Hotel Route-Inn Tendo

I spent a week at HOTEL ROUTE-INN TENDO on a business trip to the 3M Yamagata office. It was conveniently located for getting to the office, and it was easy to find a cab. The room was cozy and had the basic essentials. Breakfast included both Japanese and Western options.

The indoor onsen was one of my main reasons for booking, and it was a decent size. A nice way to finish the day. There’s also a relaxation room just outside the bath area with two massage chairs and lots of vending machines. Breakfast had plenty of typical Japanese options, including rice, egg, grilled fish, Japanese curry, sausages, salad, miso soup, and porridge. There was tea, milk, orange juice, plus bread and the usual jams. The price felt like one of the best I’ve found, especially with buffet breakfast included. The room could probably fit two adults. The bed was quite firm, which suits me, and I liked having outlets at the headboard along with the usual amenities. Check-in and checkout were smooth. The receptionist was really helpful, friendly, and smiled a lot. On foot, Starbucks and Max Valu are about 10-15 minutes away. Across from Starbucks, Road Station Tendo Onsen has a bookstore, coffee shop, and large souvenir shop. I think there are two foot baths within walking distance. I’m not sure whether there’s a convenience store closer by. The nearest one I found was MaxValu, a 10-minute walk. The closest fast food places I saw were Mos Burger and Nakau.

Nice hotel, but you’ll need a car to stay here, or it’s a 30-minute walk to the station.

The natural scenery is awesome, and the location is very good. The nearest bus stop is about a five-minute walk away.