Top Hotels in Zao-machi
Top Restaurants in Zao-machi
10 Top-Rated Hotels in Zao-machi, Katta-gun, Miyagi Prefecture, Tohoku
Discover the best hotels in Zao-machi, Katta-gun, Miyagi Prefecture, Tohoku including Daikon No Hana, Chikusenso Mt.Zao Onsen Resort & Spa, Active Resorts Miyagi Zao, Yuasobi no Yado Shunjuan Sansatei, Barden-ya-Soho, Ryokan Sanjiro, Auberge Yamabuki, Yutomori Club, Tamaya Ryokan, Mahoroba.
Restaurants in Zao-machi
1. Daikon No Hana
Overall Ratings
4 based on 79 reviews
Looking for a place to stay in Zao-machi? Then look no further than Daikon No Hana, a romantic onsen ryokan that brings the best of Zao-machi to your doorstep. Rooms at Daikon No Hana provide air conditioning and a refrigerator. You can also enjoy a sauna and an on-site restaurant while staying at Daikon No Hana. Need a place to park? Free parking is available at Daikon No Hana. While staying at Daikon No Hana, visitors can check out Miyagi Zao Eboshi Resort (2.1 mi) and Takimidai Lookout (2.3 mi), some of Zao-machi's top attractions. Zao-machi has plenty of cafes. So when you’re here, be sure to check out popular spots like Zao Boo, Engawa Tea House Yamabiko, and Cafe Kazeno, which are serving up some great dishes. Best of all, Daikon No Hana makes it easy to experience many great Zao-machi attractions like Sangai Fall/Fudo Fall and Kaerazunotaki Fall, which are some popular waterfalls. We’re sure you’ll enjoy your stay at Daikon No Hana as you experience everything Zao-machi has to offer.
Hospitality at its finest!
Reviewed By Youko FWent to Daikon no Hana for summer vacation with my friend, who went two months ago for her birthday with her family. The staff there were very quick to recognize her, greet her warmly, and ask about her family. It made the first impression already very welcoming. The hotel itself is a wonderful compound of cottages connected by wooden walkways, surrounded by nature. What surprised me were the amazing amount of amenities, such as free drinks for 24 hours in the lounge, DVDs to borrow, a beautiful reading room, a separate cottage for sauna, and the fact that even the public baths were 24 hours! The cottage was so spacious it was almost too big for two people! Beds and pillows were the most comfortable I've had in a long time. All the cottages have a wonderful view of the forest outside. The meals were not only delicious but gorgeous, and the restaurant boasts their vegetables are fresh from their own garden (which you can see at the compound). Serving staff are the same as check-in staff, and they are ever friendly and patient. The private baths are traditional, beautiful, and immerses you in nature with its proximity to the woods and the river. It's a serene place to sit back and relax. This place definitely gives you a sense of not being at a hotel but an exclusive club, as there are only about more than a dozen rooms, so staff attentiveness is a guarantee. During my check-out a staff member walked my friend and me to our car and waited in the rain to see us off. On a whole, my experience here was so relaxing and pampering without too much frills, I can't wait to go back when it's covered in snow!
2. Chikusenso Mt.Zao Onsen Resort & Spa
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 80 reviews
See why so many travelers make Chikusenso Mt.Zao Onsen Resort & Spa their onsen hotel of choice when visiting Zao-machi. Providing an ideal mix of value, comfort and convenience, it offers a romantic setting with an array of amenities designed for travelers like you. The rooms offer a refrigerator, a minibar, and air conditioning, and getting online is possible, as free wifi is available, allowing you to rest and refresh with ease. Chikusenso Mt.Zao Onsen Resort & Spa features a 24 hour front desk, a concierge, and newspaper. In addition, as a valued Chikusenso Mt.Zao Onsen Resort & Spa guest, you can enjoy a fitness center and an on-site restaurant that are available on-site. Guests arriving by vehicle have access to free parking. Given the close proximity of popular landmarks, such as Miyagi Zao Eboshi Resort (1.8 mi) and Takimidai Lookout (2.1 mi), guests of Chikusenso Mt.Zao Onsen Resort & Spa can easily experience some of Zao-machi's most well known attractions. When you’re feeling hungry, be sure to check out Food & Communication Buna No Mori, which is an Italian restaurant that is popular with locals and out-of-towners alike. If you’re looking for things to do, you can check out Zao Dairy Farm (1.0 mi) or Shimakawa Museum (0.6 mi), which are popular attractions amongst tourists, and they are all within walking distance. We’re sure you’ll enjoy your stay at Chikusenso Mt.Zao Onsen Resort & Spa as you experience all of the things Zao-machi has to offer.
One of the jewels of the Tohoku region
Reviewed By KI-NRTWe stayed 3 nights last October as part of an extended road trip through Northern Tohoku, and Chikusenso was definitely one of the highlights. We went there with high hopes and expectations - a modern ryokan with a foreign owner but with Japanese sensibilities and cuisine - can this ryokan merge the best of both worlds? The answer is a definite "yes." First off, this is not a small boutique property - it's midsize by ryokan standards with 30 rooms total. We opted to stay in the Presidential Suite, which is the top room in Chikusenso, and an enormous 116 square meters of goodness. The room afforded absolute privacy in all directions (it's fine to keep the shades open all day and night without any worries) and featured just about any modern convenience and technology that anyone could hope for. While we felt the decor and furniture in the room was a bit strange and not to our tastes, it was nonetheless a comfortable place to relax. The only functional design flaw worth mentioning has to do with the private, outdoor open-air bath. It's not right outside the veranda in the garden, but is instead accessed by going out of the room's front door, down a hallway and a flight of stairs, then by opening a door that requires a key to open - and we were the only guests with a key to the bath. This takes out to a small garden with the "private" onsen bath. It's really a hassle to get to; I'd prefer to strip off my clothes in the room, open the veranda and step right into the bath without having to worry about being seen by anyone throughout the process. The second highest-category room does not have this problem, since it's situated on an upper floor with its open-air bath being on the balcony. Service was courteous, friendly and attentive, but I wouldn't say they went above and beyond the call of duty. For instance, when we told them that we were pondering a drive on the Zao Echo Line (a scenic road nearby) but were concerned about accessibility (it closes at the slightest hint of adverse weather), they said the road conditions get broadcast every morning at 9AM. Wanting to get a head start on the day (in general), we asked if they could call my mobile phone as soon as they found out.... to which they suggested I check a particular website. Also, while they asked us what we planned to do in the area when we arrived, it appeared to be more of a curiosity factor for them, rather than a means to figure out ways to help us. We informed them of our itinerary (more or less), and told them about our intention to visit Miyagi Fox Village on a Wednesday. Well, that's the one day each week that it's closed! Wish they would've proactively checked and/or pointed out this issue so that we would've had a chance to juggle our plans appropriately. Oh well. Food was very good. Executive Chef Kiyokazu Naoi definitely has the skills, and he served up some incredible dishes. It was also not watered down for foreign tastes, much to our relief. For instance, one evening we were treated to a Fugu (poisonous Blow Fish) course. It wasn't ALL Fugu, but it was mostly Fugu, and was excellent. Another meal consisted of a variety of just-made Tempura dishes that was prepared personally by Naoi-san. It was just as innovative and delightful as we could've hoped for. I wouldn't place the dining experience in my all-time top 5, but it's not far off, either. The only bummer was the lack of an option to be served in one's own room like some of the finer ryokans in Japan. One "Western" aspect that I appreciated, that very few Ryokans offer - Chikusenso does laundry/pressing/dry cleaning, surprisingly. Which came in handy since we had been travelling for 5 days prior to our arrival at Chikusenso. This probably has as much to do with its comparatively larger size as anything, but we've been to even larger ryokans that did not provide laundry service. In terms of the overall property and grounds, they did a good job of combining contemporary design (it's a relatively new property) with traditional Japanese as well as local elements to its look and feel. And, overall, it blends in nicely with the serene natural environment that envelops the property grounds. We were surprised at the high price of Chikusenso given its location, but if you have plans to tour the Tohoku region, it should definitely be on your bucket list if you're willing to splurge somewhat.
3. Active Resorts Miyagi Zao
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 183 reviews
Active Resorts Miyagi Zao; be surrounded by nature and watch the change of the seasons. Based near Mount Zao, Miyagi Zao is a great place for those who are seeking to experience nature in its many different forms.
Off the tourist trail
Reviewed By JehannetonWe looked on Booking.com for a hotel at Zao Onsen and found this one. This is NOT located at Zao Onsen. It’s on the other side of the mountains, and the road to Zao Onsen is inaccessible in winter. This is Miyagi Zao. You’re a bus ride away from the snow fields at Sumikawa Snow Park and actually getting to the hotel requires a bus ride from Sendai that takes more than an hour. The hotel is quite a long way from the small village of Togatta Onsen so, unless you have a car, you are restricted to the restaurants and entertainment at the hotel. The hotel is past its glory days- carpets are stained, linen is worn. This is holiday camp- it’s huge! There is an arcade area for the kids, table tennis, karaoke. If you buy the dinner package, you get a buffet with lots of Japanese choices. Don’t think about trying to buy a ticket on the night though- that caused all sorts of problems for us as staff ran around trying to find a supervisor who could tell them what to do with us. There’s a small Izakaya on site where you can buy yakitori etc. not cheap and there’s no English menu, so you may inadvertently do what we did and buy liver on sticks. The non-liver sticks were delicious, though! Breakfast, again, is buffet style with a lot of Japanese choices and a small choice of Western dishes. Food is good but coffee is awful :-) Hotel staff don’t speak a lot of English- which is fine, but can be a little problematic if you need to book a tour or have something to sort out with your bill. They forgot to charge us for a tour we’d booked and while we were trying to sort it out (choosing to be honest), our bus to Sendai left without us. We had to wait a long hour and a half in the lobby for the next one, which meant we missed our Shinkansen to Tokyo. It’s not a bad place, just past it’s prime and a fair way from the main attractions. We liked the fact that there were virtually no other foreigners there and we were experiencing real Japan. Coin laundry is a real bonus and the rooms are huge, allowing plenty of space to spread out and repack your gear.
4. Yuasobi no Yado Shunjuan Sansatei
Overall Ratings
3 based on 65 reviews
Hotel
Nice baths, disappointingly unimaginative food, formulaic service.
Reviewed By underw00dNice spacious room with a view of the river (which unfortunately is so fast-flowing and therefore loud that you can't sleep with the windows open). Good array of free traditional sweets and snacks in the room, but dinner was disappointing - plate after plate of fish or meat, with virtually no vegetables and uninspired presentation and seasoning. Dessert was a persimmon jelly that reminded me of children's cough medicine: why not fresh fruit when the surrounding orchards were groaning with gorgeous apples and pears and peaches? Breakfast was better, though not sure whose idea it was to serve hamburgers in a curry sauce. The baths were spacious and suitably hot and relaxing. Pillows filled with dried beans made for a rather uncomfortable night's sleep. Service generally fine, but didn't feel very genuine: too many formulaic "go-yukkuri dozo"s. THe town badly needs a facelift too, and an injection of imagination. Still, it made for a relaxing stay at the right point on our long drive south.
5. Barden-ya-Soho
Overall Ratings
4 based on 20 reviews
Barden-ya-Soho is an excellent choice for travelers visiting Zao-machi, offering many helpful amenities designed to enhance your stay. Guest rooms offer a kitchenette, air conditioning, and a refrigerator. In addition, guests can enjoy a sauna and breakfast during their visit. As an added convenience, there is free parking available to guests. While staying at Barden-ya-Soho, visitors can check out Miyagi Zao Eboshi Resort (2.6 mi) and Takimidai Lookout (2.9 mi), some of Zao-machi's top attractions. During your visit, be sure to check out a popular Zao-machi seafood restaurants such as Kuidokoro Aizawa, which is a short distance from Barden-ya-Soho. During your visit, be sure to check out popular attractions like Zao Dairy Farm (1.0 mi) and Shimakawa Museum (0.7 mi), which are all within walking distance of the onsen ryokan. Enjoy your stay in Zao-machi!
6. Ryokan Sanjiro
Overall Ratings
4 based on 51 reviews
Welcome to Ryokan Sanjiro, your Zao-machi “home away from home.” Ryokan Sanjiro aims to make your visit as relaxing and enjoyable as possible, which is why so many guests continue to come back year after year. While staying at Ryokan Sanjiro, visitors can check out Zao Dairy Farm (1.4 mi) and Miyagi Zao Eboshi Resort (2.7 mi), some of Zao-machi's top attractions. Ryokan Sanjiro is a romantic onsen ryokan offering a refrigerator and air conditioning in the rooms, and it is easy to stay connected during your stay as free wifi is offered to guests. The onsen ryokan features a gift shop and baggage storage. Plus, guests can enjoy a sauna and a lounge, which have made this a popular choice among travelers visiting Zao-machi. For guests with a vehicle, free parking is available. When you’re feeling hungry, be sure to check out Chukatei Bunten, which is a Chinese restaurant that is popular with locals and out-of-towners alike. If you are interested in exploring Zao-machi, check out an art museum, such as Shimakawa Museum. Ryokan Sanjiro puts the best of Zao-machi at your fingertips, making your stay both relaxing and enjoyable.
Exceeded expectations. Lovely onsen ryokan with close proximity to Mt Zao
Reviewed By LlwchanWe stayed here for 1 night during Golden Week in Japan (this year a 2 week long run of public holidays in May joined together, is what I understand). Due to this, we had limited hotel/ryokan choices when we were planning our trip in February 2019. Ryokan Sanjiro was one that had availability for this period. And given the last English review was from 2017, we didn’t quite know what to expect. We were pleasantly surprised though. This is a smallish onsen hotel. It felt cozy, we recognised staff and they recognised us. We were greeted by a staff member who spoke some English and tried very hard at it. She welcomed us with a personalised map of the ryokan with our room, onsen locations and meal area highlighted and written in English. With this it felt like we had personalised service. The room was lovely, we could see the Zao mountain from our room. Meals were served in a private dining room. There was a personalised welcome note. The room meant we could enjoy dinner privately. The food was great quality! We thoroughly enjoyed it. The ingredients were fresh and dishes intricately prepared. Same goes for breakfast. No coffee provided with breakfast, but we received a voucher for coffee at the lobby. It was special, with a coffee foam on top. I like a good coffee and enjoyed this one. There were a few private baths you could rent for 50 minutes. Prices ranged from high 1000 yen to low 2000 yen. I thought this was reasonable as the room rate was cheaper than most other onsen hotels. On check out again we had lovely service. I prefer smaller ryokans with personable service and good food, and ideally private onsen available for use - this place ticks all those boxes and has made it memorable for us.
7. Auberge Yamabuki
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 42 reviews
美味しいお酒にすごく美味しいお料理
Reviewed By mittsuchan気になっていたお宿の一つが、オーベルジュ別邸山風木さんでした。やっとうかがうことができました。 期待以上のおもてなしで、大変満足できました。
8. Yutomori Club
Overall Ratings
4 based on 81 reviews
Looking for a place to stay in Zao-machi? Then look no further than Yutomori Club, a quaint onsen ryokan that brings the best of Zao-machi to your doorstep. Yutomori Club is a quaint onsen ryokan offering a refrigerator and air conditioning in the rooms, and it is easy to stay connected during your stay as free internet access is offered to guests. Plus, guests can enjoy an on-site restaurant, which has made this a popular choice among travelers visiting Zao-machi. For those interested in checking out popular landmarks while visiting Zao-machi, Yutomori Club is located a short distance from Zao Dairy Farm (1.3 mi) and Miyagi Zao Eboshi Resort (1.5 mi). When you’re feeling hungry, be sure to check out Sumibi Yakiniku Mahoroba, which is a barbeque restaurant that is popular with locals and out-of-towners alike. If you are interested in exploring Zao-machi, check out one of the waterfalls, such as Sangai Fall/Fudo Fall and Kaerazunotaki Fall. We’re sure you’ll enjoy your stay at Yutomori Club as you experience everything Zao-machi has to offer.
Sendai trip
Reviewed By Teresa TThe hotel is very nice. Don’t expect a shower in your room. You have to use the common shower in the ground floor, which to me was a nice experience. Love the sauna and the jacuzzi. The food was also excellent and the drinks selection was also excellent. The single malt Japanese whisky was so good. Would love to come back here and stay a bit longer. An overnight stay is simply not enough. So much to explore and to try out.
9. Tamaya Ryokan
Overall Ratings
4 based on 7 reviews
清潔
Reviewed By Kuretake-anどんなおもてなしより清潔にして迎えて下さる対応は、私にとって最も嬉しいおもてなしです。おトイレもお風呂も綺麗にしてあるのは嬉しい。お食事も美味しかったです。コストの低さから恐縮してしまいます。今は、コロナ最中で冬。三密を避けながら車で訪れましたが、当然の如く来訪者は少なく、患う方や対処に苦労される方々に申し訳ないが、今年も50年以上続けているスキーと酒を続けられました。 誰も助ける事が出来ないなら、迷惑だけは掛けたくないと、帰宅したら極力外出を避ける所存です。 何分にもご容赦。そしてありございます。
10. Mahoroba
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 8 reviews
息子の卒業旅行を兼ねて宿泊しました。
Reviewed By Boo_hide息子の高校卒業旅行を兼ねて宿泊しました。 露天風呂付のお部屋で、岩をくり抜いたお風呂と藻がつき風情のある水車が回っていました。 何度も入り大満足です！！ サプライズをしたく問い合わせをしたところ丁寧に相談に乗っていただきました。 松坂様、お世話になりました(*^_^*) また、近くの観光地やおいしい牛タン屋も教えてくださりありがとうございます。 従業員の皆様も親切でしたし、夕食・朝食は美味しくゆっくり頂きました。 素敵な温泉旅館に泊まれいい旅行になりました。 まほろばの皆様、ありがとうございました。
