From Tokyo to Tohoku onsen inns! 7 recommended ryokan for couples in Kaminoyama onsen / Yamagata

Have you ever gone to a hot onsen to relax, only to find that it's a famous onsen resort and there are a lot of guests staying overnight, meaning you can't get as much rest as you'd like? Then head to a hidden gem or a spot that onsen experts know about. We recommend Kaminoyama onsen in Yamagata. It has a retro onsen town, onsen known for their skin-beautifying properties, and abundant nature nearby.

You can get to Kaminoyama onsen from Tokyo without changing trains on the Yamagata Shinkansen. After a two and a half hour train journey, you'll arrive at Kaminoyama onsen which has a slightly rustic and soft atmosphere. There are plenty of places to visit, such as Kaminoyama Castle and many foot bath spots, and you can also access Zao in about an hour, making it a great base for sightseeing. Enjoy a stay and sightseeing at Kaminoyama onsen, where time flows peacefully, and spend a happy holiday with your partner ♡

Arimakan is a popular ryokan with a wide variety of baths. It is about a 10-minute walk from Kaminoyama onsen Station and a 5-minute drive from Kaminoyama IC, and a free shuttle is available from the station. In addition to the large public bath and an open-air observation bath with a panoramic view of Kaminoyama, there are five free private baths, each with its own unique theme, and the Roman-yu large public bath with five different types of baths, making this an inn where you'll want to stay mainly to enjoy the baths. You can also enjoy a sauna and a bedrock bath.

Some of the guest rooms and the lobby were renovated in 2017, and are spacious and clean. There is a wide variety of rooms available, from standard Japanese-style rooms to special Japanese-Western rooms with universal design, but if you are staying as a couple, we recommend the spacious Japanese-modern rooms. Relax to your heart's content in this new and comfortable, yet somehow nostalgic and cozy space.

Arimakan is also known for its satisfying meal. The menu is full of ingenious dishes, using plenty of Yamagata beef and local ingredients. As meals are in-room dining for up to three people, you can enjoy meal with your partner without worrying about the people around you. Breakfast is also served in the room. It's a nice point that you don't have to go to the breakfast venue as soon as you wake up.

Hanaakari no Yado Tsuki no Ike is a bewitching inn where you feel as if you have been warped into another world the moment you step inside. It is about a 15-minute walk from onsen Station, or a 10-minute drive from Kaminoyama IC. The entrance is gorgeous, with flower lights, stone-paved paths, and rows of carefully selected antique-style sofas. The lobby can also be used as a cafe from 6:30 am to 10 pm. meal area is also lined with flower lights, creating a dazzling world.

And pay attention to the baths. There is a large public bath and an open-air cypress bath, where you can relax in onsen that is said to be gentle on the skin. The open-air bath at night is even more luxurious. Flower candles float in the air, making you feel like you are in a dream world. It's a stylish display that will attract girls who like cute things.

There are standard Japanese-style rooms, refreshing Japanese-modern rooms, and slightly more luxurious rooms with open-air baths. The Japanese-modern rooms are themed around a mix of Japanese relaxation and Western comfort. The bright rooms will lift your spirits and help you forget the busyness of everyday life. The rooms with open-air baths have baths on a spacious wooden deck, where you can enjoy elegant onsen time with roses floating in them.

"Fruit Mountain Azumaya" is the only ryokan in Kaminoyama onsen that specializes in Yamagata beef. While the local pride of Yamagata beef can be eaten at many ryokan, this inn's appeal is its course meals that center around Yamagata beef. In addition to steak and sukiyaki, you can enjoy creative dishes that can only be eaten here, such as kawarayaki and bamboo steaming, and the portions are also very generous. The inn is about a 10-minute walk from Kaminoyama onsen, and a shuttle service is available if you make a reservation in advance by phone.

This is a historic onsen ryokan that has been renovated to be comfortable and well-maintained. The junior suite and premium suite with open-air bath were renovated in 2017. Enjoy the ultimate relaxation in a stylish room that combines Japanese and Nordic styles. Relax with your partner in a slightly more luxurious room than usual.

onsen is located on the top floor, and the panoramic bath overlooking the town of Kaminoyama is an attractive feature. Kaminoyama is also home to Kaminoyama Castle, which is known as a famous cherry blossom viewing spot, and the view from the panoramic bath is truly that of the castle town. The large bath also has a sauna, so you can wash off a good sweat. In addition, two types of private baths, one made of cypress and one made of granite, were newly opened in 2000. Come and relax and relieve your fatigue and stiffness.

While the Yumachi area of Kaminoyama onsen has a long history, the Hayama area has many relatively new inns. Koyo is located in this area and is popular for its hospitality. It has been selected as one of the top 100 ryokan for 40 consecutive years. The entire building has a sophisticated atmosphere, including an elegant lounge. The inn is about a 10-minute drive from Kaminoyama onsen Station and about a 15-minute drive from Kaminoyama IC, and a shuttle bus runs from the station about once an hour. Please check the official website in advance for operating times.

onsen are also attractive, with a spacious observation bath with a spectacular view and a barrel bath on the first floor. The barrel-shaped open-air bath on the first floor is called the safflower bath, and it is said that it was named after the area around Kaminoyama that once flourished due to the Kitamae ships that carried safflower. It's great because you can relax alone. There is also a sauna, and in addition to the high-temperature sauna, there is also a cold sauna at about -5°C, so be sure to try it out.

The colorful dishes are popular for pleasing the eyes as well. The vegetables used in the dishes are freshly picked that morning at a local farm. The fresh taste is sure to please your body. They use only local ingredients, such as Tsuyahime rice from Yamagata and Yamagata and Yonezawa beef. They even purchase an entire cow for beef that they judge to be good to look at! This shows their passion for food.

Oyado Mori no Oto is recommended for couples who want to spend time in a natural environment surrounded by high-quality interiors, books, and gentle nature. Located quietly in the forest, the exterior looks like a Japanese-style ryokan at first glance, but once inside, you'll feel the warmth of wood as if you were in Scandinavia or Canada. The guest rooms are simple and natural, allowing you to forget about your busy, cluttered daily life for a while. It is about a 5-minute drive from Kaminoyama onsen Station and about a 15-minute drive from Kaminoyama IC.

There are two onsen: "Sun" where you can enjoy the view of the sunlight shining down on the trees, and "Moon" where the moon floating in the sky looks as beautiful as in other countries. The artistically balanced space will have you soaking for a long time. The changing room is also decorated in soft earth tones, which naturally puts you in a relaxed mood. There is also a mist sauna, so you can wash away any fatigue that has built up in your body.

The food is like a culinary orchestra that stimulates the five senses. The tableware and presentation show great taste. The rice, made with Tsuyahime rice, is cooked in a clay pot one by one according to the meal of each table. Enjoy a delicious bowl of freshly cooked rice with just the right grains. There are plenty of stylish amuse-bouches, which go perfectly with wine. There are always around seven types of wine available, making this a dinner time that will satisfy even the most discerning gourmets. Depending on the season, you can also enjoy game dishes.

"Saika-tei Jidai-ya" is recommended for couples who like retro-modern style and want to fully enjoy the Japanese atmosphere. The counter is dotted with tasteful Japanese accessories, the thick and impressive beams that span the high ceiling, and the hallway with an antique clock hanging there. You will feel as if you have traveled back in time and your mind will be relaxed. The rooms are also relaxing Japanese spaces. It is about a 20-minute drive from Kaminoyama IC and about a 10-minute drive from Kaminoyama onsen Station, and a shuttle bus is available.

The large public bath is designed in the image of a onsen. In front of the large bay window is an elegant small garden that will warm your heart. There are also two private open-air baths, "Ousai" and "Keyakisai", that are noteworthy. The private bath in the photo is Keyakisai, which is a rare private bath that even comes with a reclining bath. There is even a CD player and radio in the changing room, so you can listen to your favorite melodies while bathing. It's sure to be an extremely relaxing experience.

One of the plans this inn offers is Kurort. Kurort is a German word meaning a resort or health resort, and is a key word in health tourism that invigorates the body in nature. meal in the photo is a Kurort Balanced Meal, a meal menu that is low in calories and salt but has plenty of volume and protein. If you feel like you've been drinking and eating too much lately, or if you want to feel better from the inside out, be sure to check it out.

Hayamakan offers a luxurious stay for adults with its high-class appearance and service. The hotel is divided into three guest room areas: Suiyotei, Kayotei, and Shikitei, all of which have a relaxing and elegant atmosphere. The photo shows a guest room with a semi-open-air bath on the top floor of Suiyotei. It even has an open-air foot bath. It is about 15 minutes from Kaminoyama IC and about 5 minutes from Kaminoyama onsen Station, and there is a convenient shuttle bus.

The large bath is a calming stone bath. There is also an open-air bath where you can enjoy stargazing. You can choose your favorite items from the shampoo bar, and there are also amenities such as basic cosmetics, so it is a great point for women who want to pay attention to their appearance even while traveling with their boyfriend. After the bath, you can relax in the lounge, which has a piano and library. It is a luxurious space that you will want at home.

Another place you should definitely visit while staying at the inn is Yamashiroya. Located a little ways from Hayama-kan, near Kaminoyama Castle, it is an old ryokan with ties to Saito Mokichi, the owner of the area. It is a quaint building, and its garden is designated as a tangible cultural property. The facility is owned by Hayama-kan and is open as a rental space, and in the summer they open a pop-up ice cream shop. Be sure to drop by on your stroll.

When you go on a trip to onsen with your partner, you want to cherish the time you spend relaxing together. Kaminoyama onsen is the perfect place for couples who are looking for such relaxation. You can enjoy delicious Yamagata cuisine and your stomach will be completely satisfied! The gentle onsen are said to have skin-beautifying effects, so you will feel great during your stay. Enjoy a relaxing soak in the healing Kaminoyama onsen which will deepen your relationship.