Chikusenso Mt.Zao Onsen Resort & Spa — Hotel in Zao

We stayed 3 nights last October as part of an extended road trip through Northern Tohoku, and Chikusenso was definitely one of the highlights. We went there with high hopes and expectations - a modern ryokan with a foreign owner but with Japanese sensibilities and cuisine - can this ryokan merge the best of both worlds? The answer is a definite "yes."||||First off, this is not a small boutique property - it's midsize by ryokan standards with 30 rooms total. We opted to stay in the Presidential Suite, which is the top room in Chikusenso, and an enormous 116 square meters of goodness. The room afforded absolute privacy in all directions (it's fine to keep the shades open all day and night without any worries) and featured just about any modern convenience and technology that anyone could hope for. While we felt the decor and furniture in the room was a bit strange and not to our tastes, it was nonetheless a comfortable place to relax. The only functional design flaw worth mentioning has to do with the private, outdoor open-air bath. It's not right outside the veranda in the garden, but is instead accessed by going out of the room's front door, down a hallway and a flight of stairs, then by opening a door that requires a key to open - and we were the only guests with a key to the bath. This takes out to a small garden with the "private" onsen bath. It's really a hassle to get to; I'd prefer to strip off my clothes in the room, open the veranda and step right into the bath without having to worry about being seen by anyone throughout the process. The second highest-category room does not have this problem, since it's situated on an upper floor with its open-air bath being on the balcony.||||Service was courteous, friendly and attentive, but I wouldn't say they went above and beyond the call of duty. For instance, when we told them that we were pondering a drive on the Zao Echo Line (a scenic road nearby) but were concerned about accessibility (it closes at the slightest hint of adverse weather), they said the road conditions get broadcast every morning at 9AM. Wanting to get a head start on the day (in general), we asked if they could call my mobile phone as soon as they found out.... to which they suggested I check a particular website. Also, while they asked us what we planned to do in the area when we arrived, it appeared to be more of a curiosity factor for them, rather than a means to figure out ways to help us. We informed them of our itinerary (more or less), and told them about our intention to visit Miyagi Fox Village on a Wednesday. Well, that's the one day each week that it's closed! Wish they would've proactively checked and/or pointed out this issue so that we would've had a chance to juggle our plans appropriately. Oh well.||||Food was very good. Executive Chef Kiyokazu Naoi definitely has the skills, and he served up some incredible dishes. It was also not watered down for foreign tastes, much to our relief. For instance, one evening we were treated to a Fugu (poisonous Blow Fish) course. It wasn't ALL Fugu, but it was mostly Fugu, and was excellent. Another meal consisted of a variety of just-made Tempura dishes that was prepared personally by Naoi-san. It was just as innovative and delightful as we could've hoped for. I wouldn't place the dining experience in my all-time top 5, but it's not far off, either. The only bummer was the lack of an option to be served in one's own room like some of the finer ryokans in Japan.||||One "Western" aspect that I appreciated, that very few Ryokans offer - Chikusenso does laundry/pressing/dry cleaning, surprisingly. Which came in handy since we had been travelling for 5 days prior to our arrival at Chikusenso. This probably has as much to do with its comparatively larger size as anything, but we've been to even larger ryokans that did not provide laundry service.||||In terms of the overall property and grounds, they did a good job of combining contemporary design (it's a relatively new property) with traditional Japanese as well as local elements to its look and feel. And, overall, it blends in nicely with the serene natural environment that envelops the property grounds.||||We were surprised at the high price of Chikusenso given its location, but if you have plans to tour the Tohoku region, it should definitely be on your bucket list if you're willing to...

We stayed 3 nights last October as part of an extended road trip through Northern Tohoku, and Chikusenso was definitely one of the highlights. We went there with high hopes and expectations - a modern ryokan with a foreign owner but with Japanese sensibilities and cuisine - can this ryokan merge the best of both worlds? The answer is a definite "yes."||||First off, this is not a small boutique property - it's midsize by ryokan standards with 30 rooms total. We opted to stay in the Presidential Suite, which is the top room in Chikusenso, and an enormous 116 square meters of goodness. The room afforded absolute privacy in all directions (it's fine to keep the shades open all day and night without any worries) and featured just about any modern convenience and technology that anyone could hope for. While we felt the decor and furniture in the room was a bit strange and not to our tastes, it was nonetheless a comfortable place to relax. The only functional design flaw worth mentioning has to do with the private, outdoor open-air bath. It's not right outside the veranda in the garden, but is instead accessed by going out of the room's front door, down a hallway and a flight of stairs, then by opening a door that requires a key to open - and we were the only guests with a key to the bath. This takes out to a small garden with the "private" onsen bath. It's really a hassle to get to; I'd prefer to strip off my clothes in the room, open the veranda and step right into the bath without having to worry about being seen by anyone throughout the process. The second highest-category room does not have this problem, since it's situated on an upper floor with its open-air bath being on the balcony.||||Service was courteous, friendly and attentive, but I wouldn't say they went above and beyond the call of duty. For instance, when we told them that we were pondering a drive on the Zao Echo Line (a scenic road nearby) but were concerned about accessibility (it closes at the slightest hint of adverse weather), they said the road conditions get broadcast every morning at 9AM. Wanting to get a head start on the day (in general), we asked if they could call my mobile phone as soon as they found out.... to which they suggested I check a particular website. Also, while they asked us what we planned to do in the area when we arrived, it appeared to be more of a curiosity factor for them, rather than a means to figure out ways to help us. We informed them of our itinerary (more or less), and told them about our intention to visit Miyagi Fox Village on a Wednesday. Well, that's the one day each week that it's closed! Wish they would've proactively checked and/or pointed out this issue so that we would've had a chance to juggle our plans appropriately. Oh well.||||Food was very good. Executive Chef Kiyokazu Naoi definitely has the skills, and he served up some incredible dishes. It was also not watered down for foreign tastes, much to our relief. For instance, one evening we were treated to a Fugu (poisonous Blow Fish) course. It wasn't ALL Fugu, but it was mostly Fugu, and was excellent. Another meal consisted of a variety of just-made Tempura dishes that was prepared personally by Naoi-san. It was just as innovative and delightful as we could've hoped for. I wouldn't place the dining experience in my all-time top 5, but it's not far off, either. The only bummer was the lack of an option to be served in one's own room like some of the finer ryokans in Japan.||||One "Western" aspect that I appreciated, that very few Ryokans offer - Chikusenso does laundry/pressing/dry cleaning, surprisingly. Which came in handy since we had been travelling for 5 days prior to our arrival at Chikusenso. This probably has as much to do with its comparatively larger size as anything, but we've been to even larger ryokans that did not provide laundry service.||||In terms of the overall property and grounds, they did a good job of combining contemporary design (it's a relatively new property) with traditional Japanese as well as local elements to its look and feel. And, overall, it blends in nicely with the serene natural environment that envelops the property grounds.||||We were surprised at the high price of Chikusenso given its location, but if you have plans to tour the Tohoku region, it should definitely be on your bucket list if you're willing to...

My husband and I spent two relaxing nights here. The grounds are gorgeous and peaceful. It is a very quiet place.||Our room was spacious and inviting--great mix of modern (espresso machine) and traditional. We had a room with a private onsen.||They have men and women public onsens as well as two private outdoor onsens you can use with a reservation (for free). We used one of the private onsens one afternoon. It was much larger than the one in our room.||The staff were extremely accommodating and helpful. They went out of their way our entire stay. Their attention to detail was impressive. They were always two steps ahead of us. ||The food was five stars--each meal was unbelievable. We ate so much! They provide breakfast and dinner. You are on your own for lunch but there are several restaurants within 15-20 minutes by foot. They will also provide transportation if you prefer. ||You don't need to bring much here-they provide traditional Japanese clothes and slippers for you to wear the duration of your stay. You leave your shoes at the front door and don't see them again until you leave. They even provide running/athletic shoes if you choose to use the gym. ||In addition to the gym, there is a spa. We did not use any services at the spa.||If you're looking to do an outing-we hired a car for a couple of hours and saw the Okama crater. It was beautiful and worth the trip. We also stopped in the wooden doll museum and cheese shop.||This is the ultimate spot for...