onogawaonsen azumasou
8/10 Excellent - Based on 1 reviews
Onogawaonsen Azumasou occupies a hillside overlooking the hot-spring street of Onogawa, presenting a traditional ryokan atmosphere with tatami rooms, seasonal floral displays and a landscaped courtyard. The bathing facilities include a bright communal bath with large windows that frame the garden and mountains; water is drawn directly from the property’s natural spring and delivered continuously to the tubs. A reservation-only private bath is offered for guests and may be subject to availability or a usage fee. This ryokan with onsen in Yonezawa blends straightforward, regional hospitality with a calm, restorative setting.
Guest accommodation ranges from compact eight-mat rooms to larger corner suites and select units with in-room hot-spring baths; an adjacent annex provides a small number of rooms that include private onsen-style tubs. Room amenities generally include yukata, flat-screen television, Wi‑Fi and refrigeration, with some rooms featuring a sunlit alcove or kotatsu for winter comfort. Meals focus on local produce and seasonal preparation, with menus often highlighting regional specialties such as Yonezawa beef presented in multi-course dinners served in a communal dining area that overlooks the garden.
Practical arrangements reflect a family-friendly, low-key ryokan: there is on-site parking for guests and the property is reached easily by car from central Yonezawa in around twenty minutes. The establishment offers services such as in-room massage by appointment and flexible dining plans, and the annex provides pet-friendly accommodation in specific rooms for those traveling with animals. For travelers seeking a ryokan with private onsen in Yamagata, this property combines natural spring bathing with simple, locally focused accommodation and dining.
Highlights of this ryokan
Detailed Ratings
Points of interest nearby
Review summary for: onogawaonsen azumasou
Positive Reviews
Tasty dinner
The evening meal was very good—better than going to a mediocre izakaya; the reviewer enjoyed the dinner.
Enjoyable hot spring quality
Although the bathing facilities showed their age, the onsen water itself was pleasant with a faint salty/mineral taste and was appreciated by the guest.
Negative Reviews
Aged main entrance
The entrance area appeared old and worn, giving a dated first impression.
Steps and long walk from entrance to guest building
There are level changes and a relatively long distance between the entrance and the accommodation building, which the reviewer found inconvenient.
Parking access placement
The parking is located behind the guest building; the reviewer suggested using that side as the main access to reduce distance and steps from vehicles to rooms.
Frequently Asked Questions
Maximum occupancy depends on the room type; the ryokan offers triple rooms (three futons) and suites for smaller parties. No extra beds or baby cots are available, so check room capacity when booking.
The property has a large public hot‑spring bath fed directly from the source and a reservable private bath. Public bathing runs from mid‑afternoon through the following morning, and private-bath time slots are available in the evening and early morning.
Some room types include a private in‑room or semi‑open-air hot‑spring bath, and the ryokan also offers a reservable private bath (overnight guests can use it once per stay by reservation). Contact the ryokan when you book to request a room with a private bath or to reserve the private facility.
The ryokan does not provide a regular transfer service. If arriving by car there is on‑site parking; otherwise arrange a taxi or local bus from nearby stations.
The nearest city hub is Yonezawa (around 6–10 km from the ryokan); Yonezawa Station is the main rail access. The closest regional airport is Yamagata Airport (roughly 75–80 km); from airports or major stations take a train to Yonezawa and then a local bus or taxi to Onogawa Onsen.
Staff speak Japanese and can assist in English; additional language support is listed on reservation platforms. If you need specific language assistance, mention it when you book.
Meals focus on seasonal local cuisine, with dinner and breakfast served as part of stay packages. Dining is provided in the ryokan’s meal rooms unless your reservation specifies an in‑room option.
The main ryokan does not admit pets, but there is a separate pet‑friendly annex with a limited number of rooms set up for guests traveling with animals. Contact the ryokan to arrange accommodation in the annex if you plan to travel with a pet.
Standard check‑in is in the mid‑afternoon and the property asks guests to arrive by early evening; check‑out is in the morning. Refer to your booking confirmation for the exact times for your reservation.
Onogawa Onsen offers a small hot‑spring town atmosphere with river views, seasonal cherry blossoms, fireflies and mountain scenery; Uesugi Shrine and central Yonezawa are a short drive away. Local buses stop near the ryokan and larger supermarkets, shops and station connections are found in Yonezawa.