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Zao Onsen Accommodation

Zao Onsen accommodation caters well to mid range to deluxe budgets. Whilst there is one exquisite 4 star deluxe ryokan, there are no 5 star hotels and no backpacker digs. Zao Onsen was an onsen resort town long before it was a ski resort town, so rather than having towering hotels like some of the purpose built ski resorts in Japan, Zao Onsen is a charming traditional Japanese settlement with lots of ryokans, lodges and pensions, many with their own onsen. There are also a handful of Western style hotels in Zao, and more than half of the lodgings have some degree of English spoken. The village of Zao Onsen is somewhat spread out and there are a number of different base areas with lift access points so choosing your Zao Onsen accommodation may be somewhat based on your priorities for access to certain slopes, ski school or the main street. A lot of the Zao accommodation is very Japanese in nature (it is in Japan after all!). See the Japanese ski resort accommodation page for a few tips regarding what to expect with Japanese lodging typically found at the ski resorts.

Your other option is to stay in a hotel in Yamagata City. Whilst there are buses between Yamagata and Zao, you'd probably want to have a car for more flexibility.