Wakamatsuya

The location, service, and food were all so good. I had a really enjoyable stay and want to thank the staff for such a lovely experience here. ❤️

We had a great four-night stay as a family of four. The location was very convenient, and the complimentary shuttle to the village and slopes made getting around easy. Both meals, breakfast and dinner, had lots of delicious options and exceeded our expectations. We could try different courses during our stay, which added to the food experience. Staff were exceptional and always went out of their way to help. The Onsen stayed open all day, a perfect way to unwind, and complimentary refreshments were available in the lobby. I'd wholeheartedly recommend this hotel to anyone visiting Zao Onsen.

The traditional Japanese breakfasts were different each morning, a nice way to start a day in the snow. The location is central, with the main shopping and restaurant street just a three-minute walk away, and roughly equal distances to all the slopes and local Onsen. We really liked the water here more than at Ginzan. It was more acidic and seemed to help our skin, leaving it silky smooth. I was worn out from a recent project and felt I could fully relax. There are two private onsens and two gender-separated onsens for all building guests, with indoor and outdoor pools. The lobby has drinks through the afternoon and evening, plus small snacks from the prefecture. Try the local milk after a soak, it's great. Staff were kind and attentive, and went above and beyond to keep you souped.

The food was wow, especially the sukiyaki dinner with Yamagata A5 meat. Breakfast was great too, and both meals were included in our stay. Staff were attentive and spoke some English. Our room was amazing, with a fantastic in-room Onsen, so we didn't need to use the public or private onsens downstairs. It's three minutes from the bus station and conveniently close to everything. We've stayed at other ryokans, but this one was top notch. We'd strongly recommend it and hope to come back with friends and family.