深山莊 高見屋

I visited here with my wife in summer. Room was too old to be comfortable. Some chairs in our room were made of steel and too thin cushions made it difficult to sit on them comfortably. Moreover, only one air conditioning unit equipped on a window in our bed room was noisy during night. And, as this hotel is located in a mountain, there were many slopes and stairs in the hotel. So, I was reluctant to go to hot springs on the first floor. Food was not so bad. We could enjoy local seasonal food. Hot springs themselves were not bad, but old equipments in bath rooms were noticeable. Totally, it was questionable to me about whether it was worth paying $200 for a overnight stay.

Really traditional ryokan.

Great hospitality.

Came during ski season in Feb20, 10mins walk from Zao Bus Terminal with decent number of convenience stores and local wares shop along the way. We got the Japanese style room with western beds, and also at highest floor (which meant alot of stairs climbing as no lift in this historic building of a ryokan tip: skip big luggages). Room charge came with breakfast / dinner (tip: ryokan offers Zao beef shabu shabu upgrade for a fee), as well as 2 free public onsen baths onsite (male / female separated as usual) and also private onsen (half outdoor basis, good enough for 2 only @ JPY 2700). Room has windows that open in bedroom / living room, with small fridge and safe. Very traditional setting given long history, ryokan also provides yukata attire and indoor slippers to explore the place, and also boasts of using 'soft water' throughout their facilities ie bath, tap etc, and also provides spring water for consumption in room. We like that the room had at least 3 warmers (especially great for wet gear). Shower is good, with strong water pressure and good temperature control, with combined small bathtub and walk-in shower. Ryokan also provides free 1-way shuttle service (at 4 - 4.30pm), if not, a good 20mins walk, for dropoff at Zao ropeway for Zao snow monster viewing (ticket self purchase at station, tip: do both day and night illumination when you reach Zao ropeway by 4.30pm, since sun sets around 5.15pm and it takes around 15min to get to 2nd station for viewing). Do check if hotel can provide return transfer basis post snow monster night viewing (which should be done by 6pm if you reach ropeway by 4.45pm).

Heads down the best hotel in Zao Onsen and probably in the surrounding area. Rooms at Takamiya Miyamasou are spacious, extremely well thought of, with a very nice vibe, and super clean. Food is exceptional, with a special mention to Yamagata beef they serve for dinner, which is out of this world. Hot spring baths are amazing too (but very hot and acid). The only minor drawback is that the ryokan set up air conditioning in a way that prevents you from shutting down the window fully.