Yamagata, Tendo, Kaminoyama | Popular hotels and Ryokan (Japanese inn) based on customer reviews!

If you're looking for a kashikiriburo (private, reservable bath), I highly recommend the Zao Kokusai Hotel. The water here is a strongly acidic sulfur spring, which is unique to the Zao area. You'll know it by its classic cloudy white appearance. The hotel has three different types of private baths that you can reserve for an extra fee. The best part is that all of them are gensen kakenagashi—meaning they are filled with 100% pure, free-flowing water straight from the source (no extra water added or recycled). The main public bath (daiyokujo) can get pretty crowded at peak times. But with a private bath, you get to have that amazing, high-quality water all to yourself in peace and quiet. It's also a great hotel for solo travelers, so you can feel completely comfortable staying there on your own.

This hotel has easy access to the ski resort. It is within walking distance of Sanroku Station and Chuo Station, and the slopes are just around the corner. In winter, there is a half-price plan for elementary school students, so it's great value for money. You can enjoy delicious dishes such as Yamagata beef sukiyaki and Shabu Shabu（Japanese hotpot）. The open-air bath from which you can enjoy the natural scenery is attractive, and the breakfast Buffet is very popular with its wide variety of menu items. This is the perfect hotel for a family ski trip.

If you're an onsen enthusiast, you have to try the private bath (kashikiriburo) at Miyamaso Takamiya. The Zao hot spring is famous for its cloudy white, strongly acidic sulfur water. It's honestly considered one of the absolute best water qualities in all of Japan. Here’s the real highlight of this ryokan: It's not just the main public bath—even the private, reservable baths are gensen kakenagashi. This means you get to enjoy the real, authentic onsen in total privacy. No tap water is added to dilute it, and the water isn't recycled or circulated. It's 100% pure, fresh-from-the-source water. The public bath is great too, but if you're the kind of person who wants to quietly and truly appreciate the pure water itself, then having one of these private baths all to yourself is the ultimate luxury.

This inn is located very close to the slopes, so many guests stay there for the skiing purpose. The hot spring is also authentic, and the open-air garden bath is in a wonderful location where you can feel the four seasons. It is lit up at night, so you can enjoy a fantastic view. There is a wide variety of food, including Yamagata's specialty potato stew, wagyu beef Shabu Shabu（Japanese hotpot）, and Yonezawa beef steak. Since it is Yamagata Prefecture, the white rice is sweet and delicious, and Japanese sake is a must. There is a famous sake, so please try it with your meal. It is close to the ski resort, so you can move around efficiently and enjoy both the hot spring and the food.

Among the many hotels in Zao Onsen, this one is recommended as a luxurious and beautiful one. In fact, this hotel is also related to the famous local haiku poet, Saito Mokichi. There are also photographs on display detailing the history of Zao Onsen, which is well worth a look. In addition to the open-air bath, there is also a hot spring bath, so you can fully enjoy the hot springs, and there is also a private family bath. You will be satisfied with everything from the dinner of Yonezawa beef and local cuisine to the baths and the atmosphere of the rooms.

I think Zenshichinoyu is perfect for solo travelers who want to enjoy an onsen in peace. The views from the kashikiriburo (private, reservable baths) are just fantastic. This inn has seven different private baths, but the open-air ones named "Ebisuten" and "Hoteison" are in the absolute best locations. They offer panoramic views overlooking the entire Zao Onsen town and the distant mountains. And, of course, they are completely free for staying guests. The main public baths can sometimes feel crowded and not very relaxing. But here, you get to have both the incredible Zao scenery and the wonderful hot spring water all to yourself. It’s a truly luxurious experience.

For a seamless nature retreat, we recommend this hotel, conveniently offering a complimentary shuttle from the Zao Bus Terminal. Perched in the highlands, it allows you to breathe in the crisp, clean mountain air and enjoy panoramic views of the natural landscape.The grand public bath is wonderfully comfortable and spacious enough to stretch out your legs and truly unwind. You'll also appreciate the authentic gensen kakenagashi onsen, with water flowing directly from the source. To complete the experience, the comfortable guest rooms feature their own stunning mountain views.

There is a Japanese-style room with 10 tatami mats that can accommodate four people. For dinner, you can have Wagyu beef sukiyaki or Shabu Shabu（Japanese hotpot）. In the morning, you can have Buffet or a set meal. You can bathe in the sulfur springs of Zao Onsen 24 hours a day in the open-air cypress bath or rock bath. The ropeway station is right in front of you, a one-minute walk away. It's also nice that you can use the nearby Takamiya Group baths for free.

Step back in time at "Omiya Ryokan," a truly lovely inn brimming with the nostalgic charm of the Taisho Roman era. The entire building is lined with traditional tatami mats, inviting you to leave your slippers at the door and enjoy the soothing, relaxing feeling of walking barefoot.Here, you can immerse yourself in the authentic Zao Onsen experience, enjoying the characteristic sulfur-scented spring water in a variety of baths. From your room, gaze upon a panoramic view of the quaint onsen town and the mountains of Zao, whose beauty transforms with every season. At night, the romantic glow of the town's lights creates a scene of pure magic.

I think Gokan no Yu Tsuruya is a great place for solo travelers who want to make the most of their onsen experience. They have four different types of named kashikiriburo (private, reservable baths). Each one is unique—some are made of stone, others of wood—so they all have a completely different vibe. The main public bath is nice, but if you're traveling solo, the real highlight is "hopping" between all these different private baths. As long as one is vacant, you can use them as many times as you want, completely free of charge. The best part is getting to have your own private "yu-meguri" (onsen hopping) experience without ever having to leave the inn. That's the biggest draw!

Iwashimizu Cuisine Inn Kinosato has an open-air bath with free-flowing natural hot spring water, overlooking the Zao mountains. There is also a foot bath, where you can sit and relax while taking in the open view. After the bath, you can receive an aroma treatment. There is also a colorful yukata rental service, which is great for women. Dinner is a Satoyama kaiseki meal made with local seasonal ingredients, and you can eat Zao beef and Yonezawa beef. A little independent guest cottages from the hot spring town, this quiet inn is surrounded by nature, and the guest rooms are Japanese-style rooms with a relaxing feel.

This inn offers a meal plan where you can enjoy Zao beef from Yamagata, which is highly recommended. There are two types of hot spring: the milky white water that is unique to Zao Onsen, and the weakly alkaline artificial hot spring. You can enjoy both the food and hot spring, and stay for much less than your budget.

Meitoyosha Sou -MEITOYA SO- is a 10-minute walk from the Zao Onsen bus terminal. hot spring The inn is located in the center of the city and mountains. The guest rooms have a modern Japanese taste and a sense of calm. Inside the inn, there is a large bath of tasteful wood construction, open-air bath and a private half open-air bath, and you can enjoy hot spring of 100% natural hot spring. Dinner is Japanese food set + buffet, and you can enjoy Yamagata beef, taro stew, tama-konnyaku, and other local delicacies.