Zao Astraea Hotel in Yamagata

We enjoyed our stay very much. We had a 3 nights stay right before Xmas 2025. I was a bit worried reading some negative reviews here but it wasn’t true at all. The staff are very friendly and could speak English as well.

The biggest perks is it provides free shuttle pick up to and from Yamagata station while most of Zao hotels provide pick up from Zao bus station.

Food is great, onsen is great, everything is neat and tidy. The public bath in the hotel is not a hot spring but you can walk 2 min to the detached onsen bathhouse by the hotel entrance. During daytime, you can use the sisters’ hotel onsen too (need to ask reception for a pass).

We also rented ski gear at the hotel, one negative thing is if u don’t drive, u have to walk to the closest slope Zao ropeway. It would be great if the hotel can provide shuttle.

A wonderful immersion into Japanese hospitality. The staff speak limited English, which we felt enhanced the authenticity of the experience. The dining was exceptional where we were treated to a variety of unique and delicious dishes. You don’t always know what you’re eating, but it’s a perfect spot for people who value local flavor over international standardisation. Then only a few minutes walk to the ski lift! We will be back again.

This is a lovely hotel. Its very close to the lift about 6mins walk.
We got the full dinner and breakfast package. The meals are great, there was 3 set meals. But be prepared for very authentic Japanese. The staff speak little to no English, my partners small amount of Japanese got us through most situations, but we did resort to google translate a few times.

Very pleasant stay in Zao. I was there on the last weekend of January. The hotel is next to the Ski-Snowboard trails and next to a lift that brings you to the top of the trails. The dinner and breakfast where super. It has 2 ofuros. One small in the second floor. Nothing really special about this one. The other one is outside the hotel, very near the aki trails. It is an outdoor Onsen, very beautiful and relaxing. You can watch the snow and stars from it. The hotel has a ski rental office in the first floor where you can rent everything for skiing or snowboarding.

nice food and big room.

Staff Nice manner and delicious food and tidy and clear room and indoor and outdoor onsen where also near the skiing slide. WiFi is faster and smooth

Very grand nice hotel, beautiful meals, great Onsens, handy for the ski lifts.
Excellent staff cater efficiently to request. Lovely entrance and foyer.