The location was absolutely breathtaking, we visited in autumn but I'm already planning my next visit for winter! The staff were so lovely and accommodating, not everyone spoke perfect english but they make a genuine effort to make us feel welcome none the less. I loved the onsen, we used the private and public facilities and found them so relaxing. We ate in the restaurant every morning and once for dinner, the food was so well done and we loved getting a taste of the local cuisine. Seriously 10/10 its not the cheapest stay but it is worth the price.

being on the side of a ski slope the walk up the hill to the hotel is understandable a challenge so be prepared if you're not traveling by car!

The facilities are well kept. Love the old Japan hotel feeling with clean, comfortable and unpretentious decorations. A car stop at entrance plus a close by car park in addition to the bigger car park. Staff at check in is professional and at breakfast are great. At dinner, food was nicely presented and it is also a pleasant experience with some selection of sake. Sofa chair in the room we booked extra for was clean and nice! Thank you.

The drink menu could be bigger - also to attract people to try other japanese drinks. Food is great, what could make, especially the western guests, happier is the desert that can really need improvement, even if they are similar to lawson/family mart like cake and desert. The rim of the bathtub needs to be bleached or cleaner.

The location is beautiful and the staff was incredibly kind, patient and accommodating. They were able to help us set up a private onsen experience, ensured we had everything we needed, and were very helpful. Limited English options for speaking but most things had English translations for guests who are new to Japanese or struggle with Kanji.

Western-style beds are much bigger and softer than Japanese "beddos" (mattresses instead of futon). This is something to expect when staying at a Ryokan. Travelers who are unfamiliar with Japanese beds might be shocked by the firmness of the mattress. I recommend asking for extra

Nice western influence on the property. Keeping the Japanese charm with some good comforts - if you don’t like tatami beds this is exactly what you need. Natural onsen which is quite good. Easy access to the ropeway for some lovely views, pick up from the bus terminal.

Breakfast, although quite good quality, had a few confusing items which they should replace. It also was not changed for the two days that I was there.

The beautiful onsens and excellent service staff. We want to thank Tinnu San ( from Bangladesh) at the reception of Kokusai hotel for his excellent service and English, and for bringing us dinner to the room when we could not find food in Zao Onsen town. Thank you so much!

That it did not have a restaurant that served dinner a la carte.

It was a beautiful hotel with both private and public onsen. My husband loved the outdoor onsen and went there twice in one day! We picked a Japanese style tatami room which was very spacious and comfortable.

The location was up on a hill and was a slight walk (about 10 min) to the "main" street of the town. We, unfortunately, were there during a national holiday and all of the restaurants in town were closed for dinner.

Nice bath. They offer free drinks. That was especially nice after taking bath. Breakfast was excellent. Staffs at the restaurant were nice and friendly. Location is perfect for skiers but outsides of onsen areas. It will be 10-15 minutes walk.

Our plan didn’t include dinner. A staff didn’t know which restaurants open. We had to call each restaurant. She gave us a map without any instruction. We wish she would have give us more directions about the town.

We really like the food. Especially the dinner. Since our group doesn't eat beef, at the time of check-in, we asked the hotel staff if they could amend the menu for us. They were able to do that and we had our dinner with a set of grilled seafood which was very delicious and beyond our expectations.

We saw a picture of a private onsen on the hotel website and made a reservation to use one. However, the ambiance is not quite the same as depicted in the picture. In the picture, the private onsen is very bright and new. However, when we entered the private onsen, it was not clean and quite old. So it was a little bit of a disappointment.

Modern, clean hotel with large nice rooms. Great bathrooms and toilet area. Easily the largest room I’ve ever had in Japan.

It’s a bit sterile. The meals were meh. They are know for their Yamagata beef and I had that grilled one night and as sukiyaki another. Beef was excellent, but most of the side dishes were not interesting.

The hotel offers great onsen facilities. Public baths: 1 indoor pool and 2 outdoor pools as well as 3 private facilities. The rooms are spacious and the staff is extremely polite and helpful. They offer a free shuttle bus service to and from Yamagata station which has to be reserved 3 days in advance. Wonderful dinner which was included in our room rate and very good and copious breakfast.

Almost nothing to mention here. The rooms are cozy but maybe a little outdated.