4-Star Hotels in Yamagata Prefecture, Japan

I stayed one night at this hotel, which is conveniently located near the train station and feels fresh and new. The on-site restaurant serves dinner, and we tried the sukiyaki — it was absolutely delicious and definitely worth a try, even if the price is on the higher side. Overall, I had a very pleasant experience and would happily choose this hotel again when visiting Zao.

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.

The hotel is quite old but very well-maintained. The onsen facilities are a bit lacking, but the quality of the hot spring water is genuinely good. I booked the Rian Sansui room with an open-air bath, but the staff informed me that it was just regular hot water and that I had to fill it myself. It felt like such a waste to have booked that room. Plus, the room was on the top floor, so I had to climb a lot of stairs, and then take off my shoes on the last floor before entering – it was quite exhausting. After checking out, the hotel dropped us off at the bus station. I didn't see the proprietress, only a welcome note.

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.

The room is spacious and in traditional Japanese style. Was expecting a private onsen in the room but it was only a bathtub. The staff couldn’t communicate well in English which caused some misunderstanding during our stay but they’re friendly and responsible enough to solve the problem for us so it’s still a great experience overall. The breakfast was very traditional and got more and more abundant every day. We had a great 4nights stay in Hayamakan. The highlight has to be the nearby restaurants. The hotel will give you some recommendations nearby, please make sure you try some of them!

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.