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Mogami

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Stay in Yamagata's best hotels!

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Daiwa Roynet Hotel Yamagata Ekimae

Hotel in Yamagata

Located in Yamagata, 17 km from Zao Onsen Ski Resort, Daiwa Roynet Hotel Yamagata Ekimae provides accommodation with a fitness centre, private parking and massage services.

P
Peter
From
Japan
It felt like new, staff were nice, room was excellent and excellent value too
Scored out of 10, guest rating 9.0
Superb - What previous guests thought, 1,990 reviews
Price from
US$92.59
1 night, 2 adults

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.

Y
Yew Siong
From
Singapore
Excellent breakfast and dinner - good spread and top quality food. Great location near Zaō Ropeway
Scored out of 10, guest rating 9.1
Superb - What previous guests thought, 386 reviews
Price from
US$426.25
1 night, 2 adults

HOTEL SLOW VILLAGE - Vacation STAY 66828v

Hotel in Hagyū

Set in Hagyū, 49 km from Zao Onsen Ski Resort, HOTEL SLOW VILLAGE - Vacation STAY 66828v offers accommodation with free WiFi and free private parking.

T
Thomas
From
Australia
The rooms were excellently furnished at a fantastic price point. The amenities available were top class and the service from staff was excellent. Definitely a gem hidden in regional Japan. There is even a fantastic common area and sky deck that I don't recall seeing on the listing prior, that only enhances the quality of the space!
Scored out of 10, guest rating 9.4
Superb - What previous guests thought, 5 reviews
Price from
US$120.73
1 night, 2 adults

Comfort Hotel Yamagata

Hotel in Yamagata

Situated 16 km from Zao Onsen Ski Resort, Comfort Hotel Yamagata offers 3-star accommodation in Yamagata and has free bikes. The property is non-smoking and is located 100 metres from Yamagata...

B
B
From
Fiji
Nice amenities, enough space, very clean, good bathroom. Helpful staff with checking in and out.
Scored out of 10, guest rating 8.3
Very good - What previous guests thought, 1,376 reviews
Price from
US$59.56
1 night, 2 adults

Hotel Metropolitan Yamagata

Hotel in Yamagata

Directly connected to JR Yamagata Shinkansen (bullet train) Station, Hotel Metropolitan Yamagata offers comfortable guest rooms with warm colours and modern facilities.

T
Tassanee
From
Thailand
Good location. The hotel is inside the station. Breakfast is good. There are Japanese set and Western buffet to choose. Very clean. Staff are responsive and courteous.
Scored out of 10, guest rating 8.8
Fabulous - What previous guests thought, 3,074 reviews
Price from
US$130.39
1 night, 2 adults

Tsukino HOTEL

Hotel in Sakata

Situated in Sakata, 23 km from Kamo Aquarium, Tsukino HOTEL features accommodation with a restaurant, free private parking and a bar.

P
Peter Francis
From
Japan
Friendly, lovely ambience, nice views, comfy rooms - nothing not to like, really. Excellent breakfast too.
Scored out of 10, guest rating 8.6
Fabulous - What previous guests thought, 457 reviews
Price from
US$92.95
1 night, 2 adults

Toyoko Inn Yamagata-eki Nishi-guchi

Hotel in Yamagata

Located within 18 km of Zao Onsen Ski Resort and 400 metres of Yamagata Station, Toyoko Inn Yamagata-eki Nishi-guchi provides rooms in Yamagata. This 3-star hotel offers a 24-hour front desk.

S
Siew fong
From
Malaysia
Always love Toyoko inn. I m a member too. Great n warm breakfast n location near to station. Very clean hotel too
Scored out of 10, guest rating 8.0
Very good - What previous guests thought, 485 reviews
Price from
US$78.35
1 night, 2 adults

Hotel Route-Inn Yamagata Minami -Daigaku Byoin Mae-

Hotel in Yamagata

Located in Yamagata, within 13 km of Zao Onsen Ski Resort and 4.3 km of Yamagata Station, Hotel Route-Inn Yamagata Minami -Daigaku Byoin Mae- provides accommodation with a restaurant and free WiFi...

M
Martijn
From
Netherlands
Friendly staff, clean and spacious rooms, very nice facilities (4 washing machines, vending machines, included breakfast), easily accessible with public transit and a nice view from our hotel window.
Scored out of 10, guest rating 8.4
Very good - What previous guests thought, 338 reviews
Price from
US$74.62
1 night, 2 adults

Super Hotel Yamagata Sakurambo-Higashine Station Front

Hotel in Higashine

Situated in Higashine, 45 km from Zao Onsen Ski Resort, Super Hotel Yamagata Sakurambo-Higashine Station Front features accommodation with free WiFi and free private parking.

S
Stephany Reyes
From
United Kingdom
Brilliant location only a few minutes walk from Sakurambo Higashine train station. Staff was very friendly despite limited English. I like that they even offered facial mask (the cosmetic kind, not the covid kind) if you want. I also managed to go to the female onsen which was an absolutely awesome first time experience. Breakfast was nice, not a lot of choices but sufficient for a light meal.
Scored out of 10, guest rating 8.3
Very good - What previous guests thought, 458 reviews
Price from
US$104.73
1 night, 2 adults

Shonai Hotel Suiden Terrasse

Hotel in Tsuruoka

Set in Tsuruoka, 11 km from Kamo Aquarium, Shonai Hotel Suiden Terrasse offers accommodation with a fitness centre, free private parking, a garden and a terrace. This 4-star hotel offers a bar.

Y
YOUNG MIN
From
South Korea
Beautiful exterior and interior. Very tasty breakfast. Calm and cozy. Good onsen.
Scored out of 10, guest rating 8.6
Fabulous - What previous guests thought, 816 reviews
Price from
US$111.27
1 night, 2 adults
See all 302 hotels in Yamagata

Most booked hotels in Yamagata in the past month

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Popular with guests booking hotels in Yamagata

Scored out of 10, guest rating 9.0
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Scored out of 10, guest rating 8.8
Fabulous - What previous guests thought, 3,072 reviews

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Scored out of 10, guest rating 7.6
Good - What previous guests thought, 1,399 reviews

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Scored out of 10, guest rating 7.8
Good - What previous guests thought, 186 reviews

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Scored out of 10, guest rating 8.6
Fabulous - What previous guests thought, 464 reviews

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Scored out of 10, guest rating 7.8
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Scored out of 10, guest rating 8.2
Very good - What previous guests thought, 1,375 reviews

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Scored out of 10, guest rating 7.0
Good - What previous guests thought, 356 reviews

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Scored out of 10, guest rating 7.6
Good - What previous guests thought, 139 reviews

Popular with guests booking hotels in Yamagata

Scored out of 10, guest rating 8.0
Very good - What previous guests thought, 487 reviews

Yamagata's best hotels with breakfast

Scored out of 10, guest rating 8.0
Very good - What previous guests thought, 302 reviews

Located in Tendo, 30 km from Zao Onsen Ski Resort, Hotel Route-Inn Tendo provides accommodation with a restaurant, free private parking and massage services.

Scored out of 10, guest rating 8.2
Very good - What previous guests thought, 548 reviews

Situated in Shinjo, within 700 metres of Shinjo Station and 25 km of Oishida Station, Hotel Route-Inn Shinjyo Ekimae features accommodation with a restaurant and free WiFi throughout the property as...

From US$113.89 per night
Scored out of 10, guest rating 8.1
Very good - What previous guests thought, 10 reviews

Located in Ōyama, 3.7 km from Kamo Aquarium, Yunohama HOTEL provides accommodation with a spa and wellness centre and free private parking.

From US$245.46 per night
Scored out of 10, guest rating 8.5
Very good - What previous guests thought, 93 reviews

Set in Zao Onsen, 700 metres from Zao Onsen Ski Resort, Takamiya Hotel Jurin offers accommodation with a garden, free private parking, a shared lounge and ski-to-door access.

Scored out of 10, guest rating 7.6
Good - What previous guests thought, 1,399 reviews

Set in Yamagata, 9 km from Lina World, Yamagata Grand Hotel offers accommodation with a bar. With free WiFi, this 3-star hotel offers a 24-hour front desk. The restaurant serves European cuisine.

From US$75.56 per night
Scored out of 10, guest rating 7.8
Good - What previous guests thought, 1,216 reviews

Just a 1-minute walk from JR Yamagata Train Station, Hotel Route-Inn Yamagata Ekimae offers modern accommodations with free wired internet and a video-on-demand (VOD) system.

From US$93.60 per night
Scored out of 10, guest rating 7.8
Good - What previous guests thought, 186 reviews

Situated in Yonezawa, 49 km from Kitakata Station, Hotel Alpha-One Yonezawa features accommodation with free WiFi and free private parking. This 3-star hotel offers a 24-hour front desk.

From US$96.22 per night
Scored out of 10, guest rating 7.6
Good - What previous guests thought, 268 reviews

Set within 50 km of Kitakata Station and 50 km of Zao Onsen Ski Resort, Toyoko Inn Yonezawa Ekimae features rooms in Yonezawa. This 3-star hotel has air-conditioned rooms with a private bathroom.

From US$68.04 per night

Budget hotels in Yamagata

Scored out of 10, guest rating 8.3
Very good - What previous guests thought, 394 reviews

Situated in Zao Onsen, 600 metres from Zao Onsen Ski Resort, Takamiya Hotel Hammond features accommodation with free WiFi and free private parking.

From US$89.01 per night
Scored out of 10, guest rating 8.3
Very good - What previous guests thought, 21 reviews

Featuring 4-star accommodation, Hiyori Yama Hotel is located in Sakata, 37 km from Kisakata Harbor and 43 km from Konoura Harbor. The property is non-smoking and is situated 23 km from Kamo Aquarium.

From US$69.25 per night
Scored out of 10, guest rating 8.7
Fabulous - What previous guests thought, 17 reviews

Located in Sakata, 22 km from Kamo Aquarium, Wakaba Ryokan / Vacation STAY 29370 provides accommodation with free WiFi and free private parking.

From US$100.23 per night
Scored out of 10, guest rating 8.4
Very good - What previous guests thought, 9 reviews

Situated in Sakata, 22 km from Kamo Aquarium, Wakaba Ryokan / Vacation STAY 29362 features accommodation with free WiFi and free private parking.

Scored out of 10, guest rating 8.9
Fabulous - What previous guests thought, 35 reviews

Located in Sakata, 22 km from Kamo Aquarium, Wakaba Ryokan / Vacation STAY 29372 provides accommodation with free WiFi and free private parking.

From US$100.23 per night
Scored out of 10, guest rating 7.9
Good - What previous guests thought, 104 reviews

Situated in Zao Onsen, 400 metres from Zao Onsen Ski Resort, ロッヂ スガノ features accommodation with a shared lounge, free private parking, a restaurant and a bar.

From US$98.18 per night
Scored out of 10, guest rating 7.4
Good - What previous guests thought, 137 reviews

Situated in Sakata, 24 km from Kamo Aquarium, Hotel Alpha-One Sakata features accommodation with free bikes, free private parking, a restaurant and massage services.

From US$98.18 per night
Scored out of 10, guest rating 7.0
Good - What previous guests thought, 356 reviews

Set within 17 km of Zao Onsen Ski Resort and 600 metres of Yamagata Station, Hotel Capital in Yamagata offers rooms in Yamagata.

From US$52.36 per night

Hotels in Yamagata that you can book without a credit card

Scored out of 10, guest rating 9.1
Superb - What previous guests thought, 386 reviews

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

From US$207.36 per night
Scored out of 10, guest rating 8.8
Fabulous - What previous guests thought, 3,072 reviews

Directly connected to JR Yamagata Shinkansen (bullet train) Station, Hotel Metropolitan Yamagata offers comfortable guest rooms with warm colours and modern facilities.

From US$120.96 per night
Scored out of 10, guest rating 8.5
Very good - What previous guests thought, 73 reviews

Situated in Zao Onsen, 700 metres from Zao Onsen Ski Resort, Onsen & Stay OAKHILL features views of the mountain. With ski-to-door access, the 3-star hotel has air-conditioned rooms with free WiFi.

From US$137.46 per night
Scored out of 10, guest rating 8.2
Very good - What previous guests thought, 53 reviews

Located in Tsuruoka, within 28 km of Kamo Aquarium and 47 km of Shinjo Station, Kyukamura Shonai-Haguro provides accommodation with a restaurant and free WiFi throughout the property as well as free...

From US$183.28 per night

Sailer Hütte

Hotel in Zao Onsen
No credit card needed
Scored out of 10, guest rating 6.9
Pleasant - What previous guests thought, 186 reviews

Set in Zao Onsen and with Zao Onsen Ski Resort reachable within 700 metres, Sailer Hütte offers a shared lounge, non-smoking rooms, free WiFi throughout the property and a restaurant.

New Grand Hotel

Hotel in Shinjo
No credit card needed
Scored out of 10, guest rating 7.5
Good - What previous guests thought, 184 reviews

Set in Shinjo, within 700 metres of Shinjo Station and 24 km of Oishida Station, New Grand Hotel offers accommodation with a restaurant and free WiFi as well as free private parking for guests who...

Scored out of 10, guest rating 6.9
Pleasant - What previous guests thought, 330 reviews

Hotel New Mogamiya is set in Yamagata, within 17 km of Zao Onsen Ski Resort and 300 metres of Yamagata Station. This 2-star hotel has air-conditioned rooms with a private bathroom.

Located in Sagae, 33 km from Zao Onsen Ski Resort, Hotel Symphony - Vacation STAY 67005v provides accommodation with free WiFi and free private parking.

FAQs about hotels in Yamagata

See reviews by guests who stayed at hotels in Yamagata

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From US$161.28 per night
Scored out of 10, guest rating 8.6
Fabulous - What previous guests thought, 455 reviews
Wonderful location in Zao Onsen, and we were able to use the Ryokan's shuttle from Yamagata station - It's also only a 5-10 minute walk from Zao Onsen's bus terminal for trips back down to Yamagata or if the shuttle times don't suit/are full. Also only a 5-10 minute walk to the Onsen's convenience store, as well as the gondola lifts up to various peaks around. It was unseasonably warm leading up to our visit and the wintersports season hadn't quite started yet, but there was snow on the shaded side of the valley. Food was fantastic, the kaiseki was stunning for all our meals and we were really able to sample a wide range of local dishes and ingredients and they tasted great. There is a nice selection of local Sake and Sochu/etc as well. The baths are lovely (as we stayed during winter, the outdoor baths were closed) and are cycled between genders after cleaning so you can experience both baths during a multi-night stay. They're quite cosy, with room for maybe only 5-10 people at most, but given the overall size of the Ryokan and other guests' schedules it was empty most times we went for a bath, and only with one or two other people the times it wasn't. The onsen water is as advertised, heavy on the sulfur, though the smell did not bother me (I did have a bit of a stuffy nose), and very therapeutic. We stayed in a Japanese-style room which was lovely, clean, stocked with amenities etc as one would expect. Staff were wonderful, struggled a little bit with very sparing English, but we managed to get by with our sparing Japanese as well.
Guest review by
Sheamus
United Kingdom
Scored out of 10, guest rating 9.9
Exceptional - What previous guests thought, 9 reviews
First and foremost: This is not a hotel for extended stay. This is an unforgettable experience for a day. You are expected to mostly stay at this traditional hotel and relax as much as possible. The rooms are spacious, and the beds are comfortable. Each room has its own outside onsen (hot spring bath). Tip: take a room on the first floor, those bathtubs are carved out of a solid block of stone. The water itself is very hot, but feels absolutely divine and did wonders for my skin. The meals are crazy good. The dinner menu was ~10 courses with locally sourced ingredients. The waiter, general manager and owner took turns explaining in intricate detail what each course meant, where it came from, and why they chose to present it to us. I'm pretty sure the owner also mentioned the cook had a Michelin star - which would explain the unconventional, but delicious creations. The breakfast was Japanese-style, and also very good. I'm not sure what else I should add - the intricate eye for detail and attention the staff gave us (I felt so bad seeing the small Japanese woman carry my heavy luggage to my room, but I wasn't allowed to carry it myself, haha); the free bar with the expensive alcohol at night; the modern interpretation of old history... Not to mention the other included amenities: a shuttle bus, an early tour, live soba making, sake tasting [...] It is pricey, but again: you are NOT paying for a simple hotel night, you are paying for an experience. Full recommendation.
Guest review by
Leroy
Germany
Scored out of 10, guest rating 9.0
Superb - What previous guests thought, 225 reviews
The tatami room was lovely and the bed very comfortable for a futon type. There are a number of different style rooms. We especially booked a room with a private outdoor shower and bath. The food was superb in every respect. There were a number of beers available and, surely, there is a taste to appeal to everyone. The staff were caring and took time to understand the hotel guests. The communal bath was nice and the outdoor areas in general were pleasant. The test of a hotel is to positively answer the question, 'would you stay here again?' Our answer is that we returned after visiting here a year ago, except this time we doubled the length of our stay.
Guest review by
Nicholas
Sweden
From US$172.80 per night
Scored out of 10, guest rating 8.4
Very good - What previous guests thought, 72 reviews
Everything was wonderful - the pickup and drop off at Sanze station, the kind staff, the food, the beautiful view from my room, and dinner (with sunset view). I very much enjoyed the outdoor onsen. In my experience, large onsen hotels with scenic views (eg Enoshima) tend to not offer very good food and cut a few corners on maintenance but the food was very good and everything (including music playing in the corridors) was thoughtfully and carefully maintained. This stay was one of the highlights of my 10-day solo trip.
Guest review by
Delia
Australia
From US$142.56 per night
Scored out of 10, guest rating 8.6
Fabulous - What previous guests thought, 767 reviews
I booked room 318 and it was great. The Onsen with the cypress bath smelled great and the water was awesome. The dinner was brought to the room and is a contender for the best meal I had in Japan. The attendant, who brought the meal, was very friendly and we had a nice chat. Thank you for the card with the well-wishes at checkout.
Guest review by
Hans-Jürgen
Germany
From US$194.40 per night
Scored out of 10, guest rating 8.5
Very good - What previous guests thought, 170 reviews
The private onsen in the room is amazing! The window can be fully opened and we enjoy the mountain view and fresh air so much. Tachibahana location is great too. We can take a pleasant walk along the Atsui river and experience the mountain village life.
Guest review by
Chang Chao-Chi
Taiwan
From US$272.17 per night
Scored out of 10, guest rating 8.9
Fabulous - What previous guests thought, 377 reviews
Hotel and room is clean and new and spacious. Friendly staff. Free shuttle van service to and fro. ski slope morning and afternoon. Buffet breakfast and included dinner is superb. Onsen in the hotel and free access to outdoor onsen which is 1min walk away.
Guest review by
Kit Hang
Malaysia
From US$561.61 per night
Scored out of 10, guest rating 9.3
Superb - What previous guests thought, 232 reviews
Both onsens were amazing. The staff were very kind. Food was out of this world, all sourced from the area. We had a Cedar tub in our room and it was great for soaking, plus it hae an amazing view.
Guest review by
Katrina
United States
From US$346.78 per night
Scored out of 10, guest rating 7.8
Good - What previous guests thought, 26 reviews
The staff was really helpful. They did their best to help me with anything I needed even with the language barrier. I thought the bath was really nice and the room was relaxing.
Guest review by
Shawna
South Korea
From US$90.98 per night
Scored out of 10, guest rating 7.6
Good - What previous guests thought, 781 reviews
Location couldn't be more perfect, opposite the station and with easy access to restaurant options.
Guest review by
Rebecca
Australia
From US$207.36 per night
Scored out of 10, guest rating 9.1
Superb - What previous guests thought, 386 reviews
Excellent breakfast and dinner - good spread and top quality food. Great location near Zaō Ropeway
Guest review by
Yew Siong
Singapore
From US$367.34 per night
Scored out of 10, guest rating 8.7
Fabulous - What previous guests thought, 128 reviews
The 2 baths on the Property were excellent, the view from the one of the 8th Floor was amazing
Guest review by
Liam
Australia
From US$75.56 per night
Scored out of 10, guest rating 7.6
Good - What previous guests thought, 1,399 reviews
nice big room, well presented hotel a bit old but very well preserved and looked after
Guest review by
Peter
Australia
From US$388.81 per night
Scored out of 10, guest rating 8.8
Fabulous - What previous guests thought, 144 reviews
A very friendly welcome on arrival. Excellent service. Beautifully appointed rooms.
Guest review by
Alan
Australia
Scored out of 10, guest rating 8.6
Fabulous - What previous guests thought, 62 reviews
Beautifully presented Ryokan with a lovely bath facing the river
Guest review by
Sophie
Australia

Planning a trip? Get inspired by reviews of cities in Yamagata

10

I had a wonderful stay at Hotel Metropolitan Yamagata!

I had a wonderful stay at Hotel Metropolitan Yamagata! The location is absolutely perfect—conveniently connected to the station, making it easy to explore the city and surrounding areas. The hotel itself is modern, clean, and well-maintained, providing a comfortable and relaxing experience. The staff were very welcoming and attentive, always ready to assist with a smile. While their hospitality was excellent, I did find that a bit more fluency in English communication would enhance the experience for international guests. That being said, their warmth and willingness to help more than made up for any language barriers. Overall, I truly enjoyed my stay and would definitely recommend Hotel Metropolitan Yamagata to anyone visiting the area. Looking forward to staying here again in the future!
Guest review by
Dela Cruz
Australia
2.0

We booked this hotel specifically because it was sold and...

We booked this hotel specifically because it was sold and represented as offering a mountain view room. Unfortunately, this turned out to be a serious misrepresentation. Only about 10% of the view included any mountain at all. The overwhelming majority of what we saw from our room was another building and rooftops. This was extremely disappointing and upsetting, especially given the premium we paid for this experience. The disappointment left us distressed and unable to even enjoy the expensive dinner and breakfast that were included in our package. What was meant to be a highlight of our trip turned into a very unpleasant experience. To make matters worse, when we left hastily, we accidentally forgot one of our cell phones in the room. Several hours later, after driving back, we were relieved that the phone had been recovered and placed at the front desk. However, the staff made no effort during the entire day to contact us on our primary phone number to alert us. This lack of initiative and courtesy only added to our frustration. For a hotel of this caliber, we expected honesty in advertising, basic consideration for guests’ wellbeing, and a proactive approach to guest service. Unfortunately, none of these expectations were met.
Guest review by
Jeff Rayden
United States
10

The main town section can offer so many places to visit.

The main town section can offer so many places to visit. Modern looking new museum, small yet beautiful and historic park/shrine, traditional sake brewery, and many many restaurants. We took a long bus ride to a remote onsen town, Shirabu Onsen. Boy, we had fun.. You can hike, see a gorgeous, majestic waterfall, enjoy soba noodle, shopping AND soak in one of the three public bathhouses (they are actually inn but open their baths to the daytime visitors.) The one we went to, Nishiya?, had a spectacular waterfall bath. It's smaller - but if you can visit during weekdays, you may be able to enjoy the space, alone, which we both did. I will never forget being in the bath. Oh, AND, you will probably come across bunch of wild monkeys, roaming around like they own the place :-)
Guest review by
Richard
United States
8.0

Nice village style ski resort.

Nice village style ski resort. Not busy except for the weekend, which ended up a long weekend as it was the Emperor's birthday on the monday. Always good to check public holidays when going to a ski resort and arrive on a Sunday afternoon.
Guest review by
Christian
Australia
10

Sakata is a very quiet town with a few facilities.

Sakata is a very quiet town with a few facilities. Most of the attractions are walkable if you stay close to the river, slightly long walk from train station. You can visit all attractions within a day (two night stays recommended if you arrived late). Please make sure that the day you arrive all the places are open (not Tuesday or Wednesday). Another interesting town in Japan for a visit.
Guest review by
NANTANA
Thailand
10

Yamagata is a beautiful city.

Yamagata is a beautiful city. It was also our base for visiting other places. We went to Yamadera, Ginza Onsen and Zao Onsen by train and bus, from the Yamagata station. Had Ramen, which was reasonable in value
Guest review by
Anonymous
8.0

Yonezawa city has Uesugi Jinjya, the site of the Uesugi clan...

Yonezawa city has Uesugi Jinjya, the site of the Uesugi clan castle. It is very nice, and they have museum and things to see. It's worth a visit to check it out. There is two near-by Onsen, the Onogawa and Shirabu to stay. Yonezawa beef is superb, one of the best in the country. It is also expensive.
Guest review by
Yamashita
United States
8.0

Lots of snow during our stay in December. Great skiing.

Lots of snow during our stay in December. Great skiing. Ideally stay around ski lifts so its easier to get to the lifts.. Just be aware to choose a sunny day to take the ski lifts to view the Snow Monster! Takes around more than 1 hour to get on the ski lifts. Many tourist and queue is long. You wont be able to see much if the weather is bad. Never short of snow in Zao Onsen. Nice little village with Lawsons, Family Marts to get your usual Japanese stuff. Limited restaurants but can get by with simple meals. If you want to get to Yamagata City its only 30 mins away by taxi. You have a choice if you want more varieties.
Guest review by
Meng
Malaysia
10

The Yamagata Ski area (Zao Onsen) is fantastic.

The Yamagata Ski area (Zao Onsen) is fantastic. It wasnt crowded, lessons for kids and adults were AUD$55 for 4 hours, lifts were @4$ per lift. Gear hire was AUD$65 for 2 days PP. In Australia lift passes are $250 per day alone. The hotel Sailor Hutte was literally at the base of the ski lifts. Food was cheap ($10-14 per meal) booze was cheap ($3.50 for a beer). The guys at the Hotel Sailor Hutte were great, make an effort to chat with them via your translator app. Its worth it. One more thing, I would recommend buying Shinkansen tickets directly from JR East rail online. Heaps cheaper than buying a seven day pass unless you are planning to spend 7 days on the train. FYI there are 3 Shinkansen companies East, Central and West. They have there own websites a bit clunky in English but it works. Good luck.
Guest review by
Kieran
Australia
8.0

In the summer, Zao is very quiet during weekdays.

In the summer, Zao is very quiet during weekdays. It rains almost every day, so it's advisable to pack quick-dry clothes and sturdy shoes for walking uphill and downhill. If you prefer fruits and vegetables, make sure to bring some with you, as there's no fresh market in town and the only local convenience store doesn't offer many healthy choices. If you happen to encounter a serow, don't make the mistake we did by running away thinking it was a hyena—quite silly of us!
Guest review by
NANTANA
Thailand