This hotel was absolutely lovely. It was clean and spacious. It was more traditional than some of the previous places and that is exactly what we were looking for. After 2 weeks in Japan, we used this location for a rest day. The Hot Spring baths and Onsen were beautiful and gorgeous. Perfect for what we were looking for. The staff also seemed to go above and beyond for us in every way.

Property was great in all ways. There was a restaurant (not owned by them) right around the corner with amazing traditional cook the food yourself. But the rest of the town was lacking in accurate open and close times for restaurants which made it difficult to locate dinner on some nights.

It was an outstanding experience from start to finish. The staff were incredibly nice and helpful, always going above and beyond to ensure our stay was comfortable and enjoyable. Dinner was a truly cool experience, featuring exquisite Japanese cuisine that was both authentic and delicious. The onsen was also exceptional, providing a serene and relaxing atmosphere. The overall vibe of the hotel was inviting and warm, making it a perfect retreat. Highly recommended!

The staff were very friendly and welcoming. The bedroom was spacious and comfortable. We tried the private onsen and it was also an amazing experience. We ordered to have dinner and breakfast in our room and it was an amazing feast! They even catered vegetarian for us which is a huge bonus in Japan.

It was our fault not to ask the price of dinner before ordering it, but it was extortionately overpriced.

For the price I paid, the quality of food exceeds expectation so were the hot springs. My only grouse is the pillows were not the traditional buck wheat pillows I expected. Meals were served in the room which has a separate sitting and dining area from the bed room. The Yonezawa beef came with a price but it is well worth paying for. A very nice 2-day stay.

The pillows.

The place was amazing. Beautiful and large room, very comfortable. We absolutely loved the food, especially the Yamagata wagyu! It was delicious and the meals were so beautiful and plentiful. We bought many items from the hotel gift shop - they carry very nice souvenirs. Rooftop outdoor private onsen for free - an amazing addition to an already wonderful stay.

My family had an absolutely lovely stay for one night at this ryokan. We in particular enjoyed the outdoor private (!) onsen (as it is normally a little bit too hot for me to bathe in onsen the cold air from being outside in winter was great), and the staff was incredibly friendly and accomodating. We got help with bringing our luggage to the station when we checked out, and they offered to help out if we ever ran into any trouble on our travels through northern Japan. I would definitely recommend booking the dinner and breakfast option at least once, for a chance to try local specialities and enjoy the beautiful presentation of traditional Japanese food. Kudos to the wonderful staff, I will be recommending Arimakan to any friends thinking of visiting Yamagata!

An amazing stay at a family run establishment. A warm and hospitable staff, great pools, and delicious food. Cannot reccomend enough. Off the usual tourist path, well worth a visit. Dreaming of returning soon:)

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Staying here was more than perfect. The room was so nice and the baths were amazing. I could even book a private Onsen. The staff was so nice, helpful and accommodating, they helped me with everything. Since I am vegetarian they even went all the way to make me vegetarian meals which were so so good! I would definitely stay here again, I enjoyed it very much.

Great place to stay, close to the castle. The room was relatively large and spotless. The price of the room included one free use of the private rooftop onsen, which has a view of the mountains. The staff are friendly and welcoming. Will recommend.

The room was amazing, the dinner and breakfast served in our room was outstanding with accommodation for my wife dietary requirements. Everything was great!!.

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