First and foremost: This is not a hotel for extended stay. This is an unforgettable experience for a day. You are expected to mostly stay at this traditional hotel and relax as much as possible. The rooms are spacious, and the beds are comfortable. Each room has its own outside onsen (hot spring bath). Tip: take a room on the first floor, those bathtubs are carved out of a solid block of stone. The water itself is very hot, but feels absolutely divine and did wonders for my skin. The meals are crazy good. The dinner menu was ~10 courses with locally sourced ingredients. The waiter, general manager and owner took turns explaining in intricate detail what each course meant, where it came from, and why they chose to present it to us. I'm pretty sure the owner also mentioned the cook had a Michelin star - which would explain the unconventional, but delicious creations. The breakfast was Japanese-style, and also very good. I'm not sure what else I should add - the intricate eye for detail and attention the staff gave us (I felt so bad seeing the small Japanese woman carry my heavy luggage to my room, but I wasn't allowed to carry it myself, haha); the free bar with the expensive alcohol at night; the modern interpretation of old history... Not to mention the other included amenities: a shuttle bus, an early tour, live soba making, sake tasting [...] It is pricey, but again: you are NOT paying for a simple hotel night, you are paying for an experience. Full recommendation.

There is not a single thing i would change. I loved every second of my stay. Truly a hidden gem for Western tourists - according to the owner only 6% of the guests are non-Japanese, and we were the very first Germans ever.

The real magic of Yamagata The Takinami reveals itself at dinnertime. Unlike any other ryokan experience we've had, this one offers a chef’s table-style dinner, where guests from all rooms gather around a central counter in the dining room. At the centre, a team of chefs and service staff work with calm precision, wielding sharp knives, tending to steaming pots, and plating each dish with grace and artistry.

Although the hotel is conveniently located in the middle of town, the distant sound of cars passing by could be heard outside while I was soaking in the hot spring at night, which slightly affected the peaceful atmosphere.”

Everything from the moment we Checked-in was perfect. Its a beautiful old japanese house, with a lot of love and taste renovated. The interior is a mix of western and japanese designers. Every room is unique. The private onsen water was so comforting that even me, as not much a onsen lover, loved it to dip in. We stayed two nights and every morning they offered us some kind of activity. For us it was rice planting and going up to the mountain to see basin of yamagata. Also the owners are very nice and are actively taking care of the guests and support them with informations and tell their long family history in yamagata. the highlight is also the restaurant, you can enjoy highend japanese cuisine, cooked with a lot of passion by using mostly local ingredients from yamagata prefecture in a cool low dimmed counterseating or a private room. Please be hungry cuz you will eat a lot.

its not really an issue, but we struggled with the air-condition to turn it off fully.

fantastic. the explanation of what were eating was superb

beautiful building, excellent public space, delicious and beautiful meals.

small TV...