recommendation of hotel in zao onsen

Hi Everyone,
I have been thinking of going to Zao Onsen (to see the snow monsters etc) for a little while and have decided that I would like to go around this time next year. I am a skier/snowboarder but alas my wife does not share my enthusiasm. Saying that when we go to ski resort towns I always try to get accommodation close to the village so that my wife can walk around and explore while I go skiing for a couple of hours each day. I am thinking of staying for about 5 nights. I have done some searching on the net and I see the town roughly has 2 sides. I am lead to believe that the left side near the bus station is the main village. My wife prefers a western style room (bed) but most of those "western rooms" are on the other side away from the village.
I hope I don't sound to pretentious but could someone that knows this village recommend a hotel etc that might be available on that side of the village?
I appreciate your help.

Try going to 格安ホテル･旅館 | 料金比較サイト｢トリバゴ｣(trivago.jp) and typing in 蔵王. You'll see an option to display results on a map, which should help a lot. On the left side, go into the こだわり条件 tab, scroll down to 宿タイプ, click the plus sign to expand it, and check the ホテル box to limit the results displayed. You might need to input your desired dates in the calendar menu at the top of the page for better results.

Mike Cash said:

Try going to 格安ホテル･旅館 | 料金比較サイト｢トリバゴ｣(trivago.jp) and typing in 蔵王. You'll see an option to display results on a map, which should help a lot. On the left side, go into the こだわり条件 tab, scroll down to 宿タイプ, click the plus sign to expand it, and check the ホテル box to limit the results displayed. You might need to input your desired dates in the calendar menu at the top of the page for better results.

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Thanks mikesan I will give that a go and let you know.

I had a look at that website and there is a hotel called
大平ホテ
which looks nice and is close to the village.
thanks mikesan for showing me how to navigate the site. I now have something to compare with.
It was a bit daunting at first, but with your help and my limited japanese it was quite user friendly.

Glad it helped. I've never used the site before myself.

Did you click through to the reservation page or check the hotel? The photo I found was for a Japanese-style room: no bed.

EDIT

They do have rooms with beds. Make sure you specify when you make your reservations.

Mike Cash said:

Glad it helped. I've never used the site before myself.

Did you click through to the reservation page or check the hotel? The photo I found was for a Japanese-style room: no bed.

EDIT

They do have rooms with beds. Make sure you specify when you make your reservations.

Click to expand...

No i haven't booked as yet. I am still considering my options. I used the same website for Nikko as well. Do you think Winter is a good time to visit Nikko?

Yes, but dress warmly. Brrrr. Nikko is a sprawling complex of shrines and temples (and museum and tea house, etc...) so there is a lot of walking around outside, and taking your shoes off in drafty buildings. Good to see any time of year, but pretty chilly in winter.

If you go to the shrines just after it snows it can be very picturesque.

letslearn said:

No i haven't booked as yet. I am still considering my options. I used the same website for Nikko as well. Do you think Winter is a good time to visit Nikko?

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I live about an hour away from Nikko and it is mostly a place I just pass through as quickly as I can. I think I may have been sightseeing there three or four times at the most. I don't think I've ever been there in the winter so I really couldn't tell you. I don't know of any winter specific attractions in the area. I believe Nikko got its reputation from long ago as a place the elite went to beat the summer heat (the Emperor formerly had a summer residence there). If I had to guess, I would guess that with the exception of the shrines and temples much of the tourist oriented locations are shuttered during the winter. Don't take my word for it, though.

Hotel ranking of Zaoonsen of popularity.
ユーザーが選んだ！人気温泉宿ランキング/蔵王編-じゃらんnet

"Yu-meguri-Kokeshi"
Tickets to take a bath at 27 inns / hot spring facilities.
With 3 seals, you can use one in one facility.(Some hotels require two seals)
It is sold at 1300 yen at Zao Onsen Tourist Association Information Office.
That place is at Zao Onsen Bus Terminal.
If you pay 230 yen at Tanaka Kokeshi store, you can paint in Kokeshi.
Ryokan / facility where tickets can be used.
.1.Oak Hill オークヒル 12:00-21:00
2.Zao Plaza Hotel 蔵王プラザホテル 13:30-15:30
3.Fukayamaso Takamiya 深山荘 高見屋 19:00-21:00
4.Omiya Ryokan おおみや旅館 11:30-15:00
5.biya Ryokan えびや旅館 10:00-15:00
6.Hotel Hammond Takamiya ホテルハモンドたかみや 12:00-18:00
7.Suzu noya すゞのや 11:00-15:00
8.Sunoko no yu kawaraya すのこの湯 かわらや 9:00-20:00
9.Yoshidaya Ryokan 吉田屋旅館 10:00-20:00
10.Yu no Yado ITOYA RYOKAN 湯の宿 伊藤屋 10:00-15:00
11.Kokeshi no yado Kessenkaku こけしの宿 招仙閣 10:00-16:00
12.Horiku Ryokan 堀久旅館 8:00-21:00
13.Hanayuran 花ゆらん 11:00-14:00
14.Tsuruya 五感の湯 つるや 13:00-15:00
15.Hotel Jyurin ホテル樹林 13:00-20:00
16.Zao Onsen big open-air bath 蔵王温泉 大露天風呂 6:00-19:00
17.Ohira Hotel Hammond 大平ホテルハモンド 12:00-22:00
18.Genshichi Roten no yu 源七露天の湯 9:00-21:00
19.Le Baire Zao ル・ベール蔵王 13:00-16:00
20.aldberg ヴァルトベルク 11:30-14:00
21.Zao Onsen International Hotel 蔵王温泉国際ホテル 12:00-15:00 (* 2 seals required)
22.ZAO center plaza ZAOセンタープラザ 9:00-21:00
23.Hotel Kiraku ホテル喜らく 11:30-15:00
24.Zao Shiki no Hotel 蔵王四季のホテル 10:00-15:00 (* 2 seals required)
25.Hotel Matsukanoya Annex ホテル松金屋アネックス 11:00-20:00
26.Kinosato 季の里 11:30-14:30
27.Forest Zao Onsen フォーレスト蔵王温泉 10:00-15:00

山形の蔵王温泉「湯めぐりこけし」加盟施設のご紹介 | マイラーOLちょこりんのハイヒールで世界を歩く

Hiroyuki Nagashima said:

Hotel ranking of Zaoonsen of popularity.
ユーザーが選んだ！人気温泉宿ランキング/蔵王編-じゃらんnet

"Yu-meguri-Kokeshi"
Tickets to take a bath at 27 inns / hot spring facilities.
With 3 seals, you can use one in one facility.(Some hotels require two seals)
It is sold at 1300 yen at Zao Onsen Tourist Association Information Office.
That place is at Zao Onsen Bus Terminal.
If you pay 230 yen at Tanaka Kokeshi store, you can paint in Kokeshi.
Ryokan / facility where tickets can be used.
.1.Oak Hill オークヒル 12:00-21:00
2.Zao Plaza Hotel 蔵王プラザホテル 13:30-15:30
3.Fukayamaso Takamiya 深山荘 高見屋 19:00-21:00
4.Omiya Ryokan おおみや旅館 11:30-15:00
5.biya Ryokan えびや旅館 10:00-15:00
6.Hotel Hammond Takamiya ホテルハモンドたかみや 12:00-18:00
7.Suzu noya すゞのや 11:00-15:00
8.Sunoko no yu kawaraya すのこの湯 かわらや 9:00-20:00
9.Yoshidaya Ryokan 吉田屋旅館 10:00-20:00
10.Yu no Yado ITOYA RYOKAN 湯の宿 伊藤屋 10:00-15:00
11.Kokeshi no yado Kessenkaku こけしの宿 招仙閣 10:00-16:00
12.Horiku Ryokan 堀久旅館 8:00-21:00
13.Hanayuran 花ゆらん 11:00-14:00
14.Tsuruya 五感の湯 つるや 13:00-15:00
15.Hotel Jyurin ホテル樹林 13:00-20:00
16.Zao Onsen big open-air bath 蔵王温泉 大露天風呂 6:00-19:00
17.Ohira Hotel Hammond 大平ホテルハモンド 12:00-22:00
18.Genshichi Roten no yu 源七露天の湯 9:00-21:00
19.Le Baire Zao ル・ベール蔵王 13:00-16:00
20.aldberg ヴァルトベルク 11:30-14:00
21.Zao Onsen International Hotel 蔵王温泉国際ホテル 12:00-15:00 (* 2 seals required)
22.ZAO center plaza ZAOセンタープラザ 9:00-21:00
23.Hotel Kiraku ホテル喜らく 11:30-15:00
24.Zao Shiki no Hotel 蔵王四季のホテル 10:00-15:00 (* 2 seals required)
25.Hotel Matsukanoya Annex ホテル松金屋アネックス 11:00-20:00
26.Kinosato 季の里 11:30-14:30
27.Forest Zao Onsen フォーレスト蔵王温泉 10:00-15:00

山形の蔵王温泉「湯めぐりこけし」加盟施設のご紹介 | マイラーOLちょこりんのハイヒールで世界を歩く

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Wow what fantastic information.
I really appreciate everyones time and input.

The idea of painting Kokeshi dolls sounds really fun. I hope they teach you some good techniques. I don't trust my skills.