The 10 best accommodation in Zao Onsen, Japan

The best accommodation in Zao Onsen

Check out our pick of great accommodation in Zao Onsen

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Takasagoya Ryokan

Takasagoya Ryokan offers a public bath, as well as air-conditioned accommodation in Zao Onsen, 200 metres from Zao Onsen Ski Resort.

Sue

From

Australia

The meals were exceptional. Our traditional ryokan type of room was very comfortable. The staff (owners) were so helpful, warm and welcoming. A delightful stay!

Scored out of 10, guest rating 9.0

Superb - What previous guests thought, 334 reviews

Price from

US$180.94

1 night, 2 adults

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Forest Inn Sangoro

Zao Onsen

With Zao Onsen Ski Resort reachable in 3.1 km, Forest Inn Sangoro offers accommodation, a restaurant, a garden, a shared lounge and a terrace. Free WiFi is featured throughout the property.

Pete

From

United Kingdom

Great piste-side location . Funky Jazz music . Food great & rooms comfortable

Scored out of 10, guest rating 9.3

Superb - What previous guests thought, 132 reviews

Price from

US$122.78

1 night, 2 adults

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Petit Resort Hotel Der Barte

Zao Onsen

Featuring a garden and a bar, Petit Resort Hotel Der Barte is located in Zao Onsen. The 3-star guest house features mountain views and is 600 metres from Zao Onsen Ski Resort.

Chong

From

Malaysia

First, the design of the house is super western and super beautiful just right infront of ski slopes. I have a once in a lifetime view from my room and also breakfast area! Second, that's the only hostel comes with private room (as far as I know). Third, I actually paid for the breakfast and dinner and I NEVER REGRET to do so (even though you can have some food out there but is abit far). The dinner is just WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL. Experience yourself and you will know what I meant. It is Extremely exceeded my expectation, even after so many days I am back to my country while I writing this review, I am still so in love of everything I have experience here. Come here during winter, must come. And I'm super pleased to be served by the old couple, so simple, so genuine, soooo awe!

Scored out of 10, guest rating 9.0

Superb - What previous guests thought, 142 reviews

Price from

US$161.56

1 night, 2 adults

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Takamiya Ryokan Miyamaso

Zao Onsen

Located within a 10-minute walking distance from the Zao Sky Cable aerial lift, Miyamaso Takamiya features 9 natural hot spring baths for guests to enjoy.

Debbra

From

Singapore

Excellent property. Comfortable stay, attentive and patient staff who anticipated and attended to our every need and request. Food was excellent and they accommodated my dietary restrictions and remembered them throughout my stay. Wonderful stay, highly recommend.

Scored out of 10, guest rating 9.3

Superb - What previous guests thought, 233 reviews

Price from

US$326.99

1 night, 2 adults

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Pension Puutaro

Zao Onsen

Set 500 metres from Zao Onsen Ski Resort, Pension Puutaro offers 3-star accommodation in Zao Onsen and features a garden.

Maggie

From

Australia

I will definitely come again. Cozy, super homey and feeling safe. Very clean. Love the staff!

Scored out of 10, guest rating 9.0

Superb - What previous guests thought, 230 reviews

Price from

US$142.17

1 night, 2 adults

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Zao Kokusai Hotel

Hotel in Zao Onsen

Only a 1-minute walk from Zao Onsen Ski Resort, Zao Kokusai Hotel offers indoor/outdoor spacious hot-spring baths and Japanese-style rooms.

Samy

From

France

+ incredible rooms & onsen + great staff + very peaceful

Scored out of 10, guest rating 9.1

Superb - What previous guests thought, 395 reviews

Price from

US$230.31

1 night, 2 adults

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蔵王温泉岩清水料理の宿季の里

Zao Onsen

Located within less than 1 km of Zao Onsen Ski Resort in Zao Onsen, 蔵王温泉岩清水料理の宿季の里 offers accommodation with seating area.

Siau

From

Australia

We had an excellent stay, food and presentations were exquisite. We admired the thought that went into presenting food in dishes that are compatible with the “mood” of the food. Only 5 minutes walk to the lift. Staff were professional, rooms were comfortable and clean. We really enjoyed our stay.

Scored out of 10, guest rating 9.3

Superb - What previous guests thought, 19 reviews

Price from

US$266.57

1 night, 2 adults

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Meitoya So

Zao Onsen

Renovated in 2017, Meitoya Sou offers a modern-style ryokan with natural hot spring baths. Free WiFi is offered and free private parking is available on site.

Susan

From

United Kingdom

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay. Having stayed at Zao Onsen thirty years ago when I worked in Japan, I wanted to share the Zao Onsen experience with my husband, and chose this hotel on the basis of the photos and reviews on Booking.com. On arrival, it all seemed very familiar. After experiencing the onsen bath, and the location of our room, I'm quite sure I had chosen the same hotel where I stayed back then! Obviously it has been quite recently refurbished, but there are some parts that don't change so much. We opted to have dinner at the hotel, which was excellent. Due to some confusion about exactly where the Z90 bus for Zao Onsen left Yamagata city,we missed the bus we wanted to take, so arrived around 6.45pm. (According to Google Maps, we could catch the Z90 from a stop about 50 yards from our previous hotel, but the reception staff there insisted we had to go to Yamagata station... so we missed the bus by one minute. After an hour and a half wait for the next one, the first stop after Yamagata station was, yes, you guessed it, 50 yards from our previous hotel!) As dinner is set out with fresh ingredients to be cooked at your table, you can't be later than 7pm. There is a shuttle bus from the hotel to Zao bus termius, but we didn't know about it, so walked to the hotel. Unfortunately, the short cut route we had planned was closed due to road works, so it was a much longer, and steeper, walk. The next morning, we got the shuttle bus to the bus terminus to return to Yamagata city. The onsen is really wonderful. Zao has a very special PH balance to the water. The bath at this onsen is superb.

Scored out of 10, guest rating 8.2

Very good - What previous guests thought, 658 reviews

Price from

US$149.28

1 night, 2 adults

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Matsupokkuri

Zao Onsen

Situated in Zao Onsen in the Yamagata region, with Zao Onsen Ski Resort nearby, Matsupokkuri features accommodation with free WiFi and free private parking. The ryokan has family rooms.

Benjamin

From

United Kingdom

In the heart of Zao Onsen village and a short walk to the main "ropeway" or cable car. The room was beautiful with a table and cushionbs and a cupboard with futons to put out. We went western style and left our futons out all the time we were there and had some of the cushions as a makeshift bedhead against the cupboard. The food was absolutely amazing - we had a shabu shabu hot pot dinner that was cooked on our table and it was difficult to stop eating although despite the very generous serving. Breakfast was also plentiful and nutritiously so well balanced that we could go on skiing for hours without a break. The owner is charming and although we hired a local guide for going back country we should have just talked to the owner. He has been skiing is Zao all his life and was a champion giant slalom skier and is a volunteer search and rescue patrol guy too. The mother has a shop downstairs and her delicious sweet dumplings get sold out everyday. Don't worry about not having a private bathroom (I normally prefer this) as the facilities are scrupulously clean. There is a lovely communal bath (one for men, another for women) and the best onsen in town just opposite (free voucher available from the front desk). Felt really well looked after. Will definitely come back!! Zao Onsen is like a ghibli world. There are snow rabbits running about in the breathtaking scenery of the snow monsters and apparently giant foxes and (musasabi) giant flying squirrels with 1.6m wingspan (very rare to see though). Just lovely! Zao also has a new excellent music bar/restaurant called Takiyama Studio. The chefs drum and play guitiar and various instruments and a waitress sings - it was amazing, especially the qualilty of the waitresses singing and guitar playing. The chef's singing was not my cup of tea but he knew his way around an axe!

Scored out of 10, guest rating 8.6

Fabulous - What previous guests thought, 101 reviews

Price from

US$129.24

1 night, 2 adults

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Matsukaneya Annex

Zao Onsen

Located in Zao Onsen, Matukaneya Annex offers 3-star accommodation with hot spring baths including a free-flowing natural hot spring bath. The property features a restaurant serving unique cuisine.

Regina

From

Singapore

The hospitality and service provided by the staff - they sent us to the bus station when needed, allowed us to use the bath after coming from an overnight bus, and changed our rooms when the heater wasn't working.

Scored out of 10, guest rating 8.7

Fabulous - What previous guests thought, 197 reviews

Price from

US$184.82

1 night, 2 adults

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