Search hotels in Yamagata, Japan

Enter your dates and choose from 302 hotels and other places to stay

Check out these popular cities in Yamagata

Yamagata

39 hotels

Tsuruoka

35 hotels

Yonezawa

46 hotels

Zao Onsen

31 hotels

Tendo

19 hotels

Sakata

29 hotels

Kaminoyama

30 hotels

Murayama

2 hotels

Higashine

23 hotels

Mogami

3 hotels

Stay in Yamagata's best hotels!

Filter by:

Star rating
Review score

Daiwa Roynet Hotel Yamagata Ekimae

Hotel in Yamagata

Located in Yamagata, 17 km from Zao Onsen Ski Resort, Daiwa Roynet Hotel Yamagata Ekimae provides accommodation with a fitness centre, private parking and massage services.

V
Vivienne
From
Australia
everything was great: convenience, cleanliness and comfort. outstanding value! and the amazing onsen packets at the front counter. Turn your bath into your own onsen!
Scored out of 10, guest rating 9.0
Superb - What previous guests thought, 1,997 reviews
Price from
US$83.43
1 night, 2 adults

HOTEL SLOW VILLAGE - Vacation STAY 66828v

Hotel in Hagyū

Set in Hagyū, 49 km from Zao Onsen Ski Resort, HOTEL SLOW VILLAGE - Vacation STAY 66828v offers accommodation with free WiFi and free private parking.

O
Olivier
From
Switzerland
Really nice quiet hotel, the staff was incredibly friendly (Thank you again for your warm welcome). The room was big and comfy. Breakfast was tasty and the common room was lovely decorated. Close to the hotel there are a few restaurants if you want to have dinner outside.
Scored out of 10, guest rating 9.4
Superb - What previous guests thought, 5 reviews
Price from
US$121.22
1 night, 2 adults

Comfort Hotel Yamagata

Hotel in Yamagata

Situated 16 km from Zao Onsen Ski Resort, Comfort Hotel Yamagata offers 3-star accommodation in Yamagata and has free bikes. The property is non-smoking and is located 100 metres from Yamagata...

T
Thomas
From
Canada
Very close to the station and very friendly stuff.
Scored out of 10, guest rating 8.3
Very good - What previous guests thought, 1,377 reviews
Price from
US$135.39
1 night, 2 adults

Tsukino HOTEL

Hotel in Sakata

Situated in Sakata, 23 km from Kamo Aquarium, Tsukino HOTEL features accommodation with a restaurant, free private parking and a bar.

G
Gil
From
Portugal
Excellent location, really attentive staff. Modern spacious rooms with smart tv
Scored out of 10, guest rating 8.6
Fabulous - What previous guests thought, 464 reviews
Price from
US$82.81
1 night, 2 adults

Hotel Route-Inn Yamagata Minami -Daigaku Byoin Mae-

Hotel in Yamagata

Located in Yamagata, within 13 km of Zao Onsen Ski Resort and 4.3 km of Yamagata Station, Hotel Route-Inn Yamagata Minami -Daigaku Byoin Mae- provides accommodation with a restaurant and free WiFi...

S
Saar Moshe
From
Japan
Great value for money, the hotel feels brand new
Scored out of 10, guest rating 8.4
Very good - What previous guests thought, 336 reviews
Price from
US$80.18
1 night, 2 adults

Richmond Hotel Yamagata Ekimae

Hotel in Yamagata

Only a 5-minute walk from JR Yamagata Station’s West exit, Richmond Hotel Yamagata Ekimae features comfortable rooms with free Wi-Fi, drinks vending machines and massage treatments.

W
WING CRYSTAL
From
Hong Kong
A standard Japanese business hotel. Breakfast is delicious, many choices. free drinks offers until 10pm.
Scored out of 10, guest rating 8.6
Fabulous - What previous guests thought, 356 reviews
Price from
US$88.73
1 night, 2 adults

Takamiya Hotel Hammond

Hotel in Zao Onsen

Situated in Zao Onsen, 600 metres from Zao Onsen Ski Resort, Takamiya Hotel Hammond features accommodation with free WiFi and free private parking.

M
Marie-Thérèse
From
Belgium
It is one of the best places I have stayed at in my long life. It felt like home as soon as I stepped in. I left with regret and wished I could stay longer. Onsen power. Sober, airy style throughout, matching the pristine surrounding forests. Spacious rooms to sit, look within and finally rest. The common area is diverse. If I had been travelling with friends, I would have played babyfoot in armchair, or ping pong. The onsen is out of this world. Rejuvenation. You are not bothered by anything or anyone and yet you feel cared for.
Scored out of 10, guest rating 8.2
Very good - What previous guests thought, 395 reviews
Price from
US$372.65
1 night, 2 adults

Hotel Route-Inn Tendo

Hotel in Tendo

Located in Tendo, 30 km from Zao Onsen Ski Resort, Hotel Route-Inn Tendo provides accommodation with a restaurant, free private parking and massage services.

A
Angelo (アンジェロ)
From
Japan
PRICE: Given that the price included a buffet breakfast, I would definitely say that it is one of the best hotel rates I've found. LOCATION: There is a nearby Starbucks and Max Valu supermarket accessible on foot within 10-15 minutes. Across from Starbucks is Road Station Tendo Onsen, which has a bookstore, a coffee shop, and a big souvenir shop. Within walking distance from the hotel are two foot baths (I think). ROOM: The room can probably accommodate two adults. MATTRESS: The bed was quite firm. It's perfect for me because I like this kind of bed. ROOM AMENITIES: In addition to the usual amenities, I liked it that there were power outlets at the bed headboard. STAFF: The staff at the reception when I checked in was very helpful. They were friendly and smiled a lot. Check in was smooth. So was the check out. BUFFET BREAKFAST: Plenty of choices for a typical Japanese breakfast: rice, egg, grilled fish, Japanese curry, sausages, salad, miso soup, porridge. Drink choices included tea, milk, and orange juice. There are also some bread options with usual jams. INDOOR ONSEN: The onsen was one of the main reasons I booked this hotel. It was a decent size and was a great way to end the day. RELAXATION AREA: There was also a relaxation room just outside the onsen rooms which had two massage chairs, plenty of vending machines.
Scored out of 10, guest rating 8.0
Very good - What previous guests thought, 302 reviews
Price from
US$88.73
1 night, 2 adults

Hotel Route-Inn Shinjyo Ekimae

Hotel in Shinjo

Situated in Shinjo, within 700 metres of Shinjo Station and 25 km of Oishida Station, Hotel Route-Inn Shinjyo Ekimae features accommodation with a restaurant and free WiFi throughout the property as...

j
jean-marc
From
Switzerland
very nice hotel with good onsen and very close to station. The rooms were clean and the personnal qualified. The breakfast was good having a mix of everything but of course mainly japanese food as expected in this area of Japan which is not Tokyo. The hotel has a coin laundry which is appreciated as we used it. The onsen is normal for this kind of hotel but always appreciated and products are good. I especially liked the shaving foam with mint perfume (I even tried to buy it in a drug store but could not find the same). Parking for free and only 3 min walk to station. My son enjoyed to watch the Shinkansen leaving Shinjo.
Scored out of 10, guest rating 8.2
Very good - What previous guests thought, 549 reviews
Price from
US$93.33
1 night, 2 adults

Onsen & Stay OAKHILL

Hotel in Zao Onsen

Situated in Zao Onsen, 700 metres from Zao Onsen Ski Resort, Onsen & Stay OAKHILL features views of the mountain. With ski-to-door access, the 3-star hotel has air-conditioned rooms with free WiFi.

M
Maurizio
From
United Kingdom
The location was very good, quiet street and easy walk to town. The staff is AMAZING!! Very good breakfast, super clean rooms and good amenities for the stay! I loved the free yukata provided for the onsen and breakfast
Scored out of 10, guest rating 8.5
Very good - What previous guests thought, 73 reviews
Price from
US$414.05
1 night, 2 adults
See all 302 hotels in Yamagata

Most booked hotels in Yamagata in the past month

See all

Popular with guests booking hotels in Yamagata

Scored out of 10, guest rating 9.0
Superb - What previous guests thought, 1,997 reviews

Popular with guests booking hotels in Yamagata

Scored out of 10, guest rating 7.6
Good - What previous guests thought, 1,394 reviews

Popular with guests booking hotels in Yamagata

Scored out of 10, guest rating 8.8
Fabulous - What previous guests thought, 3,072 reviews

Popular with guests booking hotels in Yamagata

Scored out of 10, guest rating 7.8
Good - What previous guests thought, 186 reviews

Popular with guests booking hotels in Yamagata

Scored out of 10, guest rating 8.3
Very good - What previous guests thought, 1,377 reviews

Popular with guests booking hotels in Yamagata

Scored out of 10, guest rating 8.6
Fabulous - What previous guests thought, 464 reviews

Popular with guests booking hotels in Yamagata

Scored out of 10, guest rating 7.8
Good - What previous guests thought, 1,210 reviews

Popular with guests booking hotels in Yamagata

Scored out of 10, guest rating 7.0
Good - What previous guests thought, 356 reviews

Popular with guests booking hotels in Yamagata

Scored out of 10, guest rating 7.5
Good - What previous guests thought, 140 reviews

Popular with guests booking hotels in Yamagata

Scored out of 10, guest rating 8.0
Very good - What previous guests thought, 489 reviews

Yamagata's best hotels with breakfast

Scored out of 10, guest rating 8.0
Very good - What previous guests thought, 131 reviews

Set in Zao Onsen, 700 metres from Zao Onsen Ski Resort, Takamiya Hotel Rurikura Resort offers accommodation with free WiFi and free private parking.

From US$173.51 per night
Scored out of 10, guest rating 8.0
Very good - What previous guests thought, 302 reviews

Located in Tendo, 30 km from Zao Onsen Ski Resort, Hotel Route-Inn Tendo provides accommodation with a restaurant, free private parking and massage services.

Scored out of 10, guest rating 8.2
Very good - What previous guests thought, 549 reviews

Situated in Shinjo, within 700 metres of Shinjo Station and 25 km of Oishida Station, Hotel Route-Inn Shinjyo Ekimae features accommodation with a restaurant and free WiFi throughout the property as...

Scored out of 10, guest rating 8.1
Very good - What previous guests thought, 10 reviews

Located in Ōyama, 3.7 km from Kamo Aquarium, Yunohama HOTEL provides accommodation with a spa and wellness centre and free private parking.

From US$246.46 per night
Scored out of 10, guest rating 8.2
Very good - What previous guests thought, 53 reviews

Located in Tsuruoka, within 28 km of Kamo Aquarium and 47 km of Shinjo Station, Kyukamura Shonai-Haguro provides accommodation with a restaurant and free WiFi throughout the property as well as free...

From US$184.02 per night
Scored out of 10, guest rating 8.0
Very good - What previous guests thought, 16 reviews

Featuring 3-star accommodation, Super Hotel Yamagataeki Nishiguchi Hot Spring is located in Yamagata, 17 km from Zao Onsen Ski Resort and less than 1 km from Yamagata Station.

Scored out of 10, guest rating 7.6
Good - What previous guests thought, 1,394 reviews

Set in Yamagata, 9 km from Lina World, Yamagata Grand Hotel offers accommodation with a bar. With free WiFi, this 3-star hotel offers a 24-hour front desk. The restaurant serves European cuisine.

From US$75.87 per night
Scored out of 10, guest rating 7.8
Good - What previous guests thought, 1,210 reviews

Just a 1-minute walk from JR Yamagata Train Station, Hotel Route-Inn Yamagata Ekimae offers modern accommodations with free wired internet and a video-on-demand (VOD) system.

From US$93.98 per night

Budget hotels in Yamagata

Scored out of 10, guest rating 8.2
Very good - What previous guests thought, 395 reviews

Situated in Zao Onsen, 600 metres from Zao Onsen Ski Resort, Takamiya Hotel Hammond features accommodation with free WiFi and free private parking.

From US$89.37 per night
Scored out of 10, guest rating 8.3
Very good - What previous guests thought, 21 reviews

Featuring 4-star accommodation, Hiyori Yama Hotel is located in Sakata, 37 km from Kisakata Harbor and 43 km from Konoura Harbor. The property is non-smoking and is situated 23 km from Kamo Aquarium.

From US$69.53 per night
Scored out of 10, guest rating 8.7
Fabulous - What previous guests thought, 17 reviews

Located in Sakata, 22 km from Kamo Aquarium, Wakaba Ryokan / Vacation STAY 29370 provides accommodation with free WiFi and free private parking.

From US$100.63 per night
Scored out of 10, guest rating 8.4
Very good - What previous guests thought, 9 reviews

Situated in Sakata, 22 km from Kamo Aquarium, Wakaba Ryokan / Vacation STAY 29362 features accommodation with free WiFi and free private parking.

Scored out of 10, guest rating 8.9
Fabulous - What previous guests thought, 35 reviews

Located in Sakata, 22 km from Kamo Aquarium, Wakaba Ryokan / Vacation STAY 29372 provides accommodation with free WiFi and free private parking.

Scored out of 10, guest rating 7.9
Good - What previous guests thought, 104 reviews

Situated in Zao Onsen, 400 metres from Zao Onsen Ski Resort, ロッヂ スガノ features accommodation with a shared lounge, free private parking, a restaurant and a bar.

From US$98.58 per night
Scored out of 10, guest rating 7.4
Good - What previous guests thought, 137 reviews

Situated in Sakata, 24 km from Kamo Aquarium, Hotel Alpha-One Sakata features accommodation with free bikes, free private parking, a restaurant and massage services.

From US$98.58 per night
Scored out of 10, guest rating 7.8
Good - What previous guests thought, 186 reviews

Situated in Yonezawa, 49 km from Kitakata Station, Hotel Alpha-One Yonezawa features accommodation with free WiFi and free private parking. This 3-star hotel offers a 24-hour front desk.

From US$96.61 per night

Hotels in Yamagata that you can book without a credit card

Scored out of 10, guest rating 9.1
Superb - What previous guests thought, 386 reviews

Only a 1-minute walk from Zao Onsen Ski Resort, Zao Kokusai Hotel offers indoor/outdoor spacious hot-spring baths and Japanese-style rooms.

From US$208.21 per night
Scored out of 10, guest rating 8.6
Fabulous - What previous guests thought, 14 reviews

Set in Kaminoyama, 16 km from Zao Onsen Ski Resort, ステイインホテル材木栄屋 offers accommodation with a garden, free private parking and a restaurant.

Scored out of 10, guest rating 8.5
Very good - What previous guests thought, 93 reviews

Set in Zao Onsen, 700 metres from Zao Onsen Ski Resort, Takamiya Hotel Jurin offers accommodation with a garden, free private parking, a shared lounge and ski-to-door access.

From US$267.49 per night

Sailer Hütte

Hotel in Zao Onsen
No credit card needed
Scored out of 10, guest rating 6.9
Pleasant - What previous guests thought, 186 reviews

Set in Zao Onsen and with Zao Onsen Ski Resort reachable within 700 metres, Sailer Hütte offers a shared lounge, non-smoking rooms, free WiFi throughout the property and a restaurant.

New Grand Hotel

Hotel in Shinjo
No credit card needed
Scored out of 10, guest rating 7.5
Good - What previous guests thought, 184 reviews

Set in Shinjo, within 700 metres of Shinjo Station and 24 km of Oishida Station, New Grand Hotel offers accommodation with a restaurant and free WiFi as well as free private parking for guests who...

Scored out of 10, guest rating 7.5
Good - What previous guests thought, 888 reviews

Only a 6-minute walk from JR Yamagata Train Station, Yamagata Kokusai Hotel offers accommodations with free wired internet access and a flat-screen TV.

From US$201.11 per night
Scored out of 10, guest rating 6.9
Pleasant - What previous guests thought, 330 reviews

Hotel New Mogamiya is set in Yamagata, within 17 km of Zao Onsen Ski Resort and 300 metres of Yamagata Station. This 2-star hotel has air-conditioned rooms with a private bathroom.

Zao Sunvalley Hotel is set in Yamagata, 700 metres from Zao Onsen Ski Resort. With a restaurant, the 3-star hotel has air-conditioned rooms with free WiFi, each with a private bathroom.

FAQs about hotels in Yamagata

See reviews by guests who stayed at hotels in Yamagata

See all
Scored out of 10, guest rating 9.9
Exceptional - What previous guests thought, 9 reviews
First and foremost: This is not a hotel for extended stay. This is an unforgettable experience for a day. You are expected to mostly stay at this traditional hotel and relax as much as possible. The rooms are spacious, and the beds are comfortable. Each room has its own outside onsen (hot spring bath). Tip: take a room on the first floor, those bathtubs are carved out of a solid block of stone. The water itself is very hot, but feels absolutely divine and did wonders for my skin. The meals are crazy good. The dinner menu was ~10 courses with locally sourced ingredients. The waiter, general manager and owner took turns explaining in intricate detail what each course meant, where it came from, and why they chose to present it to us. I'm pretty sure the owner also mentioned the cook had a Michelin star - which would explain the unconventional, but delicious creations. The breakfast was Japanese-style, and also very good. I'm not sure what else I should add - the intricate eye for detail and attention the staff gave us (I felt so bad seeing the small Japanese woman carry my heavy luggage to my room, but I wasn't allowed to carry it myself, haha); the free bar with the expensive alcohol at night; the modern interpretation of old history... Not to mention the other included amenities: a shuttle bus, an early tour, live soba making, sake tasting [...] It is pricey, but again: you are NOT paying for a simple hotel night, you are paying for an experience. Full recommendation.
Guest review by
Leroy
Germany
From US$242.91 per night
Scored out of 10, guest rating 8.9
Fabulous - What previous guests thought, 377 reviews
I would absolutely come back and stay here again. The rooms were so big which was a great change from all the other rooms we've had. The facilities were modern and comfortable and the staff really couldn't do more for you. The on-site onsen was also really great, and I can also recommend to get a massage! Great hotel overall
Guest review by
Selina
New Zealand
From US$153.26 per night
Scored out of 10, guest rating 8.6
Fabulous - What previous guests thought, 767 reviews
The atmosphere of the place is wonderful. The staff was very kind and they even offered to take us to a conbini by car since there is no walking route. If you're lucky with the weather, you get to see a stunning view. The room was cozy and we didn't want to leave. The breakfast was good and the onsen was not too crowded.
Guest review by
Eva
Israel
Scored out of 10, guest rating 9.0
Superb - What previous guests thought, 225 reviews
Superb! Well exceeded our expectations. The facilities were amazing. There are free private spas, unlimited drinks including alcohol, and free bar cocktails at night and also open fire to roast marshmallows. We had an amazing experience!
Guest review by
Wendy
Hong Kong
From US$208.21 per night
Scored out of 10, guest rating 9.1
Superb - What previous guests thought, 386 reviews
I love the quiet location, lots of areas to walk around and appreciate I was surprised at all the choices for breakfast and personally preferred the Japanese style breakfast all the food, fresh tasty and attractive
Guest review by
Jeannine
United States
From US$477.15 per night
Scored out of 10, guest rating 9.3
Superb - What previous guests thought, 232 reviews
Both onsens were amazing. The staff were very kind. Food was out of this world, all sourced from the area. We had a Cedar tub in our room and it was great for soaking, plus it hae an amazing view.
Guest review by
Katrina
United States
From US$173.51 per night
Scored out of 10, guest rating 8.4
Very good - What previous guests thought, 72 reviews
The staff were very friendly and helpful. We were lead to our rooms and were introduced to the facilities at the hotel. The dinner was fabulous, service at dinner was excellent.
Guest review by
ANG
Singapore
From US$257.11 per night
Scored out of 10, guest rating 7.8
Good - What previous guests thought, 26 reviews
The staff was really helpful. They did their best to help me with anything I needed even with the language barrier. I thought the bath was really nice and the room was relaxing.
Guest review by
Shawna
South Korea
From US$175.68 per night
Scored out of 10, guest rating 8.5
Very good - What previous guests thought, 170 reviews
Wonderful service, the staff was lovely and very attentive, especially when we struggled with Japanese. The buliding, the garden, the bath and the facilities were beautiful.
Guest review by
Alicia アリシア
Germany
From US$161.94 per night
Scored out of 10, guest rating 8.6
Fabulous - What previous guests thought, 456 reviews
Beautiful place to stay. Very traditional and it was an amazing experience for the kids. The staff could not have been more helpful and lovely.
Guest review by
Rod
Australia
From US$91.35 per night
Scored out of 10, guest rating 7.6
Good - What previous guests thought, 779 reviews
Very comfortable beds, probably the best we tried within this price range. Very helpful and kind staff.
Guest review by
Robert
Spain
From US$368.83 per night
Scored out of 10, guest rating 8.7
Fabulous - What previous guests thought, 128 reviews
The 2 baths on the Property were excellent, the view from the one of the 8th Floor was amazing
Guest review by
Liam
Australia
Scored out of 10, guest rating 8.8
Fabulous - What previous guests thought, 144 reviews
A very friendly welcome on arrival. Excellent service. Beautifully appointed rooms.
Guest review by
Alan
Australia
From US$75.87 per night
Scored out of 10, guest rating 7.6
Good - What previous guests thought, 1,394 reviews
good breakfast and good location. near main road of city central.
Guest review by
CHANG HUI
Taiwan
Scored out of 10, guest rating 8.6
Fabulous - What previous guests thought, 62 reviews
Beautifully presented Ryokan with a lovely bath facing the river
Guest review by
Sophie
Australia

Planning a trip? Get inspired by reviews of cities in Yamagata

10

I had a wonderful stay at Hotel Metropolitan Yamagata!

I had a wonderful stay at Hotel Metropolitan Yamagata! The location is absolutely perfect—conveniently connected to the station, making it easy to explore the city and surrounding areas. The hotel itself is modern, clean, and well-maintained, providing a comfortable and relaxing experience. The staff were very welcoming and attentive, always ready to assist with a smile. While their hospitality was excellent, I did find that a bit more fluency in English communication would enhance the experience for international guests. That being said, their warmth and willingness to help more than made up for any language barriers. Overall, I truly enjoyed my stay and would definitely recommend Hotel Metropolitan Yamagata to anyone visiting the area. Looking forward to staying here again in the future!
Guest review by
Dela Cruz
Australia
2.0

We booked this hotel specifically because it was sold and...

We booked this hotel specifically because it was sold and represented as offering a mountain view room. Unfortunately, this turned out to be a serious misrepresentation. Only about 10% of the view included any mountain at all. The overwhelming majority of what we saw from our room was another building and rooftops. This was extremely disappointing and upsetting, especially given the premium we paid for this experience. The disappointment left us distressed and unable to even enjoy the expensive dinner and breakfast that were included in our package. What was meant to be a highlight of our trip turned into a very unpleasant experience. To make matters worse, when we left hastily, we accidentally forgot one of our cell phones in the room. Several hours later, after driving back, we were relieved that the phone had been recovered and placed at the front desk. However, the staff made no effort during the entire day to contact us on our primary phone number to alert us. This lack of initiative and courtesy only added to our frustration. For a hotel of this caliber, we expected honesty in advertising, basic consideration for guests’ wellbeing, and a proactive approach to guest service. Unfortunately, none of these expectations were met.
Guest review by
Jeff Rayden
United States
10

The main town section can offer so many places to visit.

The main town section can offer so many places to visit. Modern looking new museum, small yet beautiful and historic park/shrine, traditional sake brewery, and many many restaurants. We took a long bus ride to a remote onsen town, Shirabu Onsen. Boy, we had fun.. You can hike, see a gorgeous, majestic waterfall, enjoy soba noodle, shopping AND soak in one of the three public bathhouses (they are actually inn but open their baths to the daytime visitors.) The one we went to, Nishiya?, had a spectacular waterfall bath. It's smaller - but if you can visit during weekdays, you may be able to enjoy the space, alone, which we both did. I will never forget being in the bath. Oh, AND, you will probably come across bunch of wild monkeys, roaming around like they own the place :-)
Guest review by
Richard
United States
8.0

Nice village style ski resort.

Nice village style ski resort. Not busy except for the weekend, which ended up a long weekend as it was the Emperor's birthday on the monday. Always good to check public holidays when going to a ski resort and arrive on a Sunday afternoon.
Guest review by
Christian
Australia
10

Sakata is a very quiet town with a few facilities.

Sakata is a very quiet town with a few facilities. Most of the attractions are walkable if you stay close to the river, slightly long walk from train station. You can visit all attractions within a day (two night stays recommended if you arrived late). Please make sure that the day you arrive all the places are open (not Tuesday or Wednesday). Another interesting town in Japan for a visit.
Guest review by
NANTANA
Thailand
10

Yamagata is a beautiful city.

Yamagata is a beautiful city. It was also our base for visiting other places. We went to Yamadera, Ginza Onsen and Zao Onsen by train and bus, from the Yamagata station. Had Ramen, which was reasonable in value
Guest review by
Anonymous
8.0

Yonezawa city has Uesugi Jinjya, the site of the Uesugi clan...

Yonezawa city has Uesugi Jinjya, the site of the Uesugi clan castle. It is very nice, and they have museum and things to see. It's worth a visit to check it out. There is two near-by Onsen, the Onogawa and Shirabu to stay. Yonezawa beef is superb, one of the best in the country. It is also expensive.
Guest review by
Yamashita
United States
8.0

Lots of snow during our stay in December. Great skiing.

Lots of snow during our stay in December. Great skiing. Ideally stay around ski lifts so its easier to get to the lifts.. Just be aware to choose a sunny day to take the ski lifts to view the Snow Monster! Takes around more than 1 hour to get on the ski lifts. Many tourist and queue is long. You wont be able to see much if the weather is bad. Never short of snow in Zao Onsen. Nice little village with Lawsons, Family Marts to get your usual Japanese stuff. Limited restaurants but can get by with simple meals. If you want to get to Yamagata City its only 30 mins away by taxi. You have a choice if you want more varieties.
Guest review by
Meng
Malaysia
10

The Yamagata Ski area (Zao Onsen) is fantastic.

The Yamagata Ski area (Zao Onsen) is fantastic. It wasnt crowded, lessons for kids and adults were AUD$55 for 4 hours, lifts were @4$ per lift. Gear hire was AUD$65 for 2 days PP. In Australia lift passes are $250 per day alone. The hotel Sailor Hutte was literally at the base of the ski lifts. Food was cheap ($10-14 per meal) booze was cheap ($3.50 for a beer). The guys at the Hotel Sailor Hutte were great, make an effort to chat with them via your translator app. Its worth it. One more thing, I would recommend buying Shinkansen tickets directly from JR East rail online. Heaps cheaper than buying a seven day pass unless you are planning to spend 7 days on the train. FYI there are 3 Shinkansen companies East, Central and West. They have there own websites a bit clunky in English but it works. Good luck.
Guest review by
Kieran
Australia
8.0

In the summer, Zao is very quiet during weekdays.

In the summer, Zao is very quiet during weekdays. It rains almost every day, so it's advisable to pack quick-dry clothes and sturdy shoes for walking uphill and downhill. If you prefer fruits and vegetables, make sure to bring some with you, as there's no fresh market in town and the only local convenience store doesn't offer many healthy choices. If you happen to encounter a serow, don't make the mistake we did by running away thinking it was a hyena—quite silly of us!
Guest review by
NANTANA
Thailand