Ryokans in Zao Onsen

The meals were exceptional. Our traditional ryokan type of room was very comfortable. The staff (owners) were so helpful, warm and welcoming. A delightful stay!

Very nice, traditional experience! We were very surprised with the diversity of the breakfast. If you want to experience a proper Japanese breakfast, here is one place where you can do that very well. The onsen was very pleasant too, but you might need to get accustomed to the temperature. All in all we had a very pleasant stay here and we can definitely recommend! Thanks a lot :)

Very beautiful onsen. Mix bath and private onsen

We had an excellent stay, food and presentations were exquisite. We admired the thought that went into presenting food in dishes that are compatible with the “mood” of the food. Only 5 minutes walk to the lift. Staff were professional, rooms were comfortable and clean. We really enjoyed our stay.

Where do I start? This place is amazing to stay at! I regret that we only stayed one night! The room was clean and the beds were comfortable. Breakfast was included and it was buffet style. Due to it being so early in the season, a lot of restaurants were closed, but the reception staff recommended a lovely BBQ place a short walk away which was delicious! The baths were to die for! We used both the private and public baths.

In the heart of Zao Onsen village and a short walk to the main "ropeway" or cable car. The room was beautiful with a table and cushionbs and a cupboard with futons to put out. We went western style and left our futons out all the time we were there and had some of the cushions as a makeshift bedhead against the cupboard. The food was absolutely amazing - we had a shabu shabu hot pot dinner that was cooked on our table and it was difficult to stop eating although despite the very generous serving. Breakfast was also plentiful and nutritiously so well balanced that we could go on skiing for hours without a break. The owner is charming and although we hired a local guide for going back country we should have just talked to the owner. He has been skiing is Zao all his life and was a champion giant slalom skier and is a volunteer search and rescue patrol guy too. The mother has a shop downstairs and her delicious sweet dumplings get sold out everyday. Don't worry about not having a private bathroom (I normally prefer this) as the facilities are scrupulously clean. There is a lovely communal bath (one for men, another for women) and the best onsen in town just opposite (free voucher available from the front desk). Felt really well looked after. Will definitely come back!! Zao Onsen is like a ghibli world. There are snow rabbits running about in the breathtaking scenery of the snow monsters and apparently giant foxes and (musasabi) giant flying squirrels with 1.6m wingspan (very rare to see though). Just lovely! Zao also has a new excellent music bar/restaurant called Takiyama Studio. The chefs drum and play guitiar and various instruments and a waitress sings - it was amazing, especially the qualilty of the waitresses singing and guitar playing. The chef's singing was not my cup of tea but he knew his way around an axe!

The hospitality and service provided by the staff - they sent us to the bus station when needed, allowed us to use the bath after coming from an overnight bus, and changed our rooms when the heater wasn't working.

They have good location, nice onsen, friendly staff.

Thank you for the stay, everything was perfect. Highly recommend to anyone who would like to stay in traditional ryokan and enjoy onsen in a beautiful place

A hotel with large room size and excellent service. Staying here felt like living in a Singapore 3 rooms flat. So large and comfortable and they even provide a massage chair in the room for guests to enjoy. Perfect location and we truly enjoyed the dinner.