Gero Onsen Yamagataya

Our room was beautiful, spacious, and new, and the onsen worked perfectly for our family of four. We had a delicious dinner in the room. The lobby and downstairs breakfast room look a bit dated, but check-in was well organized. We arrived early and waited in the lobby, then someone brought us to our room before the usual check-in time. It’s very close to the Main Street for a walk around, and they also offer free taxi or shuttle service. We had a great stay and would come back.

The road into town is a little nerve-racking: it’s narrow, often has no walking lane, and cars come through fast. The hotel itself is about 1 km from the city center, and you can request a free taxi to the JR station at the front desk. Our room had a lovely river view, and although the hotel is a bit old, it felt comfortable. The staff were very helpful and kind. I went to the public baths late at night and early in the morning to miss the crowds, and had them to myself both times, which felt almost private. The food was amazing too.

We stayed in Ariake, a 74-sq m corner room with a semi-open-air bath and panoramic views. It was very comfortable and the scenery was great. The setting throughout the hotel was nice, and the meals looked beautifully presented, though both breakfast and dinner were only okay and didn’t impress us much. Check-in was less smooth than at other upscale onsen resorts: even though we were among the first guests to arrive before check-in, we ended up being the last to get our room keys.

The room smelled of cigarette smoke when we arrived, and that spoiled part of the experience. Aside from that, our stay with our 2-year-old was memorable. We’d reserved a private onsen, but actually enjoyed the public one even more. We chose a package with dinner, and both the atmosphere and food were great. Service exceeded what we expected, especially from the staff member who helped with our luggage. She was courteous and attentive.