Zaborin

• ★★★★☆Jodie Goldberg5 July 2026

  While some other reviewers didn’t care for the remoteness of this inn that’s exactly what we loved about it. The views were stunning and the staff were exceptionally welcoming and kind. The room could be more functional- like more places for towels to hang and plugs for iPhones by the beds, etc - but very comfortable bed and a heavenly onsen! The food was beautiful, some of the dishes more tasty than others. Overall, we were quite satisfied with our stay and the kindness from staff.

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• ★★☆☆☆Sofia Bapna18 June 2026

  We were booked for 5 nights - the stay included breakfast and dinner. i) our rooms are stunning with an unobstructed view of the forest and mountain ii) the private outdoor rayokan was lovely iii) the place is far from everything else so if you are relying on public transport (go / uber / taxi) to get around it can take 15 to 30 minutes time for the car to come. iii) my main problem is the western breakfast - for a 5 day stay the 'main' was the same each day - scrambled eggs. When I asked, they said they could not do any other mains except boiled egg or sunny side up (I was asked to suggest alternatives - I suggested Japanese pancakes and french toast, which they said they could not do). For an restaurant at this price point, I think it is simply unacceptable to have such a limited breakfast choice (scrambled, boiled, and sunny side up eggs). This can be especially repetitive and boring for a multiple day stay iv) the turn-down service is not what I would expect for a hotel at this price point v) too much use of plastic - every piece of laundry, including underwear, was individually wrapped in plastic. viii) Many of the staff dont speak English well, so a lot gets lost in communication. This adds up over time and can get frustrating ix) the price of the transfers was exorbitant - you can book through alternate options for a much lower prices. x) spa service was ok not great. In summary, while the property is beautiful, the services are lacking and I would not stay here again. I dont think this deserves two Michilin Keys - unless they are awarded for the location and design (not for the service).

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• ★★☆☆☆J C27 May 2026

  This was our third trip to Japan and our third stay at a ryokan. Zaborin made us realize that not all ryokans are created equal, and we left genuinely confused as to how this property earned two Michelin Keys. Were it not for the exceptional hot spring water and the warmth of the staff, this would likely have been a one-star review. I first contacted Zaborin seven months before our stay because the online booking system for our dates did not appear to be working properly. I was told the dates we wanted were available and that they would follow up later with rates and payment details. Three months later, we finally received a rate and payment link. When we arrived, we were given a quick tour and shown to what appeared to be the worst room on the property. From both our outdoor bath and living area, we had a direct view of a public road and the hotel parking lot — and anyone passing by had a direct view into our space as well. Had we known this was even a possibility, we would have stayed elsewhere. In our previous ryokan experiences, booking multiple nights well in advance usually came with some thoughtful accommodation or upgrade — whether a preferred room, enhanced service, or small touches acknowledging the extended stay. Here, booking seven months ahead for multiple nights resulted in a view worse than what I enjoy at home. To be clear, there are positives. The views of Mt. Yōtei from the public areas are spectacular. The staff were among the kindest and most professional we encountered during our time in Japan, and the spring water itself was incredible. We were also surprised by how sparsely stocked the room felt, and while some dishes during our meals missed the mark, those things would have been easy to overlook under different circumstances. Unfortunately, the disappointment with the room overshadowed everything else. The core experience was a failure.

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The ratings and reviews were posted to the services named above. They are not our assessment, and we do not rate hotels ourselves. We show the three most recent reviews from Google Maps; read the rest there.