Tansen Hotel

The piping hot open-air cypress bath was a highlight, and the meals were delicious. Since our dog was waiting in the room and we wanted to head home promptly, having all the food brought out at once worked well for us. The warm welcome started as soon as we arrived, and everyone we passed greeted us. At dinner, a waitress noticed my wife's slightly swollen pregnant belly and chatted with us while keeping an eye on our meal. This is a homey, relaxing, old-fashioned Japanese inn, with thoughtful service throughout. It's not luxurious, and the historic building is a little old, but it never felt cold. I'd recommend it to anyone after this kind of relaxed stay. With a car, Ginzan Onsen and the frost-covered trees are about an hour away.

The bath and meals were the best parts of our stay with our dog. The historic bath was carefully cleaned and very comfortable, and the generous food was tasty. But the service left me uneasy. While I was bathing, a staff member came in. Cleaning would have made sense, but they got into the bath with me, which was surprising and unpleasant when I was hoping for an out-of-the-ordinary experience. At dinner, the soft drink menu only said "juices." When I asked what was available, the answer was vague, something like, "Maybe orange juice..." It would help to list the drinks by name or have staff explain them clearly. Service also varied noticeably. The younger staff were pleasant, but one older staff member had an old-fashioned attitude, seemed uneasy, and was rude when I spoke with other staff. The baths and food are excellent, and better customer service would make this an even nicer inn.

The renovated Japanese-style room was beautiful, and the futon kept us warm enough to sleep well in February. We came with our dog and found the old building well cared for. The hot bath water was amazing, and the food was all delicious. The service had a pleasant, polite old-fashioned feel. We had to leave early for Zao to see the frost-covered trees, so we missed the freshly made rice cakes at breakfast. I'd like to return and try them.

The room has a Showa-era feel, which I found comfortable as someone from that era. It was a relaxing trip, and parking was no problem. Being able to stay with my dog, enjoy the hot spring, and eat tasty Yamagata rice and sake made for a great time. The meals in the large hall were comfortable too. My child said it looked like a place that could be used for a hot spring club, and I secretly laughed to myself that they'd probably watched too much ItteQ!