KAI Zao
界 蔵王38°10′ N 140°24′ ERyokan¥¥Opens October 2026Opening October 2026
KAI Zao suits couples who want a polished Hoshino Resorts ryokan in front of the Zao Chuo Ropeway, and the trade-off is that it only opens on 15 October 2026, so this winter is its first.
Price band
¥¥Mid-range
Guests
2 guests
You book and pay on the booking site's own secure checkout, and we never see your card.
- Meals
- Kaiseki dinner and a Japanese or Western breakfast
- Check-in
- In from 14:30, out by 11:00
- Onsen
- Shared and private baths
- Rooms
- 49
- Best for
- Couples, skiers
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KAI Zao
¥¥
Hoshino Resorts opens KAI Zao in a 14-sided tower at 903-2 Zao Onsen. All 49 rooms are Western style and sleep up to four, and some come with their own open-air bath. The signature rooms take their colour from Yamagata safflower, with rug tapestries, washi lamps and curved furniture made by craftsmen at Tendo Mokko.
The baths use Zao Onsen's strongly acidic spring, and Jalan's listing says the inn adds water and heats it. A wellness area adds a sauna, and the whirlpool on the spiral roof is shaped like the Okama crater lake. Jalan notes that the sauna and the whirlpool are mixed and need a swimsuit.
Hoshino puts the Chuo Ropeway directly in front of the hotel, and the ropeway rides up Mt. Torikabuto to 1,387 metres. Skis, boards and boots dry overnight in a dedicated room, and early starters can take a KAI Breakfast Box to the first lift. Dinner follows shojin ryori, the Buddhist temple cooking, with a Gassan nabe of duck, seri and five kinds of mushroom, and a vegetarian kaiseki needs five days' notice.
Highlights
- The rooftop whirlpool copies the shape of the Okama crater lake
- A drying room holds skis, boards and boots overnight
- Hoshino puts the Chuo Ropeway directly in front of the door
The essentials
- Prices
- Hoshino's booking calendar shows a lowest first-night rate of ¥29,850 a person when two share a room on 12 January 2027.
- Meals
- Kaiseki dinner and a Japanese or Western breakfast; room-only and breakfast-only plans also sell
- Amenities
- OnsenSaunaRooftop whirlpoolSki drying roomCafé loungeFree parkingWi Fi
- Best for
- CouplesSkiersOnsen lovers
- To the lifts
- Hoshino says the hotel stands directly in front of the Zao Chuo Ropeway, and Jalan lists the slopes within a five-minute walk.
- Shuttle
- Hoshino lists no shuttle. Yamagata Station is about 40 minutes away by bus or taxi.
- Baths
- Shared and private baths, fed by a hot spring
- Tattoo rule
- KAI Zao's pages and its Jalan listing state no tattoo rule, so ask before you book.
Worth knowing
- The hotel runs no shuttle, so take the bus or a taxi from Yamagata Station; Hoshino puts the ride at about 40 minutes.
- Western breakfast is off the menu from 1 to 3 January.
Quick answers about KAI Zaoよくある質問
When does KAI Zao open?
KAI Zao is due to open in October 2026. Hoshino Resorts gives 15 October 2026 as the opening day, so the first ski season here is 2026/27.
Are meals included at KAI Zao?
KAI Zao: Kaiseki dinner and a Japanese or Western breakfast; room-only and breakfast-only plans also sell.
What does KAI Zao have?
KAI Zao lists onsen, sauna, rooftop whirlpool, ski drying room, café lounge, free parking, wi fi.
Who is KAI Zao good for?
KAI Zao suits couples, skiers, onsen lovers.
Does KAI Zao have an onsen?
Yes. KAI Zao has shared and private baths fed by a hot spring.
Within 12 km
Places to eat and drink nearby食
Within 12 km
Sights nearby見どころ
In the journal and guides
Read more about KAI Zao特集
Snow feature · 11 min read
When should you ride Zao and Hakkoda for the snow monsters?
February is the month. Zao Ropeway puts its snow monsters at full size then, on a big ticketed mountain above a sulphur onsen village. Hakkoda gives one ropeway and two ungroomed courses through its own fir groves, with tour routes opening from early March.
Practical guide · 8 min read
How much does a ski trip to Japan cost?
One adult sharing a room spends about ¥90,000 on a budget week in Yuzawa and from about ¥178,000 for a mid-range week in Hakuba, before flights and rental. A ryokan-hotel week in Myoko runs to about ¥286,000.