Location: Yamagata Prefecture Japanese Pensions
Top Hotels in Yamagata Prefecture Japanese Pensions
Top Things to do in Yamagata Prefecture
Top 10 Japanese Pensions in Yamagata Prefecture, Japan
Discover the best Japanese Pensions in Yamagata Prefecture, Tohoku including Zao Center Plaza, Forest Inn Sangoro, Pension Brown, Pension Apron Stage, Pension Putaro, Der Barte, Hotel Tetora Resort Tsuruoka, Hotel Sun Cherry, Pension Kiichigo, Pension Candle.
Things to do in Yamagata Prefecture
1. Zao Center Plaza
Overall Ratings
4 based on 39 reviews
A Plaza in the Centre of Zao
Reviewed By jshangZao Center Plaza is centrally located with a short walk from the Zao Onsen bus station. On exiting the station, turn right and walk along the main road for about 10 minutes and you will reach the hotel. The hotel is old and dated, but rooms are big with plenty of space for luggages and ski accessories. We were given a room on the third floor in an annex building connected by a walkway to the main building where the reception, breakfast room and onsens are located. Our room only has a toilet with a wash basin but as is in most cases, bathing facilities are really not needed as showering at the onsen is pretty much the norm. The hotel adopt a strictly 3pm check-in policy but luggages can be self stored in a common room near the reception should you be early. None of the staff speak any English so communication mostly will have to be a mixture of sign languages and reliance on a translation app. Reception is not visible from the front as it is on the first floor while on the ground floor, you will find a souvenir cum winter accessories shop and a yakitori outlet next to it. Opposite the hotel and across the road is a Lawson convenience store and a shop away, a ski rental manage by a friendly local that charges very competitive rates. There are also a few eateries along the same strip with a small ramen shop being one of our favourites. Wi-Fi was efficient and reliable. The hotel was not at full occupancy and as we were there on weekdays, we did not encounter much noise disturbance and slept well. Breakfast was a simple mixture of japanese and western offerings though not much in variety, but ample and sufficient to keep us going for a day on the mountains. The hotel is a ski-in ski-out with the Nakamori course next to it, while the Sanroku Ropeway that lead to the Jizosancho station at the top for the Snow Monsters area via the Juhyokogen station at mid-level is about a 10 minutes walk away. Both the indoor and especially the outdoor onsen are great for a soak and relaxation after a day's exertions on the mountains. A minor problem we had being in the annex building, it can get pretty cold and chilly especially in the morning when we have to make our way across the walkway to the main building for breakfast or to use the onsens. Zao Center Plaza is an ideal choice to set up base for its location and easy access to both the Nakamori run and Sanroku Ropeway, nearby food and groceries options and reasonably priced accommodation. Would look to stay again if we are back in Zao Onsen.
2. Forest Inn Sangoro
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 9 reviews
Mid-mountain hideaway
Reviewed By CallieB604Friends booked us in at Sangoro so we could ski in / out... and it truly is ski in/out... not like places at the bottom of the hill where u can only ski in/out if there’s a decent amount of snow. Sangoro is at mid-mountain, so if the resort is open for the winter season, you can ski in / out of this hotel. The disadvantage of being at mid-mountain is that there is only Sangoro there and you can’t leave / get back there from The main village after 5pm. So all your evenings are spent at the hotel. It wasn’t a problem for us, but I think you’d get cabin fever if u stayed there too long. They have a reasonable dinner menu that is mostly Japanese but has a few western and vegetarian options (spaghetti with soy meat and margarita pizza). They have a soft drink machine and soup machine which are free for people staying there (all u can drink). There’s also a pool table, table tennis table, a few games and a massage chair u can use (the massage chair is quite good after a day on the slopes). The bathrooms are Japanese (shared) but you can only use them between 7-9am and 5-10pm... only showers can be used in the morning but they fill up the big hot baths in the evenings. The women’s bathroom is down on the lowest level, so you have to go down 2 or 3 flights of stairs to get there. Men’s bathroom is on the main floor, with the hotel rooms 1 and 2 floors above. There are no elevators, so you need to be ok with climbing the fairly steep stairs and carrying luggage up/down. They have a drying room on the lowest level for ski gear, but someone kept opening the window in the room so it was always very cold in there (no point putting your stuff in there to dry). One thing everyone in our group complained about was the beds and/or pillows... not comfortable at all! I had poor sleep as I had to keep rotating all night or my arm or leg would go numb. The people working at the hotel are really nice. Some of them speak better English than others... we didn’t have any language issues but we did have a couple of people in our group who speak good Japanese, which was helpful for anything complicated. To get to the hotel you have to catch the Chuo Ropeway up to mid-mountain and get the hotel to pick you up in their special car (on tracks to drive on the snow). If you need lift tickets it’s a little cheaper to purchase them from the hotel but you. I enjoyed my time at Sangoro (except the beds), but it’s not somewhere I’d stay for a really long time due to its remoteness (there are really good and not so good things about being isolated on the mountain).
3. Pension Brown
Overall Ratings
5 based on 17 reviews
An English spoken Japanese-style chalet (pension) located in Zao Onsen in the mountains of Yamagata. (Carl is British/Japanese and Wakana from Japan.) Only 2.5hrs from Tokyo on the bullet train, or a 40-90 minute bus-ride from Yamagata/Sendai airports, offering one of the oldest onsen sites in Japan (with a history going back 1,900 years) along with activities for all seasons including 4-5 months skiing. There are plenty of hiking trails including the Yamagata Long Trail (70kms) which is in course of completion but partly opened in terms of signage. Please see our website for in-house activities and general FAQs. Depending upon other guest numbers, we are happy to cater to dietary requirements such as Halal, vegetarian, vegan.
3 day snow monster trip
Reviewed By scool bOutstanding hospitality with excellent food, long trail guiding, evening massages arranged, comfy beds and chauffeur driven everywhere. Carl and his family did everything to make our stay exactly as we wanted it.
4. Pension Apron Stage
Overall Ratings
5 based on 8 reviews
An amazing experience in Japan with the friendliest owners!
Reviewed By joshboagIntended to spend 2 days here but with such a warm welcome from mama and papa we decided to stay 4 nights! Zao onsen is a beautiful place with plenty of snow.The owners of this pension went above and beyond to help us in every way possible by driving us around for free and even giving some sake and wine! If you want a warm place to stay with comfortable rooms and friendly, caring people then stay here. It is a bit of a walk from the main street but i think that adds to the charm. We were driven into main st for skiing and dinner whenever we pleased. An amazing stay. :)
5. Pension Putaro
Overall Ratings
4 based on 10 reviews
Guest House
Disappointing, overpriced
Reviewed By tnbms162016It's half a kilometre from the bus terminal, but there was no offer of a pickup or dropoff, even though I had luggage and there's no other transport. On arrival, there was no offer to help me take my bags upstairs to the room, either. Small things, but they make a poor first impression, indicative of a lack of care. The building and the room are old and a bit run-down, not much thought given to anything. The most serious negative point is the mattress, far too hard, uncomfortable to sleep on. I had dinner there, a so-called French full-course dinner. The cook is an enthusiastic amateur, and the dinner was okay, but somewhat lacking in imagination, and not recognisably French. I appreciate the effort they made with the food, but it's definitely not worth 5500 yen. All in all, the pension is underwhelming and overpriced.
6. Der Barte
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 11 reviews
lovely people, ski in, ski out, way overpriced
Reviewed By TheBeareThis hotel has an excellent location as it's a ski in ski out. The breakfasts were very nice with piped classical music and lovely older couple running the place. There are Swiss, Austrian decorations everywhere and you can imagine the decor hasn't changed much in 40 years. The property description said that breakfast was included which is true and evening meals are provided too, at a cost though and there are much cheaper and better options in Zao town. The bed was as hard as a rock, seriously, for the price just wrong. The hot water system took awhile to crank up in the morning but was ok. Internet wifi was free but had no password and didn't work very well in the rooms. The rooms were warm and the drying room was nice and warm too, not every ski lodge does that. For the price charged I would not recommend this lodge unless it was a short stay and you were desperate for an on mountain ski in ski out stay. Look further.
7. Hotel Tetora Resort Tsuruoka
Overall Ratings
4 based on 137 reviews
Hotel Tetora Rezort Turuoka
Amazing
Reviewed By 158mamitVery happy with their service, facility, meal and location! Smooth check in and nice people. Room is also clean. Love this room’s vibe :) I can’t wait to come back with my family and do local activities like takenoko hori or visit nice beach in this are! Must visit!!
8. Hotel Sun Cherry
Overall Ratings
4 based on 24 reviews
Not too bad
Reviewed By Agus NCheap foods compared to other restaurant arround, acceptable clean room, smoking available at some rooms. Free wifi even only at lobby. Hopefully, free wifi can cover all rooms Ome note, I stay for two weeks here but find same menu on breakfast. It's make me bored
9. Pension Kiichigo
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 6 reviews
蔵王温泉スキー場の良いお宿
Reviewed By zhenxingz2お世話になりました。綺麗なペンションで、食事が美味しかったです。大森ゲレンデに近いです。シャトルバスがないので、マイカーの方が便利です。
10. Pension Candle
Overall Ratings
5 based on 6 reviews
山菜料理が絶品
Reviewed By geizan2月から青森リゾートから野沢温泉、志賀高原と泊まった後のスキー宿で蔵王温泉スキー場の良さは今回は宿で更に何倍も増した。確かにスキーが目的なのだから、その利便性はホテルの方が良いだろう。その投資比率と立地でで宿代も決まるだろう。そこの宿泊所の食事に関しての個人的な評価だが三箇所共食事は二の次で不味いというより下手な上に美味しく食べてもらおうと言う気持ちが入っていない。ここは利便性も良くお料理は長けている。手間隙かかる難しい山菜料理の美味しさには驚かされた。実に旨い！日度と鍋料理が変わり、そこへ焼物煮物も付けて頂いた。料理が示すように女将さんの心は明るく優しい。3泊して朝夕の食事を頂きリゾートホテルの料理人に歴史ある温泉宿と小洒落たホテルの料理人にはここに泊まって宿泊業の何たるかを教えてもらえ！と心底思った。 本当にご馳走さまでした。宿代もどこより低く設定されて旅する者は、最高です！
