Arimakan

8.9

This Ryokan has an overall rating of 8.9/10, based on 42 reviews.

Rank	Ryokan	Rating	Reviews
🥇 1st	Sakaeya Hotel	10.0/10	118
🥈 2nd	Hohoemino Kuyufu Tsuruya	9.4/10	965
🥉 3rd	Shouhakutei Azumaso	9.3/10	179
4th	天童荘 TENDOSO	9.6/10	29
5th	Takamiya Ryokan Miyamaso	9.2/10	1,267
6th	Hayamakan	9.2/10	730
7th	Tendo Hotel	9.2/10	539
8th	Tamonkan	9.2/10	313
9th	Hagurokan	9.2/10	90
10th	Zao Onsen Omiya Ryokan	9.2/10	89
11th	Wakamatsuya	9.1/10	670
12th	Kinosato, auberge gastronomique à Zaō Onsen	9.1/10	316
13th	Tsukinoike	9.3/10	38
14th	Uesugi no Miyu Gotenmori	9.1/10	64
15th	Tendo Onsen TAKINOYU	9.0/10	436
16th	Kameya Hotel	9.0/10	207
17th	Takasagoya Ryokan	9.0/10	196
18th	Zao Shiki no Hotel	8.9/10	749
19th	Tachibanaya	8.9/10	182
20th	YuiLocalZao	9.6/10	5
21st	Arimakan Current ryokan	8.9/10	42
22nd	Yūsuitei Isagoya	8.8/10	639
23rd	Ichiraku tendo spa & brewery	8.8/10	480
24th	Oyado Morinone	8.8/10	255
25th	Yura Onsen Yaotome	8.8/10	141
26th	Matsukaneya Annex	8.8/10	35
27th	ShirabuOnsen Higashiya	8.8/10	32
28th	Tsukasaya Ryokan	8.8/10	7
29th	Namegawaonsen Fukushimaya	8.6/10	70
30th	Saikatei Jidaiya	8.6/10	304
31st	Takamiya Hotel Lucent	8.6/10	1,662
32nd	Yuuyu No Sato Yusa	8.5/10	85
33rd	Bankokuya	8.5/10	178
34th	Ikkyu -Seaside Hotel-	8.2/10	8
35th	Takamiya Ryokan Sagiya Sansorai	8.2/10	13
36th	Yumorinoyado Sannozyou	7.9/10	6
37th	Ringoya, Zaō Onsen	8.2/10	25
38th	Senso Yutagawa	8.2/10	37
39th	Meitoya So	8.3/10	1,390
40th	onogawaonsen azumasou	8.2/10	169
41st	Senkeien Tsukioka Hotel	8.1/10	56
42nd	Kansyokan	8.1/10	78
43rd	Kami no yama Azumaya	8.0/10	675
44th	Tofuya Ryokan, Onogawa Onsen, Sauna, Barrier-free	7.3/10	31
45th	Takamiya Bettei Kuon	7.4/10	643
46th	Hotel Tetora Resort Tsuruoka	7.2/10	191
47th	Keyaki no Yado, source ambrée	4.1/10	25

Check-in from 3:00 PM

Hot Spring Town Old Town Mountain Setting Hot Spring Bath Open-Air Bath Private Onsen

Location

999-3141 Yamagata, Kaminoyama, Shinyu 6-5, Japan

Staff 9,0/10

Facilities 9,0/10

Cleanliness 9,0/10

Comfort 9,0/10

Value for money 8,0/10

Location 9,0/10

Multiple Onsen BathsWell-known for varied hot spring baths, including large baths, semi-open baths, and sauna.

Private Family BathsThree private baths add flexible bathing for couples, families, and more personal stays.

In-Room MealsBreakfast and dinner are served in-room, a classic ryokan touch now increasingly rare.

Yamagata Beef MealsMeals highlight prime Yamagata beef and local ingredients at a relatively approachable price.

Walkable Station AccessAbout a 10-minute walk from JR Kaminoyama-Onsen Station for convenient arrival.

Room Type ChoiceFour room styles suit different budgets, from standard tatami rooms to suites.

Recommended stay1-2 nightsBath variety and in-room kaiseki are the main stay driver here: arrive mid-afternoon, use the baths before dinner, stay through breakfast, then walk the castle area or continue onward. Two nights work only if you want a slow onsen pace with a short local stroll or nearby rail outing.

Trip-planning verdict: Best as a 1-night or light 2-night stay in Kaminoyama Onsen for travelers who want multiple baths, in-room meals, and an easy rail stop rather than a major sightseeing base.

Know before booking

Limited local depthKaminoyama Onsen is pleasant but compact, so many travelers will run out of nearby sights after a short stay.

Not a sleek luxury stayThe appeal is bath variety, value, and traditional service, not cutting-edge design or ultra-luxury atmosphere.

Dining ties you to the innIn-room breakfast and dinner are a strength, but they also reduce incentive to plan evening restaurant hopping.

Dining Room (on-site)

on-site

Breakfast and dinner are usually served in-room; larger groups may use a private dining room.

Breakfast (on-site)

on-site

Relaxed Japanese breakfast served to the room or private venue.

Yugyoan Mitsuhiro (nearby)

nearbynear the ryokan

Well-known nearby soba spot in Kaminoyama Onsen.

Distances are approximate and calculated from the ryokan coordinates. Travel times may vary depending on route, traffic and schedules.

Useful access points Stations, stops, airports and practical travel advice.

Best way to arrive The simplest arrival is by train to JR Kaminoyama-Onsen Station, then a short taxi ride or a manageable walk if you are traveling light. If arriving by air, Yamagata Airport is usually the most practical regional airport, while Sendai Airport can work for wider flight options but usually requires a longer onward rail journey.

JR Kaminoyama-Onsen Stationstation
1.1 km1 Yarai, Kaminoyama, Yamagata, Japanabout 10–15 min on footabout 5 min by taximain rail gateway; local transfer times vary
Best overall access point for most guests. Use a taxi if carrying luggage or arriving in poor weather; walking is feasible for light packers.
JR Yamagata Stationstation
11 kmKasumicho, Yamagata, Yamagata, Japantoo far to walk comfortablyabout 30–40 min by taxi depending on trafficabout 15–25 min by local or regional train to Kaminoyama-Onsen Station, then short onward transfer
Useful as the main regional transfer hub if you are coming from the shinkansen network or from central Yamagata before continuing to Kaminoyama Onsen.
Yubamae / Bathhouse Front Bus Stopbus
150 mShinyu area, Kaminoyama, Yamagata, Japanabout 2–5 min on footabout 3–5 min by taxilocal bus timing is best checked locally
Handy only if your bus happens to stop here; otherwise do not plan your main arrival around it unless you have confirmed local bus details.
Kaminoyama-Jo-Guchi Bus Stopbus
340 mCastle approach area, Kaminoyama, Yamagata, Japanabout 5–10 min on footabout 3–5 min by taxilocal bus timing is best checked locally
A reasonable nearby stop for some local routes, but it is secondary to arriving via the station.
Kaminoyama Onsen Bus Terminalbus
1.0 kmStation area, Kaminoyama, Yamagata, Japanabout 10–15 min on footabout 5 min by taxibest checked locally
Potentially useful for regional bus connections, but train plus taxi is usually easier for first-time visitors.
Yamagata Airportairport
30 kmHigashine, Yamagata, Japanabout 45–70 min by car depending on trafficusually about 1–2 hours with airport bus or rail combinations, then local transfer
Most practical airport for many visitors heading directly into Yamagata Prefecture. Good choice if flight availability matches your plans.
Sendai Airportairport
56 kmNatori, Miyagi, Japanroughly 1.5–2.5 hours by car depending on trafficoften around 2–3.5 hours with rail transfers via Sendai and Yamagata or Fukushima-side routing
Useful as a backup or wider-choice airport, but it is usually less direct than Yamagata Airport for this ryokan.
Kaminoyama Onsen Tourist Information Centeraccess
1.1 km1-2-1 Yarai, Kaminoyama, Yamagata 999-3134, Japanabout 10–15 min on footabout 5 min by taxiadjacent to the station area
Useful as a meeting and orientation point right by the station, especially if you want local guidance before heading to the ryokan.

5 reasons to choose this ryokan best points

Great for bath-hoppingThis ryokan is especially suited to travelers who want variety in one stay, with multiple hot spring baths, open-air options, sauna access, and private bath choices.
Meals are served in your roomBoth dinner and breakfast are offered in-room, which makes the stay feel more traditional and private than many ryokan that now use shared dining spaces.
Strong Yamagata food focusThe property highlights prime Yamagata beef and local ingredients, so it is a good fit if regional cuisine is a key part of your trip.
Useful room range for different tripsArimakan offers several room styles, from standard Japanese rooms to Japanese-Western layouts and more upscale suites, which gives couples and families more flexibility than a one-style-only ryokan.
Practical base in Kaminoyama OnsenIt is in the Shinyu area of Kaminoyama Onsen with free parking and manageable access from Kaminoyama Onsen Station, making it convenient for a regional Yamagata stop without needing a remote countryside transfer.

5 reasons not to choose this ryokan watch-outs

Not the closest ryokan to the stationAccess is fairly easy, but it is still about a 10-minute walk or a short taxi ride from JR Kaminoyama Onsen Station, which may feel inconvenient with luggage.
Style may feel traditional rather than polished-luxuryIf you want a highly contemporary, design-forward ryokan, Arimakan appears more classic and practical in character than ultra-premium boutique properties.
Extra charges can add upSome amenities such as reserved private baths are not simply included across the board, so the final cost may rise beyond the base room rate.
Best experience depends on liking Japanese-style serviceIn-room meal service and ryokan routines are part of the appeal, but travelers who prefer fully independent hotel-style flexibility may find the format less relaxed.
More onsen retreat than sightseeing hubThis is a stay built around bathing and dinner rather than around a dense walkable entertainment district, so guests wanting lots of nearby nightlife may find the area quiet.

Current position: 21st out of 47 ryokans in Yamagata.

Rank	Ryokan	Rating	Reviews
16th	Kameya Hotel	9.0/10	207
17th	Takasagoya Ryokan	9.0/10	196
18th	Zao Shiki no Hotel	8.9/10	749
19th	Tachibanaya	8.9/10	182
20th	YuiLocalZao	9.6/10	5
21st	Arimakan Current ryokan	8.9/10	42
22nd	Yūsuitei Isagoya	8.8/10	639
23rd	Ichiraku tendo spa & brewery	8.8/10	480
24th	Oyado Morinone	8.8/10	255
25th	Yura Onsen Yaotome	8.8/10	141
26th	Matsukaneya Annex	8.8/10	35