Zao Kokusai Hotel Yamagata

The location is great, next to the chair lifts and cable car. We stayed in the newly renovated rooms, it was very spacious and very modern. The onsen was exceptional, very traditional yet clean. The amenities in the rooms and in the Onsen were well stocked. We enjoyed the private Onsen experience and extra point for rental and locker area located inside the hotel. Although the staff spoke very limited English but they did their best to help and using google translate to ensure we understand. Highly recommend this hotel if you are visiting Zao. We stayed 4 nights.

We had a pleasant stay at hotel Kokusai Zao. The location is right next to Zao rope way and not far from Zao bus terminal. Our breakfast and dinner was so good. The staffs were so helpful, we really appreciated their service. Our private bath onzen was the highlight of the day after coming down from the mountain. Thank you for a pleasant service during our stay.

Excellent view of room, great location and service. Especially giving a praise to a young worker Mr. Takahashi, very energetic and great Omatenashi!

Absolutely wonderful experience !
We had the half pension so evening meals and breakfast included.
The morning buffet is very well garnished with japanese/english/continental breakfast options.
The evening meals are a show all to themselves. When you arrive at the pre-arranged time a feast is already waiting for you on the table. Appetizers, entrees, a soup and a main dish (we had sukiyaki one night and shabu-shabu the other). There's also deserts.
The hit springs are also very nice, very traditional looking (the whole baths area is made of wood). The inside baths are regular hot water and the outside pools are filled with natural sulfur water. The smell takes a bit to get used to but they are supposed to be very beneficial for your health.
The staff is extremely obliging as is expected in most places in Japan.
The hotel is a short 10 minutes walk form the bus station (although there is a sharp climb at the end to reach the hotel). It is possible to book a shuttle to and from the hotel in advance.
Zao village itself is a bit deserted in summer as it is the low season, but you won't have trouble finding a place to eat. There are several hiking trails within reach.
Overall absolutely recommended, for a minimum of 2 nights to get the whole ryokan experience.

Nice large and clear room, excellent breakfast and dinner, extremely helpful staff, and great indoor and outdoor bath. The hotel is also conveniently located close to the Zao Ropeway, and can conveniently drive guests to other points in Zao Onsen upon request

Wonderful onsen facility for all guests. Huge onsen room with indoor and outdoor. Very peaceful. Separate female&male. Really impressive. 🩵🩷✨ 💯
Feel so private, quite and almost like no people sometimes. The Private onsen also available for rent too.
Room is huge and functional. Nice separating area. Super relax stay.
In the area also have a free onsen to enjoy which quite nice too. Free shuttle service.
So recommended for all onsen lover.

Staff was extremely helpful and friendly. Highly recommended and will introduce this place to friends.

Very nice hotel. Was just above the snow line during our stay -which made using the outside onsen even nicer. Dinner was excellent. Breakfast buffet was a little on the small side, but it was still good. Views outside nearly every window on the property were very nice as well. Great atmosphere.

Very cleaned and comfortable hotel with beautiful scene. I liked the convenient location and the outdoor onsen very much. Maybe I stayed here during low season(not sure). Not too much customers. It’s definitely a good place for recharging yourself before going back to work.

Very professionally run hotel, with great facilities, an amazing breakfast, and a great inhouse onsen. Front desk was always manned with at least one English speaking staff and they were always super helpful! It's an easy 10 minute walk to the bus station, but they can arrange a shuttle if you don't want to walk.

The room style its japanese traditional style,u can sleep japanese style tatami n wear yukata. Cozy place hotel. Its far from bigcity,tokyo. But this place its feel very private,not too crowded. Near zao station for ski and u can go to zao mountain with cable car. So near from hotel,just walking. For breakfast and dinner also very delicious,I stay at here 2 nights. I always waiting for meals time,its nice. Dont forget for onsen also,the water for onsen its from mountain,very nice after public bath onsen. And in the room have puzzle game,the T. I like to play it,train your brain 😉

Amazing onsen. Rooms were clean and always serviced. Breakfast choices were good and for dinner surprisingly well thought of and quite alot of items. Stayed there 4 nights and each night was quite a Kaiseki feast. Personally I loved the onsen and the hospitality the most.

We would like to compliment Mr Takeshima Moriya for his outstanding service.
On our first night, we wanted to have dinner at the hotel restaurant, and were informed by the staff that the restaurant only accept reservation.
We then went to the reception and was served by Mr Takeshima Moriya. He recommended us a few restaurant. We requested to have someone to send us down as it was dark and cold and furthermore we will need to walk down the slope. Initially he informed that there was no extra staff for the night shift and was unable to accommodate our request.
We were disappointed and were susceptible to walk down slope as it was really dark and cold.
Mr Takeshima Moriya could sense our worries and agreed to send us and even picked us up from the restaurant. We felt safe and well taken care of.
We will like to commend on his kindness and thoughtfulness.
Overall, the stay was great 👍🏻 .
Strongly recommend

Although I found a food box which was used by the previous guest in the room, however, I still like this hotel and would like to go again...

One of the best hotspring hotel ever stayed. Highly recommended.

Very nice luxuary Hotel. A must go for Onsen lovers, their public and private onsen are amazing !

Amazing hotel and very unique, wooden onsen. Highly recommend.

Close to ski slope nice view and nice outdoor onsen

It's one of the most comfortable ski resort hotels in Japan.

Nice hotel, friendly staff!!