Hotele z: parking w Yamagata Prefecture, Japan

The hotel has a Showa-era feel. There's no elevator, so you have to carry your luggage up yourself, thankfully it's only on the second floor. There are six private baths that can be booked in advance, and you can use them freely after 9 pm as long as no one is there – it's fantastic! After soaking in the hot springs, they even give you complimentary milk. Dinner was Yamagata beef shabu-shabu, which was delicious. I'd definitely stay here again next time I'm in Zao!

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.

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.

All good, dinner breakfast is great, the room is a bit dirty, the TV is a bit small, the entertainment is less at night, the food is very satisfactory, the next time you have the opportunity to stay, the self-driving past is very good to find, the parking lot is a little bit away from the hotel, the hotel will pick it up

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.