We totally recommend it to stay. Awesome views

The location was absolutely unbeatable—right inside the train station, making it incredibly convenient! Surrounded by a wide variety of food options both within and outside the station, it’s a food lover’s dream. The staff were friendly, and the room was spotless and comfortable. Without a doubt, I’ll be staying here again whenever I’m in town!

Very nice hotel close to ropeway station and Zao onsen town. Walking distance to the shrine, famous onsen bath and shopping streets. The room very clean, staff super friendly and breakfast and dinner spread are very good!

It took us about 15 minutes from Yamagata airports to the hotel by a taxi. Located in a cozy area and we could see the mountains covered with snow in the distance (we visited here in January 2024). All of the facilities are clean and the Japanese garden in the courtyard is very atmospheric. The hot springs is also very large and clean, and bathing while looking at the snow was an extremely valuable experience. We took dinner(Yamagata beef sukiyaki) and breakfast here, they were really nice to say at least. The service was also excellent, absolutely.

A highly recommended hotel, except for the slightly expensive price, there is no other problem 🤣 The hotel is within walking distance to the ski resort, and the staff will drive to pick you up, 2 minutes by car. The food is delicious and you won't get tired of eating it for 4 days. The boutique sells exquisite and cute things, and the price is reasonable. I regret buying less! The hot spring is very comfortable and clean! I would like to thank every staff member in particular, they are very enthusiastic and sincere, very helpful, and touching! I will stay here again next time I come to Zao❤️