Hotele z: parking w Yamagata Prefecture, Japan

What a gem of a place! The special thing about this place is that there are 5 private outdoor onsens as well as a gender-segregated public bath and one mixed gender outdoor bath (for this one, you need to wear a bathing suit). If you are shy of exposing yourself or like taking photos, then those 5 private outdoor onsens are just perfect. I went in the autumn, which is cooling already and I can imagine what a treat it will be in winter with all the snow. The hotel is located almost to the top of the hill. Either drive or call them ahead and they will pick you up and drop you off in the vicinity. My room is quaint and Japanese-styled. I didn't pay for the meal package as I knew I'd would be busy trying out all the onsens available. They are all open 24hrs. By the way, private onsen number 1 and 5 are the best and most picturesque!!! I'm doing all a favor and posting all the pictures of the private onsens.

The hotel is brand new, and the bathroom facilities, in particular, are excellent. It's probably the best option near Yamagata Station. It's a 3-5 minute walk to Yamagata Station and just a 3-minute walk to the bus stop (for Zao Onsen Ski Resort) from Yamagata Station. The breakfast restaurant is a famous Yonezawa beef restaurant. You can ask the front desk to make a reservation for you.

My room, shared restrooms, & bath were extremely clean! The home is full of character & clearly well-taken care of. Right by Yamagata Station & perfect place to shop. Bunch of parks as well, Kajo Park in particular has the Yamagata Castle Ruins. I spent a day going to Ginzan Onsen, further away compared to Zao. Definitely beautiful view but make sure you are aware of the bus & train schedules, because they come by roughly once an hour. The hostess is as nice as the reviews say she is! A little awkward at first, but she'd chat with me & patient when I tried speaking in Japanese. Very cheery personality! There was an avalanche risk warning, but she reassured me I'll be safe going to Ginzan Onsen. She'd come out to greet or see me off each day. Overall, very pleasant! Amenities were great! She provided basic necessities without extra charge (toothbrush/paste, towels) AND a yukata!! The futon was already set out for me when I arrived. Each night, when I returned, the bath was ready so I could go straight to showering & soaking. Lastly the amazing breakfast like the other reviews have stated. So cheap for how much food she gives you! Great variety, the rice smelled amazing, & a little different each meal. You come down at the agreed time, sit at a table with the TV on, & eat the meal in peace. Overall, the best place I stayed at in Japan & will definitely book again when visiting Yamagata! You really get to live the traditional Japanese-lifestyle!

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.

The trip was planned few weeks ahead, accommodation options in Zao Onsen are scarce. If there were other options, I probably would not go with this hotel again. - Before arrival, I called the hotel twice using trip.com but no one answered. - There was only one front desk staff handling check-in. I have waited for 20 minutes for check-in and the Indian family has it waited for 35 minutes. There was another staff coming out from the office and acknowledged the queue. However no action was taken despite the long wait by guest. - I inquired about shuttle bus service but the staff at the entrance said “No shuttle bus”. I saw shuttle bus having the hotel name around the Zao Onsen area. - On the first day of room cleaning, the cleaning lady has not replaced the used porcelain cup and Japanese cup. Also no replenishment on tea bags and toilet amenities. At this price point of over USD500 per night, I was quite surprised. - There are 2 onsen places, one outside the hotel and one on the 1F. The outdoor onsen inside the hotel was not opened and the reason is “snow accumulation”. Overall, the room is spacious and clean but the service did not meet the expectations.

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 spent two nights in Tokyo Daiichi Hotel Tsuruoka and I would stay there again. The location is very good - ten minutes easy walk from Tsuruoka JR train station and it's directly connected to S-Mall, so you don't even have to go outside to access the shops and restaurants in the mall. There is also a bus terminal at the mall for local buses - I caught a bus from there to Mount Haguro. The bedroom was a good size for a Japanese business hotel with a good size desk and chair. However, I could only find one power socket! It's good that I brought a power strip! Typical of Japanese hotels with Onsen / Sentō the bathroom is small - most people would use the public bath facilities to shower. The hotel has a Japanese style bath, however it was in the annexe, so it was rather confusing the first time I tried to find it. Two of the baths were inaccessible - the door was locked. The main bath was okay, there is a sauna and cold plunge pool. The front desk were very polite, efficient and could speak basic English.

This ryokan-style hotel boasts a beautiful location on a snow-covered mountain, right next to a stunning ski resort. The accommodations are very convenient, featuring separate shower and toilet facilities within the room. There's also a private onsen available for a small fee, offering a wonderfully private outdoor bathing experience. The hotel provides excellent shuttle services to various destinations; you can easily request a ride to the Zao Ropeway to see the Snow Monsters, as well as to restaurants, the bus station, and more.

Absolutely lovely place. At first I thought I'd be uncomfortable with how spaceous the room was (I'm a very jumpy solo traveller), but the room was just so comfy with an excellent view. The heater was a bit hot, but there was an electric fan too, so all was great. The hotel allows you to have a free 50 minute private bath each night, and the private baths are amazing, able to accommodate up to five persons and with windows to let in the light and stuff. Excellent onsen water -- very acidic and very hot. Takes some time getting used to the heat, but once you do it's a heavenly experience. There are also public baths (free of charge) that you could enjoy throughout the night and into early morning (they're closed for cleaning only during 9-12 in the morning), one indoor and one outdoor, both connected to one another. The outdoor one is a bit small, but it's so refreshing to be able to flee from the stifling indoor onsen to enjoy the crisp winter air while soaking up in the heat.

Overall a practical hotel close to the slopes, room was simple but fine. Free shuttle provided which proved very convenient. Breakfast was good with different options both Japanese and western styles. Staff was helpful especially the Japanese personnel and the young lady in the breakfast room however there was one Indian-like man who was not really hospitable, never smiling and never talking (no hello, nothing at all) staring at you which made me uncomfortable.