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Zao Area Onsen Under ¥40,000 for Two: 5 Inns With Both Meals
Approximate, at the rate on 2026-10-02. You pay in yen.
If you can’t decide, Kinosato — the top room and service scores of the nine, from about ¥18,000 each on a weekday with both meals.
- Cheap Zao onsen: five stays where two can pay under ¥40,000 with meals
- For the water, Ebiya Ryokan; for private-room meals, Tsuruya
- For a bus-terminal shuttle, Rurikura; for snowy days indoors, Yusa
The five
| Best for | Where to book | Score | Weeknight (per person) | Saturday |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Twenty rooms, with the top room and service scores of the nine — if you can’t decide | Zao Onsen Iwashimizu Ryori no Yado Kinosato Check price |
75/100 | ¥18,000–31,000 | ¥23,000–34,000 |
| Five minutes by car from Zao station, a bath café open from 10:30 | Yuto no Sato Yusa & Ofuro Cafe yusa Check price |
74/100 | ¥14,000–34,000 | ¥21,000–36,000 |
| Eleven rooms, with the top bath and overall scores of the nine | Zao Onsen Ebiya Ryokan Check price |
70/100 | ¥16,000 | ¥17,000–19,000 |
| Thirty rooms, a highland resort with a bus-terminal shuttle | Zao Onsen Takamiya Rurikura Resort Check price |
66/100 | ¥14,000–30,000 | ¥17,000–22,000 |
| 41 rooms, with every meal in a private room or your own room | Zao Onsen Gokan no Yu Tsuruya Check price |
65/100 | ¥17,000–32,000 | ¥18,000–36,000 |
Prices are the cheapest per person found on Rakuten Travel for Wednesdays and Saturdays between 2026-11-14 – 2027-01-06, for 2 adults in one room (checked 2026-11-06). They move daily — the link shows live prices.
The booking links go to Agoda, which shows today’s price and lets you pay in your own currency. Its price can differ from the Rakuten Travel figures above.
Twenty rooms, with the top room and service scores of the nine
Zao Onsen Iwashimizu Ryori no Yado Kinosato
Reviews: Rakuten Travel 4.64/5 (455) · Agoda 9.4/10 (256) · 711 in total
- A welcome drink and morning coffee are included
- The bus terminal is 20 minutes on foot
- The Zao Dai-Rotenburo open-air bath is five minutes by car
Why it made the five
- An open-air bath of free-flowing hot spring water, and an indoor bath of heated Zao spring water.
- Rakuten scores: service 4.80, dinner 4.68, room 4.63.
- Japanese set dinners with Yamagata and Zao beef.
Getting there: 40 minutes by bus from JR Yamagata station, then 20 minutes on foot from the bus terminal. Five minutes on foot from the Zao Ropeway and ski area. About 30 minutes by car from Yamagata-Zao IC.
Language and payment: Rakuten lists a few staff with a little English. Visa, Mastercard, JCB and American Express are listed, plus UnionPay and PayPay. Tattoo rules are not published, so ask when you book.
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Right for: Two people who put rooms and service first, or who want to stay near the ropeway and the slopes.
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Not for: Only two weekdays in our search showed a two-meal room. Saturdays start at about ¥23,000 each, over the ¥40,000 budget.
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Worth knowing: Only the open-air bath is natural hot spring; the large bath is not. Tell the inn about food allergies in advance. Severe allergies cannot be catered for.
Score breakdown — 75/100
| Criterion | Stars | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Quality | ★★★★☆ | Room, bath and dinner average 4.67 on Rakuten Travel |
| Value for money | ★★★☆☆ | ¥18,000–31,000 per person on a weeknight (Rakuten, dinner and breakfast) — 107% of the median of everything we compared |
| Easy to stay | ★★★★★ | Five minutes on foot from the Zao Ropeway and ski area, 20 free parking spaces, a few staff with a little English, and one- and two-day lift passes sold at the front desk. |
| Trust | ★★★★☆ | 4.64 across 455 reviews (Rakuten Travel 455) |
| Only here | ★★★★☆ | An inn known for cooking with spring water, with the highest room (4.63) and service (4.80) scores of the nine we compared. |
Five minutes by car from Zao station, a bath café open from 10:30
Yuto no Sato Yusa & Ofuro Cafe yusa
Reviews: Rakuten Travel 4.66/5 (1,602) · Agoda 8.8/10 (82) · 1,684 in total
- The springs are listed as sulphate and sodium
- Bathing tax of ¥150 is charged on top
- Dinner is in the restaurant or a banquet room
Why it made the five
- Outside Zao Onsen village, in Kurosawa, Yamagata city.
- 36 rooms, with a large bath, open-air bath, sauna and cold bath.
- Rakuten scores: service 4.67, dinner 4.64.
Getting there: 22 minutes by bus from Yamagata station to the Kurosawa Onsen stop, then five minutes on foot, or 20 minutes by taxi. Five minutes by taxi from Zao station. Free parking.
Language and payment: English support is not published, so ask when you book. Visa, Mastercard, JCB, American Express, Diners Club and other cards are listed. Tattoo rules are not published, so ask when you book. Wheelchair-accessible rooms and toilets are listed.
- Right for: Two people who want to stay indoors on rainy or snowy days, or who want a stay they can reach by train and bus.
- Not for: It is not in Zao Onsen village and the water is not sulphur. Saturdays start at about ¥21,000 each, over the ¥40,000 budget.
Score breakdown — 74/100
| Criterion | Stars | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Quality | ★★★☆☆ | Room, bath and dinner average 4.55 on Rakuten Travel |
| Value for money | ★★★★☆ | ¥14,000–34,000 per person on a weeknight (Rakuten, dinner and breakfast) — 87% of the median of everything we compared |
| Easy to stay | ★★★★☆ | Entry from 10:30, 70 free parking spaces, and wheelchair-accessible rooms and toilets. |
| Trust | ★★★★☆ | 4.66 across 1,602 reviews (Rakuten Travel 1,602) |
| Only here | ★★★☆☆ | An all-indoor bath café where you can spend a wet or snowy day, with the most Rakuten reviews of the nine we compared at 1,602. |
Eleven rooms, with the top bath and overall scores of the nine
Reviews: Rakuten Travel 4.80/5 (84)
- The whole inn is non-smoking
- Bathing tax of ¥150 is paid at the inn
- Lift pass discounts in winter
Why it made the five
- Its own free-flowing sulphur spring, in a large bath and an open-air bath.
- Rakuten scores: bath 4.81, service 4.78, dinner 4.71.
- Yamagata cooking served freshly made.
Getting there: About 30 minutes by taxi from JR Yamagata station; 18 km from Yamagata-Zao IC.
Language and payment: Rakuten lists a few staff with a little English. Visa, Mastercard, JCB and American Express are listed, and cards and PayPay work at the inn, though some plans are cash only. Tattoo rules are not published, so ask when you book.
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Right for: Two people who want water and food at a small inn, or who want to use the inn before and after skiing.
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Not for: Only one weekday in our search showed a two-meal room. There are a lot of stairs, so it does not suit anyone unsteady on their feet.
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Worth knowing: Three floors with no lift, and many stairs and steps. Cars cannot reach the door. Call if you will arrive after 17:00.
Score breakdown — 70/100
| Criterion | Stars | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Quality | ★★★☆☆ | Room, bath and dinner average 4.64 on Rakuten Travel |
| Value for money | ★★★☆☆ | ¥16,000 per person on a weeknight (Rakuten, dinner and breakfast) — 98% of the median of everything we compared |
| Easy to stay | ★★★★★ | 20 free parking spaces, cards and PayPay at the inn, a few staff with a little English, and in winter parking, luggage storage and changing rooms before and after your stay. |
| Trust | ★★★★☆ | 4.8 across 84 reviews (Rakuten Travel 84) |
| Only here | ★★★★☆ | Eleven rooms on its own free-flowing spring, with the highest overall (4.80) and bath (4.81) scores of the nine we compared. |
Thirty rooms, a highland resort with a bus-terminal shuttle
Zao Onsen Takamiya Rurikura Resort
Reviews: Rakuten Travel 4.43/5 (1,094) · Agoda 8.6/10 (278) · 1,372 in total
- Bathing tax of ¥150 is charged on top
- The doors close at midnight
Why it made the five
- Breakfast is in the restaurant, sometimes as a buffet.
- Natural sulphur hot spring and a sauna.
- A summer pool, tennis court and ski rental.
Getting there: 45 minutes by bus from JR Yamagata station to the Zao bus terminal, then a free shuttle.
Language and payment: Rakuten lists a few staff with a little Chinese and a little English. Visa, Mastercard, JCB, American Express and other cards are listed. Tattoo rules are not published, so ask when you book. Wheelchairs can be borrowed.
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Right for: Two people without a car, or who want to keep the bill down on a Saturday too.
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Not for: Its room, bath and dinner scores are on the low side of the nine, so it does not suit anyone putting water or food first.
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Worth knowing: With a dinner plan, check in by 19:00.
Score breakdown — 66/100
| Criterion | Stars | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Quality | ★★☆☆☆ | Room, bath and dinner average 4.41 on Rakuten Travel |
| Value for money | ★★★★☆ | ¥14,000–30,000 per person on a weeknight (Rakuten, dinner and breakfast) — 87% of the median of everything we compared |
| Easy to stay | ★★★★★ | A free shuttle from the Zao bus terminal, 20 free parking spaces, a few staff with a little Chinese and English, and wheelchair access with wheelchairs to borrow. |
| Trust | ★★★☆☆ | 4.43 across 1,094 reviews (Rakuten Travel 1,094) |
| Only here | ★★★☆☆ | A highland resort in the Takamiya group, with a summer pool, tennis court and ski rental on site. |
41 rooms, with every meal in a private room or your own room
Reviews: Rakuten Travel 4.51/5 (703) · Agoda 9.3/10 (121) · 824 in total
- Check-in is an early 14:00
- Wi-Fi in the rooms is free around the clock
- The large bath has handrails, and assisted bathing is possible
Why it made the five
- Every plan serves both meals in a private room or your own room.
- One free 50-minute session in a private free-flowing bath that normally costs extra.
- Rakuten scores: bath 4.72, service 4.58.
Getting there: About 20 minutes by car from Yamagata-Kaminoyama IC. Rakuten gives only driving directions, so ask how to reach the inn from the bus if you are not driving.
Language and payment: Rakuten lists a few staff with a little English. Visa, JCB, American Express, Diners Club and other cards are listed. Tattoo rules are not published; the private bath is the route to ask about.
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Right for: Two people who want to eat away from other guests and try a private bath.
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Not for: Rakuten gives only driving directions, so check how to get there by bus before you book.
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Worth knowing: In winter the inn car park cannot be used before check-in or after check-out, so you use nearby car parks.
Score breakdown — 65/100
| Criterion | Stars | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Quality | ★★★☆☆ | Room, bath and dinner average 4.56 on Rakuten Travel |
| Value for money | ★★★☆☆ | ¥17,000–32,000 per person on a weeknight (Rakuten, dinner and breakfast) — 100% of the median of everything we compared |
| Easy to stay | ★★★★★ | Meals in your room or a private room on every plan, one free session in the private bath, 40 free parking spaces, and a few staff with a little English. |
| Trust | ★★★☆☆ | 4.51 across 703 reviews (Rakuten Travel 703) |
| Only here | ★★★★☆ | Every plan comes with private-room dining and a free session in the private bath, and its bath score of 4.72 is second of the nine we compared. |
Know before you book
- Zao Onsen is 40–45 minutes by bus from JR Yamagata station, which the Yamagata Shinkansen serves from Tokyo.
- Yusa is not in Zao Onsen village. Its stop is Kurosawa Onsen, 22 minutes by bus from Yamagata station, and it is five minutes by taxi from Zao station.
- The four inns in Zao Onsen list sulphur springs. Yusa lists sulphate and sodium springs, so the water is different.
- If you are coming to ski, check the location. Kinosato is five minutes on foot from the slopes and the ropeway, but 20 from the bus terminal.
- Bathing tax is ¥150 per person, and some inns charge it on top of the plan price.
- Under ¥40,000 means the cheapest date. On a Saturday, Kinosato and Yusa go over budget. We searched to 6 January 2027, so rates for the snow-monster season are not included.
How we chose: theme, conditions, scoring
How we chose
- Candidates: every property in Zao listed on Rakuten Travel — 65
- Passed the review filter (counts and averages on Rakuten Travel, the one site that lists every property in the area): 42
- Met every condition below: 11
- Kept: five, each the best at something different
Where the facts come from
- Facts: Rakuten Travel property information (in some articles, each hotel’s own site too)
- Prices: Rakuten Travel live availability, Wednesdays and Saturdays over eight weeks
- Reviews: the count and average on Rakuten Travel, as given in each hotel’s Trust row. Agoda’s reviews are shown under each hotel name for reference only and do not count towards the score
Conditions (all of them, not most of them)
- A Rakuten Travel plan with dinner and breakfast where two people in one room come to ¥40,000 or less, tax included but bathing tax extra — prices as of November 2026, on the cheapest date we found. Weekends and holidays cost more
- A hot spring on site, communal or private
- Reviews are consistent: a floor of 30 or more reviews averaging 4.2 on Rakuten Travel
- In Zao Onsen, or five minutes by car from Zao station: inns in Kaminoyama Onsen and Tendo Onsen are left out
- Inns averaging under 4.3 for room, bath and dinner on Rakuten are not compared
Scoring
Five criteria, one to five stars each, weighted to one hundred points. Every star says where the number came from.
- Quality25 pts
- The average of the room, bath and dinner scores on Rakuten Travel.
- Value for money35 pts
- The cheapest two-meal plan per person against the median of the inns we compared.
- Easy to stay10 pts
- A free pick-up, dinner in the room or a private room, and practical extras such as private baths, parking and language support.
- Trust25 pts
- Review counts and averages published by Rakuten Travel.
- Only here5 pts
- What this inn has that the other 8 we compared do not, at this price.
What we dropped
| Property | Verdict | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Zao Onsen Omiya Ryokan | Runner-up (64/100) | Scored 64: a good shuttle, but a mid-table price and a trust score held back by its 4.47 average. Rurikura also has a shuttle and is cheaper on a weekday. |
| Zao Onsen Mogami Takayu Zenshichi no Yu (formerly Ohira Hotel) | Runner-up (60/100) | Scored 60: five free private baths, but a room score of 4.27 pulls its quality down, and its price sits at the median. |
| Zao Onsen Boku no Uchi | Runner-up (59/100) | Scored 59: the lowest weekday rate of the nine, but only 49 reviews at 4.33, so its trust score is the weakest. |
| Zao Onsen JURIN | Runner-up (52/100) | Scored 52: the lowest room, bath and dinner average of the nine at 4.31, and a 4.28 review average. |
| Zao Shiki no Hotel | Over budget | Rakuten’s 1,644 reviews average 4.75, but the cheapest weekday two-meal plan is over ¥40,000 for two. |
| Zao Kokusai Hotel | Over budget | Rakuten’s 1,581 reviews average 4.71, but the cheapest weekday two-meal plan is over ¥40,000 for two. |
| Kaminoyama Onsen Hanaakari no Yado Tsuki no Ike | Left out | It meets the price and review conditions, but it is in Kaminoyama Onsen, not Zao. |
| Hotel Matsukaneya Annex | Left out | It meets the price and review conditions, but its room, bath and dinner average of 4.21 is under 4.3. |
| Lucent Takamiya | Below the floor | Rakuten’s 1,619 reviews average 4.17, under the 4.2 floor. |
Questions visitors ask
Which inn works best without a car?
Rurikura is 45 minutes by bus from JR Yamagata station, with a free shuttle from the Zao bus terminal. Kinosato is 40 minutes by bus, then 20 on foot from the terminal. Yusa is 22 minutes by bus and five on foot. Rakuten gives only a 30-minute taxi from Yamagata for Ebiya and only driving directions for Tsuruya, so ask about a pick-up before you book. Runner-up Omiya Ryokan has a free shuttle from Yamagata station if you book three days ahead.
Is Yusa in Zao Onsen?
No. Its address is Kurosawa in Yamagata city, outside Zao Onsen village. It is five minutes by taxi from Zao station, or take the bus from Yamagata station to the Kurosawa Onsen stop. The water is sulphate and sodium, not sulphur.
Can we eat in our room?
Tsuruya serves both meals in a private room or your own room on every plan. Kinosato and Ebiya use a banquet room or dining room, and Rurikura and Yusa mainly a restaurant.
Are there private baths?
Tsuruya gives one free 50-minute session in a private free-flowing bath. Among the runners-up, Zenshichi no Yu has five free private baths and Boku no Uchi lets you use its hot spring privately.
Can we pay by card?
All five list cards on Rakuten. Kinosato, Yusa, Ebiya and Rurikura list Visa, JCB, American Express and Mastercard; Tsuruya lists Visa, JCB, American Express and others. Some Ebiya plans are cash only at the inn. Runner-up Boku no Uchi lists no cards.
Can two stay under ¥40,000 on a Saturday?
Ebiya, Rurikura and Tsuruya start under ¥20,000 each on a Saturday. Kinosato and Yusa start above that, so two people go over ¥40,000.
Changes
- 2026-11-06 First published. Scored from 65 candidates.