Surprisingly the onsen arrangement works, as this is outperformed first time staying at a accommodation with shared bath. Staff does not speak much English, but very kind. Excellent staff by the name Ichikawa at the restaurant. The food is great. The lounge is great and they prepared daily cut fruits for our entire stay. A good walk to the Main Street and found my way to restaurants.

The stairs (and it’s common in ryokan) and luckily we were not on the top floor. The stairs are narrow hence need to be extra careful.

We got the room deal that came with breakfast. Breakfast was sumptuous with many varieties and change daily. I would have liked to try the dinner but didn't get the package for it. Location is a 5 minutes walk from Zao bus station. There is a small room at the side of the lobby to keep your snowboards or skis. This hotel is closer to the ski slopes on the north side. Room was impressive and large. Nice lounge on 2nd floor offering drinks, with some books and board games for borrowing.

There is no shower/bathtub in the room because you are expected to use the onsen. Onsen is a little small but not a big problem.

Zao Omiya Ryokan offers a very traditional Japanese experience, perfect for those looking to immerse themselves in local culture. The rooms are comfortable, but keep in mind there are no private bathrooms—guests use the public bath, which is pleasant, though it lacks an outdoor option. One thing to note is that there’s no lift, so if you’re traveling with large luggage (as I was with a family of five), be prepared for the stairs. While there are some restaurants nearby, options are limited, so it’s worth considering dinner at the ryokan. I went out to find food but ended up walking quite a bit. The service staff speaks limited English, but they are incredibly friendly and do their best to communicate and make your stay enjoyable. Overall, it’s a charming and authentic stay, ideal for those seeking a true ryokan experience.

There is no lift but heh … it’s traditional ryokan and I can’t be asking for everything. So this is something I don’t like but I am not complaining and fine with it.

Room was excellent and very spacious. We loved the location as it was close to many shops, restaurants, and the ski lifts. The facility staff were very welcoming and helpful for our requests. Breakfast was great. We weren't able to finish everything because there was a lot served. Worth the price. I'd recommend also booking at least 1 night dinner here to try the local seasonal food and Yamagata beef.

Our room was right above the outdoor hot spring so we could smell the sulfur in our room. I don't mind it but would probably request a room facing the other way next booking.

I really enjoyed the free transport from yamagata station to the accommodation both ways (can text and reserve on booking.com) i enjoyed the onsen and the surrounding foot baths. the food was delicious and they give A LOT of food. this is probably way nicer in winter when most of the festivals and events are happening!

even though the onsen was nice, it was quite small compared to the surrounding onsen and previous ones i’ve been to. the water quality was good but there were very limited options and space!

Overall, it was amazing to stay here. The rooms were cozy and clean. Stuff was kind and helps a lot. Breakfast was amazing and really delicious.

However, the onsen is a bit old and doesn’t have enough space to accommodate all the guests. Some equipment in the men's onsen was broken, some shower heads were no hot water available for the showers. Additionally, I sent messages through BOOKING regarding adding dinner for my family, but I never received a response.

The hotel is situated halfway between the bus station and the attractions. The Western-style rooms are spacious, and the staff is very eager to assist guests. The public baht is not too busy and clean.

The steps are not very user-friendly, so be prepared to navigate them for all activities in the hotel. However, it's good exercise. If you don't have a car, you'll need to walk uphill and downhill to explore the town anyway. Also, if you don't eat beef, please make sure to indicate that in your booking request, or you may find that there are no alternatives available for breakfast.

The hotel has a very comfortable Japanese-style ambiance, and the staff are all kind and friendly. The meals are prepared with great care, and I especially appreciate that they offer vegetarian options. The hotel also provides rubber boots for guests, allowing me to walk safely through the heavy snow. The onsen space is relatively small, I particularly liked the one with the circular bath. Due to the heavy snowfall, we didn’t experience the onsen at the sister hotel. We had a truly enjoyable time here.

A fantastic Ryokan for those wanting a traditional japanese experience with friendly and helpful staff. The bedrooms are large and comfortable with a choice of standard bed or traditional futon (I went for a standard bed which was very comfortable). Start the day with a delicious traditional japanese breakfast and end it with an in-house onsen. Walking distance to the main gondola and restaurants.

Good location, yummy meals, nice customer service, Large room, lots of Yukatas to choose from, love the public lounge room. I like the 1 hour check out extension for only 2200 yen. Overall, I rate this 3.9 out of 5.

The concierge / customer service spoke very little English. The onsen was extremely small, where only 3 adults can enter without feeling claustrophobic. The ski equipment room where you take off your shoes was also very tiny. It created a huge crowd with many people sitting on the cold dirty wet snowy floors. The hotel was VERY pricy! If I am spending over $500 for a room for 1 night, I expect better English speaking service. Overall, I rate this 3.9 out of 5.