Ōmiya Ryokan

My stay at the hotel was decent. The room was clean, and the bed was comfortable enough. The staff was generally polite, but I felt they could have been more attentive. The location was convenient, and the breakfast was satisfactory. Overall, it was a standard experience without any standout features.

I stayed a week at Omiya and it was a very tranquil and relaxing experience. In probably the best location in town, next to a cool public onsen and the shrine, and a few minute walk to Jupeer cable car and ski slopes it’s very helpful. It has beautiful views from the relaxation room in the morning, and the traditional Japanese rooms is everything you expect from a nice ryokan experience. Most of the staff only speak Japanese, which means a truly authentic experience. They have two onsen rooms which switch every 24 hours or less between men and women, and is absolutely amazing to have those facilities seconds from your room, super relaxing. Had a great time

I have a wonderful time at Zao Onsen Omiya Ryokan! The front desk able to speak basic english. I booked a traditional style of futon bed, everything is clean. Their dinner is strongly recommended! Abit pricy but definitely worth it

Very nice Ryokan. Room is big, clean & spacious. The property very well maintained n staff are helpful n friendly. They provide fresh fruits n snacks daily. We bought the package with 1/2 board which comes with breakfast n dinner. Their meals were very good. Very valued for money. Highly recommended. we enjoyed our stay.

We originally booked our check in time at 5pm. But we were late due to the heavy snow warning and roads were blocked. We ended up arrived at 7:15pm. We apologized for our late arrival and ask if the hotel could prepare us dinner. A receptionist refused to prepare our dinner (which we have paid in advance) as he claimed that we are late and the restaurant is closed at 7pm. The attitude was very rude, blaming all on us, without suggesting other nearby restaurants as our second option. We ended up having dinner in a restaurant nearby, and we found that most restaurants in Zao Onsen close after 9pm, some even close at 11pm. The closing time of the hotel restaurant is ridiculous and it is not mentioned on their website. We do not know that the restaurant close at 7pm until we arrive there. Will not recommend this hotel to anyone for their rude attitude and low transparency hotel rules.

this hotel in general is not bad, except the way access to hotel is very insecure and unsafe especially in the winter time, heavy snow will cause great hardship to enter the hotel. the way to parking place is very narrow and weird. Also, you need to walk up to your room with your own luggage, as no elevator within the hotel, you can imagine the hardship when you check out, you bring your own luggage down could be challenging 😉

Our time at Omiya Ryokan was fantastic. We stayed in a western style room (which was very spacious), and the bed and amenities were very comfortable. The Ryokan itself is huge and beautiful, we found walking the halls wearing a yukata a really fun and relaxing experience after hitting the slopes (which are very close by). The food here was a real highlight, with carefully crafted dishes every morning and night that served as a showcase for locally exquisite cuisine. All of the staff were so lovey. The hotel onsen is also great, but on some days was too hot to enter and we had to return later after the temperature was adjusted. There are also other nearby public onsen, including just outside the front. Highly recommend a few days here.

Having travelled to Japan for holidays for over 20 years, we had never stayed at a ryokan before. My wife was particularly excited to experience a traditional Japanese inn for the first time. Here’s our take on Omiya Ryokan: The Good Authentic Atmosphere The ryokan is beautifully furnished with wood and tatami flooring, providing a cozy and traditional Japanese ambiance. Scenic Location Perched on a slightly elevated hill, it is conveniently located right in front of a Shinto shrine. 24-Hour Onsen The onsen is small but clean and open 24/7. The male and female baths switch during the day, offering variety. Extras Some days we were served amazing fruits and made us happy like small kids getting candies though it wasn’t consistent. The Bad Lack of Information There’s insufficient guidance for foreign tourists. For example: - While the website mentions a shuttle bus to and from Yamagata Station, this was not communicated at the ryokan itself. - Guests can apparently use the onsen at sister hotels, but this was never explained during check-in. Service Quality While Japanese hospitality is usually exceptional, Omiya’s service fell short. The ryokan seemed understaffed: - Some staff members lacked the expected politeness, though the ladies were generally more courteous. One male staff member stood out with a particularly unenthusiastic attitude. - Assistance with luggage upon checkout would have been appreciated, especially as the entrance involves a slight slope. Internet Free Wi-Fi is available but virtually unusable. It might be fine for those with minimal internet needs, but anyone requiring a reliable connection will be frustrated. Overall We truly enjoyed Zao Onsen as a destination, it’s a refreshing change. However, while the ryokan’s traditional setting was charming, the lack of clear communication, poor service, and poor internet connectivity detracted us from the experience. We would visit Zao Onsen again, but we’ll choose a different ryokan next time.