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From the attentive staff and beautifully prepared, delicious cuisine to the spotless Room and two different baths that were both wonderfully relaxing, our stay was satisfying from start to finish. The Japanese sweets provided in the Room were especially delicious—I almost wanted to buy some to take home (they may even be handmade). If I had one small wish, it would be that the lounge drinks included alcohol, which I personally think would have made it even better. The staff’s warm smiles were the best hospitality of all.

My first time at Zao Onsen. I love sulfur springs, and I thoroughly enjoyed both the indoor bath and the open-air bath. It was lightly raining, but they had a hat-like cover (like what Jizo statues wear) available so my head wouldn’t get wet. Thanks to that, I was able to relax in the open-air bath as well.\nThe meals were also excellent—Yamagata beef and all the other dishes were delicious. The rice was Tsuyahime, making for a high-quality dinner with local ingredients.\nThanks to the staff’s warm smiles and attentive service, I had a wonderful time.

The Room was spacious, and dinner was delicious—we were very satisfied. We were warmly welcomed at the entrance and guided for parking, which made it feel like we were staying at a Ryokan. At this time of year in Zao Onsen, there are few places where you can have dinner, so choosing a plan with dinner included was the right decision. The Yamagata beef shabu-shabu was excellent.

This was my first time visiting Zao Onsen. After considering several Onsen Accommodations, I chose a smaller Accommodation where I could truly relax. As I headed from Kaminoyama toward Zao, the temperature dropped, and after riding my motorcycle in the intense heat, the cool breeze felt wonderful. The Accommodation is an older building, but it was filled with many charming decorations that made me feel warm inside. The indoor Onsen was artificial, but it was pleasant and available 24 hours a day. Outside, in a separate building, there was a free-flowing hot spring bath fed directly from the source; it was strongly acidic and at a comfortable temperature, making it very enjoyable. Dinner dishes were all carefully prepared and included many local specialties from Yamagata Prefecture. It was great that each dish came with an explanation when served. The steamed dish in particular was outstanding. Breakfast also offered a wide variety of items, and I was very satisfied. All of the staff were kind and greeted us properly—I could really feel their hospitality. This is an Accommodation I would like to visit again.

It was my first time staying in Zao Onsen. The meals and the Onsen were excellent. In particular, I really enjoyed relaxing on my own in the private family bath; with its high metasilicic acid content, it left my skin smooth and felt wonderful. The food suited my taste and was delicious. I’ll be back again, perhaps in autumn.

Japanese-style double Room with breakfast and dinner included. I also requested a pick-up from Yamagata Station. On the way back, I took the bus to Yamagata Station from the Zao Onsen Bus Terminal, just a few minutes’ walk away. I arrived early, but was able to leave my luggage and explore freely. The staff member who assisted me felt unexpectedly curt, which seemed different from the Reviews. The person who showed me to my Room also didn’t seem to notice a fairly large dead insect right by the door when it was opened. That was disappointing. I was very satisfied with the Room, meals, and baths. The entire building is covered with tatami mats and you take off your shoes, which feels great, and everything was well maintained. All staff were pleasant in both their service and greetings. Since the baths switch between men and women, you can use both areas; I enjoyed the warm feel of wood and traditional atmosphere. Some Reviews said it was small, but as a woman I didn’t find it cramped since there weren’t too many people using it at once. Both dinner and breakfast were delicious—I finished everything. The Yamagata beef shabu-shabu was truly excellent. There is a portable air conditioner in the Room (I think), but because its duct runs out through the window, the top of the window doesn’t close completely tight; I couldn’t help noticing that gap. I saw a similar setup in the lounge as well, so I assumed it’s installed as a measure against summer heat. There is no elevator—only stairs—which I actually liked very much. Around this time of year we could hear spring cicadas (maybe), which was soothing. From the entrance you can see a gentle slope leading down to the main road, along with steam rising from the Onsen—an impressive location. It’s a small but comfortable Accommodation with a warm atmosphere—thank you very much.

I chose Zao Onsen this time because I wanted to soak in Wald Berg’s open-air bath again after a long time. When I arrived at the Hotel, I felt the hospitality and service were better than before. At the front desk, they seemed to remember that I had stayed here previously. When I was shown to my Room, I appreciated that the air conditioning had already been set to a comfortable temperature. And then, the Onsen—Zao Onsen really is wonderful. Among all the baths in Zao Onsen, Wald Berg’s forest open-air bath is spacious and truly outstanding. Dinner was more than satisfying as well, and I was happy that even a solo guest receives a beer. I ended up enjoying the open-air bath four times—it was excellent. The only disappointment was that the riverside open-air bath was closed due to bear activity, so I couldn’t use it. In the past, my mother-in-law, my wife, and I came together and enjoyed our stay; this year my mother-in-law passed away, so it was just the two of us. As it is Obon season, we enjoyed Zao Onsen while remembering her fondly.

It was a truly wonderful Onsen. Not only was the water quality excellent, but with one indoor bath and two open-air baths, I never got tired of soaking no matter how many times I went in. There was also a free beer event, and I was very pleased with this unexpected service. Because a typhoon made landfall on the day of my stay, I couldn’t go out to eat in the Onsen town at night, which was disappointing—but thanks to this service, I was able to enjoy drinks in the lobby instead. The Room was thoroughly cleaned and the entire building was kept spotless, so I rated my overall satisfaction as 5. I would definitely like to stay again (next time for winter skiing...).

I enjoyed soaking in Zao Onsen’s strongly acidic, milky-white water with a distinct sulfur scent—this is what an Onsen should be like. Since it’s an old building, there are countless flaws if you start pointing them out, so I stayed while telling myself that’s just how it is. The staff work hard, but not at a level that truly impresses. The meals featured many local specialties and were good, but the rice—the most important part—was too firm at dinner and far too soft at breakfast. This Accommodation is recommended for those who love Onsen.

Both dinner and breakfast were absolutely delicious, and we were very satisfied!! The baths are divided into a large public bath and a natural hot spring bath; both were very relaxing, and the kids loved them. We’d love to visit again if we have the chance!

Stayed after visiting Matsushima! The kids enjoyed making prayer beads at Entsuin Temple. We also lined up for 30 minutes before opening to try the famous Sendai beef tongue, and it was worth the wait—delicious! Check-in and check-out times being separate was a bit inconvenient. We received a breakfast coupon and took out drinks on our way back—thank you! However, it would have been even better if that discount could be applied to the Room rate instead. The Onsen was amazing and left us impressed. It would have been perfect if there were one more bedroom. Unfortunately, we couldn't see the stars due to rain, but the kids loved the large bed—thank you so much!

I have stayed here many times. Among the Onsen in Zao, the water quality is excellent, and Tsuruya’s baths suit me perfectly. There are also four types of private baths, so you can relax and enjoy them at your own pace. The food is incredibly delicious—every meat dish is generous in portion size and so tasty that you’ll want to eat it again right away. This time I had the Zao beef steak; it was very tender and wonderful with a variety of flavors such as lemon butter and wasabi. I will definitely visit again. A Multiple Night Stay is also recommended.

All of the meals were delicious. The Room had a wonderful view of the mountains and nature, which was very refreshing. All of the staff were kind and welcoming. The Room was thoroughly cleaned and very comfortable. The Onsen was great, but the changing area was hot because the air conditioning wasn’t working well. To get to the large public bath you need to go down a few stairs, so it would be nice if an elevator could take you right to the entrance. The welcome-drink coffee in the lobby was very tasty, but I would be even happier if it were free. The honey apple vinegar in front of the restaurant was freely available and very delicious. The ropeway is right in front of the Hotel, and there is also a Lawson convenience store and souvenir shops nearby, which made it very convenient. The hot spring water was excellent and offered great value for money—overall, it was a truly wonderful Hotel. Thank you very much!

I often used Zao Onsen for day-use bathing. This was my first stay, as the value was excellent even during the Obon holiday period, and we could also enjoy visiting the baths at affiliated Hotels. The meals were delicious, and the Onsen water quality was outstanding. It was quiet and relaxing, so we had a wonderful time. I had long wanted to do a bath tour, and thanks to the staff kindly explaining how to get around, we were able to visit five locations. However, there is no Shuttle Service for the bath tour—you need to go on foot or by private car. We went on foot, but there are many slopes, stairs, and narrow roads, so you need to be careful—and you’ll need some stamina as well! I also felt that walking would be difficult in winter or when there is snow on the ground. After trying various baths, this one ended up being the best. I’d like to do another bath tour including Facilities we couldn’t visit this time, so I hope to return in a different season.

I booked a same-day stay with No Meals Included because I mainly wanted to soak in Zao’s powerful Onsen rather than focus on meals. The system was a bit confusing at first, but it seems like a good setup for guests looking for a therapeutic Onsen stay or those who prefer minimal contact, and I could see the effort to reduce costs. The Room air conditioner is basic, but it worked well enough and I was satisfied. I was also surprised to see some guests cooking for themselves in the kitchen. One thing I noticed is that the in-room slippers are used when going outside the Room; sandals would be preferable for that purpose. I would like to stay here again when I visit Zao.

The Onsen was wonderful, with an abundant flow of free-flowing natural hot spring water. I’d love to stay again. Thank you to the proprietress and all the staff for their courteous service.

This was my second stay, and it was relaxing again. I have stayed at other accommodations in Zao Onsen several times, but this accommodation is highly recommended in every aspect—Onsen, meals, and price. During my previous stay, the elevator directly connected to the open-air bath was out of order, which was inconvenient. This time it had been repaired, making access from the room to the open-air bath smooth—I ended up using it five times. Both dinner and breakfast were served as set meals, and we were very satisfied with the quality and variety. We stayed as a family of three and felt refreshed in every way. We will definitely return. Thank you again for a wonderful stay.

We stayed here with our whole family to celebrate a 88th birthday. The Hotel was extremely considerate, and we were able to make wonderful memories. We were very satisfied.\nThe Room, bath, and dining area were all very clean. Highly recommended.