Matsukaneya Annex

8.8

This Ryokan has an overall rating of 8.8/10, based on 35 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	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 Current ryokan	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

Mountain Setting Hot Spring Town Snow Landscape Public Onsen Open-Air Bath Indoor Bath

Location

990-2301 Yamagata, Zaō Onsen, Zao Onsen 1267-16, Japan

Staff 9,0/10

Facilities 8,7/10

Cleanliness 8,8/10

Comfort 8,6/10

Value for money 8,5/10

Location 8,8/10

Zao Onsen BaseSet in Zao Onsen, convenient for hot-spring town walks and winter ski stays.

Natural Hot SpringsGuests highlight the free-flowing natural onsen as a core part of the stay.

Two Spring TypesBaths are noted for offering two kinds of spring water.

Tasty Included MealsDinner and breakfast are repeatedly praised in guest feedback.

Traditional RoomsJapanese-style tatami rooms strengthen the classic ryokan experience.

Ski Trip FriendlyReview patterns suggest it suits travelers coming to ski in Zao.

Recommended stay1-2 nightsOnsen-town setting is the main stay driver: arrive by afternoon, soak before dinner, stay for breakfast, then use the next day for the ropeway, skiing, or a short town walk. A second night makes sense in winter or if you want a slower bath-and-mountain rhythm, but the area is too limited for a long base.

Trip-planning verdict: Best as a 1-2 night Zao Onsen stay for baths, dinner, and ropeway or ski access, not as a long sightseeing base.

Know before booking

Limited long-stay depthBeyond onsen, ropeway, seasonal mountain scenery, and skiing, the immediate area is not dense enough for many full sightseeing days.

Bus-based accessReaching Zao Onsen usually means train to Yamagata then a bus ride, so it is less convenient than a station-area stay.

Walks may be uphillThe onsen town is mountainous, so luggage handling and short walks can feel harder than the distance suggests.

Dining Room (on-site)

on-site

Ryokan meal venue for breakfast and dinner with local Yamagata dishes.

Robata (nearby)

nearbynear the ryokan

Well-known local spot for Zao-style jingisukan and set meals.

Kasheru (nearby)

nearbynear the ryokan

Handmade soba and jingisukan in the Zao Onsen area.

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 For most travelers, go first to Yamagata Station, continue by bus or taxi to Zao Onsen Bus Terminal, and then take a short taxi ride or walk if conditions are easy. If arriving by air, Yamagata Airport is usually the most practical airport, while Sendai Airport can work as a secondary option with a longer overland transfer.

Yamagata Stationstation
11 kmKasumicho area, Yamagata, Yamagata, Japantoo far to walk comfortablyabout 35-50 min by car, weather dependentabout 40-60 min by bus to the Zao Onsen area, then a short walk or taxi
This is the main rail hub for reaching the ryokan. Most visitors should route through here before continuing to Zao Onsen by bus, taxi, or seasonal resort transport.
Sendai Stationstation
44 kmAoba, Sendai, Miyagi, Japanabout 1 hr 30 min-2 hr 10 min by car, traffic dependentoften around 1 hr 30 min-2 hr 30 min with bus or rail-and-bus combinations
Useful as a major regional hub, especially for shinkansen arrivals. It is farther than Yamagata Station but can be practical when coming from Tokyo or when air and rail connections favor Sendai.
Zao Onsen Bus Terminalbus
570 mZao Onsen, Yamagata, Yamagata 990-2301, Japanabout 8-12 min on foot, depending on slope and luggageabout 2-5 min by taxi
This is the most useful local arrival point for the ryokan. Best for travelers coming from Yamagata Station or regional highway buses; use a taxi if carrying ski gear or heavy luggage.
Yamagata Airportairport
28 kmHigashine, Yamagata Prefecture 999-3776, Japanabout 50-80 min by car or taxi, depending on road conditionstypically requires transfer via Yamagata city side; best checked locally
Usually the most practical airport for this ryokan if flight options work for your trip. Good choice for shorter ground transfer into Yamagata and onward to Zao Onsen.
Sendai Airportairport
46 kmNatori, Miyagi Prefecture 989-2401, Japanabout 1 hr 40 min-2 hr 30 min by car, traffic and season dependentusually requires transfer via Sendai; allow roughly 2-3 hr or more
A useful secondary airport with broader flight options, but the overland trip is noticeably longer than from Yamagata Airport. Best when airfare or schedules are substantially better.

5 reasons to choose this ryokan best points

Authentic Zao sulfur onsenThe property is known for 100% natural hot spring baths in Zao Onsen, a resort famous for its strongly acidic sulfur water. That makes the bathing experience feel much more destination-specific than a generic hotel bath.
Two distinct bath experiencesIt offers more than one bathing style, including a scenic source-fed bath and a large wood-rich bath, so the onsen experience feels varied during a longer stay. This is a real plus if bathing is one of the main reasons for your trip.
Strong focus on local foodMeals emphasize Yamagata ingredients and regional cuisine, with Yamagata beef frequently highlighted as a signature part of dinner. This makes it attractive for travelers who want their ryokan stay to include a proper local food experience.
Good fit for ski staysThe annex is in the Zao Onsen area and is commonly used for ski and snowboard trips, which suggests it works well as a practical winter base. It is especially appealing if your plan mixes slopes by day and hot spring baths at night.
Better value than luxury ryokanThe property appears to sit in a more approachable price band than Zao's top-end ryokan options while still offering hot spring baths and two-meal plans. That balance can be very appealing for travelers who care more about substance than prestige.

5 reasons not to choose this ryokan watch-outs

Not the most central on footThe listed access indicates it is about a 15-minute walk from the Zao Onsen bus terminal, which can feel inconvenient with luggage or in heavy snow. Guests who want to step straight into the village center may prefer something closer.
No pickup service listedThe property information indicates no shuttle service, so arrival may require a taxi, driving, or a longer walk depending on your bags and the weather. This is worth noting in winter when the area is less forgiving on foot.
More traditional than stylishThis ryokan looks oriented toward classic comfort, baths, and meals rather than contemporary design or boutique atmosphere. Travelers wanting a sleek modern retreat may find it dated in feel.
Best if you enjoy sulfur bathsZao's hot spring water is famously strong and sulfurous, which many onsen fans love but some guests find intense in smell or skin feel. If you prefer mild, neutral baths, this may not be your ideal match.
Experience depends heavily on the ryokan formatA big part of the appeal here is the meal-and-onsen rhythm rather than nightlife, expansive resort facilities, or urban convenience. Travelers seeking lots of entertainment inside the property may find the stay relatively simple.

Current position: 26th out of 47 ryokans in Yamagata.

Rank	Ryokan	Rating	Reviews
21st	Arimakan	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 Current ryokan	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