Yamagata Kaku Hotel & Spa

We went to Yonezawa Hall on the T floor of Yamagata Kaku Hotel & SPA, beside Jiao-Xi transfer station, mainly for the restaurant this time. Manager Johnson Hsiao and supervisor May Chen explained how the hotel maintains quality like places in Yamagata Prefecture, Japan, and May also told me the chef had experience in Lietuva and at a famous hotel in Taipei. The vegan-friendly dinner set really surprised me. Each dish was so far beyond what I expected that I wondered whether I was eating food or looking at artwork. The chef combined and brought out the best in each ingredient. If you travel to Jiao-Xi, I strongly recommend trying the dinner set at this restaurant in the hotel. The flavors are new and unexpected. Give it an honest try, or you'll be sorry.

I loved this place so much I'd return to Jiaoxi just for the hotel and onsen. During my four nights, I went to the baths 2-3 times a day and was always greeted by a friendly attendant. There are three pools at different temperatures. The one on the left was too hot for me, so I usually sat in the middle, then cooled off in the one on the right. The modern bathing and changing areas were clean and spacious, with private showers and lots of private toilets, maybe 10. I've been to public onsens in Japan, and this one was at least as good, maybe a little better. My room was more like a suite, with a big sitting area and table, a separate built-in desk and makeup station, a huge bathroom, and a tub big enough for two adults and a couple of kids. They provided yukatas to wear to the public onsen. I was allowed into the room 1.5 hours early. The location was perfect, a short walk from the train station and close to everything in the main part of town, mostly 5-10 minutes away. Getting there with a roller bag was easy, and the front desk was extremely friendly, greeting me whenever I came through the lobby. Highly recommend.

We liked the Onsen, and having a dehumidifier in the room was helpful. The room had a great view, was nice and very clean, and the bath robes were a cute touch. Everyone was friendly. There are lots of shops and food nearby. Breakfast came with four choices: veggie Indian, Japanese with fish, or Asian options with meat, plus a small buffet.

I came hoping to unwind for four days, and the hotel gave me everything I needed for a lovely stay. The restaurant staff were warm and attentive, and on my last day they had worked out my breakfast favorites and needs and made me a special set. While I was at the spa, I misplaced a few things. I thought a small nose pad from my glasses was gone for good, but the staff managed to find it. Their care and kindness really impressed me, and I'm so grateful to the whole team. The breakfasts were delightful too. Wonderful restaurant staff. 👍👍👍