Yamagata City Hotels with Free Breakfast

Woah! This is one of the best ryokans we’ve been to. The staff was super attentive and could speak some English, the rooms were amazing (see the photos!). The onsen in the room was fantastic so there was no need for us to go to the public or private onsen downstairs. The hotel is located 3 minutes away from the bus station and conveniently situated near everything. We’ve stayed at other ryokans but this one was top notch! We strongly recommend to stay at this place and will try to come back again with friends and family. Oh! The food was wow, too! We had breakfasts and dinners included and the sukiyaki dinner offered Yamagata A5 meat which was to die for. Breakfast was also great!

Absolutely lovely place. At first I thought I'd be uncomfortable with how spaceous the room was (I'm a very jumpy solo traveller), but the room was just so comfy with an excellent view. The heater was a bit hot, but there was an electric fan too, so all was great. The hotel allows you to have a free 50 minute private bath each night, and the private baths are amazing, able to accommodate up to five persons and with windows to let in the light and stuff. Excellent onsen water -- very acidic and very hot. Takes some time getting used to the heat, but once you do it's a heavenly experience. There are also public baths (free of charge) that you could enjoy throughout the night and into early morning (they're closed for cleaning only during 9-12 in the morning), one indoor and one outdoor, both connected to one another. The outdoor one is a bit small, but it's so refreshing to be able to flee from the stifling indoor onsen to enjoy the crisp winter air while soaking up in the heat.

The hotel is quite old but very well-maintained. The onsen facilities are a bit lacking, but the quality of the hot spring water is genuinely good. I booked the Rian Sansui room with an open-air bath, but the staff informed me that it was just regular hot water and that I had to fill it myself. It felt like such a waste to have booked that room. Plus, the room was on the top floor, so I had to climb a lot of stairs, and then take off my shoes on the last floor before entering – it was quite exhausting. After checking out, the hotel dropped us off at the bus station. I didn't see the proprietress, only a welcome note.

The trip was planned few weeks ahead, accommodation options in Zao Onsen are scarce. If there were other options, I probably would not go with this hotel again. - Before arrival, I called the hotel twice using trip.com but no one answered. - There was only one front desk staff handling check-in. I have waited for 20 minutes for check-in and the Indian family has it waited for 35 minutes. There was another staff coming out from the office and acknowledged the queue. However no action was taken despite the long wait by guest. - I inquired about shuttle bus service but the staff at the entrance said “No shuttle bus”. I saw shuttle bus having the hotel name around the Zao Onsen area. - On the first day of room cleaning, the cleaning lady has not replaced the used porcelain cup and Japanese cup. Also no replenishment on tea bags and toilet amenities. At this price point of over USD500 per night, I was quite surprised. - There are 2 onsen places, one outside the hotel and one on the 1F. The outdoor onsen inside the hotel was not opened and the reason is “snow accumulation”. Overall, the room is spacious and clean but the service did not meet the expectations.

We arrived late (20:15) due to temporary closure of Sendai Airport (tsunami warning), and obviously we were late for the hotel dinner after having to travel all the way up from Narita instead. We were tired and hungry when we arrived, but the hotel disappointed us even more for not reserving our paid dinners for us, nor was there a reimbursement. Did they just throw the food away after all the preparation work? The (presumably) manager's attitude was one of inflexibility and apathy, so atypical of Japanese etiquette. The restaurants nearby were all closed already and we had to starve for the first night there. Very unpleasant and inconsiderate arrangement.

Excellent location short walk from Yamagata station. A better location might be located on the east side of Yamagata station as there are more food and beverage and convenience stores available. Dated property but cozy and functional. A man made onsen within the property doesn’t hurt. We also had a rental car and overnight parking was ¥600. Complimentary breakfast however you must account for time and occupancy, we did not have time to enjoy it due to the lines. Service was top notch. Hotel was helpful with directions and translation. A senior lady went the extra mile to assist with contacting next hotel and even considered train timings as well as advising us to stay in Yamagata and not go early as there was nothing available in the next onsen town.

Overall a practical hotel close to the slopes, room was simple but fine. Free shuttle provided which proved very convenient. Breakfast was good with different options both Japanese and western styles. Staff was helpful especially the Japanese personnel and the young lady in the breakfast room however there was one Indian-like man who was not really hospitable, never smiling and never talking (no hello, nothing at all) staring at you which made me uncomfortable.

After arriving at the bus stop, I found out that there are no taxis in the Zao Onsen area in the summer. I was in a pinch, so I called the inn and they arranged a free shuttle, which was very helpful! As soon as I got off the bus, a staff member greeted me with a smile and quickly carried my luggage into the inn. Once I arrived, all the staff were very polite and pleasant, leaving a very good impression! The man at the front desk was especially kind and warm, and his soft Yamagata accent was very soothing. The hot spring water temperature and quality were excellent, and the open-air bath allowed me to relax and unwind while feeling the nature. It was also very convenient to be able to watch YouTube and Netflix on the TV in my room. There was an event going on, so the menu was different from usual, but the food was excellent. Everything was delicious, and I was especially impressed by the large selection of fresh vegetables and the many options available, including one that catered to vegetarians and vegans! Overall, it was a wonderful inn, but there were some disappointments. Even though the room was renovated and comfortable, the unit bath was quite old and dated. Also, while soaking in the smaller of the two large (small) baths, the bath was so small that body soap and shampoo from people washing their bodies and hair kept getting into the hot spring, which was very unpleasant. It's a real shame to have such a wonderful hot spring bath only to be soaked in dirty water and soaps constantly seeping in. 😢 I really wish this smaller bath would be a private bath where only those who have thoroughly washed themselves in the larger large bath could enjoy a leisurely soak, eliminating the body soap and shampoo.

The accommodation is about a 10-minute walk from the station, which is a bit more difficult when it snows. It seems that he provides parking lot, which is more suitable for people who drive. There is also a large supermarket within a 10-minute walk nearby, which is very convenient. The baths for men and women are separate, so you don't have to wait for a long time, which is very convenient! Very recommended There is a free bar and snacks downstairs which is a good deal.

The location is excellent, just a 2-3 minute walk to the left from the Yamagata JR station exit. It's very close to the No. 1 bus stop for Zao, and Kasumi Park is within 1 kilometer, within walking distance. The rooms are clean and spacious, and although a bit old, they are well maintained! Note that the check-in counter is on the 3rd floor, so please pay attention when you go there to avoid getting lost like I did.