星灯の宿 まほろば

8.6
Excellent
(239 reviews)

Japan, 〒989-0916 Miyagi, Katta District, Zaō, 蔵王町遠刈田温泉字新地東裏山39−294

+81 224-34-1118

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Hotel Description

Hoshito no Yado Mahoroba Inn

星灯の宿 まほろば, located in a peaceful residential area along the Matsu River, offers a charming and tranquil retreat for travelers. The hotel, situated in Zaō, Miyagi, is only 6 km from the popular Miyagi Zao Eboshi Ski Resort and 21 km from the stunning Okama Lake, making it an ideal base for those exploring the natural beauty of the region. The hotel is easily accessible, with Expressway 4 just 16 km away, allowing guests to conveniently travel to nearby attractions. The atmosphere at 星灯の宿 まほろば is understated yet elegant, with a design that emphasizes natural materials and a serene ambiance. It’s the perfect place to unwind after a day of adventure, providing a sense of calm and relaxation. Rooms are traditionally styled, featuring tatami flooring, futons, and chabudai dining tables. For a more enhanced experience, upgraded rooms offer open-air baths, allowing guests to soak in the natural surroundings while enjoying the soothing benefits of the onsen waters. All rooms come with essential amenities such as Wi-Fi access, flat-screen TVs, and teamaking facilities, ensuring comfort and convenience during your stay. The hotel also boasts a variety of amenities, including a communal outdoor bathhouse, offering a chance to relax and unwind in a tranquil natural setting. The annex houses two rustic restaurants with exposed wooden beams, adding a touch of charm and character. Guests can enjoy a hearty breakfast (available for a fee), setting the tone for a day of exploration or relaxation. For those seeking a deeper immersion into local culture, the hotel is situated near some of the top attractions in the area. Zaō Fox Village, home to free-roaming red foxes and other animals, is a short 20-minute drive away, while Mount Zaō, known for its “snow monster” trees in winter, is a scenic 35-minute drive. Okama, a vividly colored volcanic crater lake, is just 35 minutes from the hotel, and the renowned Zao Onsen is an hour away. Additionally, Daikon no Hana Onsen is located just 4 minutes away, offering guests the chance to experience another luxurious hot spring retreat. Public transportation options are easily accessible, with walking distance to Togatta Onsen (15 minutes) and 小学校前 (17 minutes), and nearby airports, including Sendai Airport (54-minute taxi ride) and Fukushima Airport (1 hour 54 minutes by taxi). The hotel’s commitment to guest safety is evident, with various health and safety measures in place to ensure a worry-free stay. Whether you’re exploring the local attractions, relaxing in the open-air bath, or enjoying the regional cuisine, 星灯の宿 まほろば invites you to experience the perfect blend of comfort and tradition in a picturesque setting.

The Most Outstanding Trait

1. Traditional tatami rooms with futons and chabudai dining tables for an authentic Japanese experience

2. Open-air baths available in upgraded rooms, allowing guests to relax in a natural, tranquil setting

3. Communal outdoor bathhouse for a shared, calming onsen experience

4. Two rustic restaurants with exposed wooden beams, offering a cozy, traditional dining atmosphere

5. Located near top attractions like Miyagi Zao Eboshi Ski Resort, Okama Lake, and Zaō Fox Village

6. Easy access to public transportation, with nearby walking routes to Togatta Onsen and 小学校前

7. Health and safety measures in place to ensure a secure, worry-free stay

8. Proximity to Daikon no Hana Onsen, a refined hot spring hotel offering private dining and bathhouses

9. Serene atmosphere with a focus on natural materials and a calming design

10. Convenient access to major airports like Sendai Airport and Fukushima Airport


7.8 Very Good

Location rating

Top sights

Zaō Fox Village
20 min
Mount Zaō
35 min
Zao Onsen
1 hr 3 min
Okama
35 min
Daikon no Hana Onsen
4 min
See more Interesting locations

Good to know

Check-in19:00
Check-out10:00
Location rating7.8
Nearest airportSendai Airport
Travel time to airport54 min

Location

Japan, 〒989-0916 Miyagi, Katta District, Zaō, 蔵王町遠刈田温泉字新地東裏山39−294

Airports:

Fukushima Airport

Taxi: 1 hr 54 min

Transit: 3 hr 46 min

Sendai Airport

Taxi: 54 min

Transit: 1 hr 58 min

Yamagata Airport

Taxi: 1 hr 5 min

Transit: 3 hr 11 min

Transit:

Togatta Onsen

Walking: 15 min

小学校前

Walking: 17 min


Nearby locations

7.8

Very Good Location

In a residential area along the Matsu River, this genteel hotel with an annex is 6 km from Miyagi Zao Eboshi ski resort and 21 km from Okama Lake. Expressway 4 is 16 km away.

Top Attractions


Amenities and Facilities

Parking & transportation

Parking

Pets

No pets

Public bath

Natural onsen

Open air bath

Accessibility

Wheelchair rental

Food & drink

Restaurant

Wellness

No fitness center

No spa

Internet

Wi-Fi

Pools

No pools

No hot tub

Rooms

Air conditioning


Reviews

100% reviews from partners and customers booking on Dinogo

8.4

10 reviews

Wonderful
3
Excellent
6
Good
1
Below Average
0
Not Good
0
Cover Image for Kam To

Kam To

4/5
I really love this modern stylish boutique hotel that can come with very decent indoor onsen bath. The water is clean, original and the temperature is super comfortable. The room setting is in Kyoto style with bed in place the whole day so can take rest anytime. Price is reasonable too, with restaurant facility included in the complex for guests to consider. It's little away from the town centre, which is probably one of the best onsen streets in Japan (many dozens we have been to) to walk around during the day, with lovely shops and restaurants. Highly recommended :)

Cover Image for Eric Z

Eric Z

5/5
A True Example of Exceptional Hospitality!Without a doubt one of my favorite hotels that I stayed in during my time in Japan.The manager and staff deserve special commendation.Upon arrival we were warmly welcomed by the staff and manager. We arrived a bit prior to check-in time but they kindly held our bags while we visited the famous fox village.Our room had a private hot onsen bath. The water was very clean and the temperature was just right. Truly enjoyable if you like to enjoy a hot relaxing bath in the privacy of your own room.The hotel is connected to two restaurants, one is a Japanese restaurant across the street, and the other is a Japanese barbecue next door. We made a reservation for the bbq and got rib-eye cuts of local Zao beef along with a platter of various other cuts of meat. The food was exceptional, 5/5. I wish I had taken a photo of the dinner but I was busy stuffing my mouth! Breakfast was included, and it was a delightful Japanese breakfast.The second day we did a trek of the town. I truly enjoyed walking through the town. The scenery was beautiful and it was a relief to walk in such a quiet and peaceful environment. A quick natural hot onsen bath was a great way to end the trekking.Note, getting around by taxi is totally doable in this area (which is what we did). Though next time I would simply rent a car for ease of travel. Notably, the taxi drivers here are incredibly friendly.This is a 4 star hotel, but the atmosphere was so special that it really felt magical. I would take pride if I worked here.All respect for the manager and the staff who do a great job here; a true example of exceptional hospitality!

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Kokoronotokoro

5/5
We stayed in a room with a private bath and it was great! The bath was huge and the room itself was nice. The best part of the experience was their staff. Each staff member was incredibly kind and did whatever they could to make us feel comfortable.

Cover Image for Sheldon Cooper

Sheldon Cooper

5/5
Such a beautiful place. The staff was very kind and respectful. We had very traditional Japanese room with private bath and natural spring water. The property has a nice foot bath to enjoy after dinner (or anytime) It was a very special weekend.

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fuelmaster

3/5
Each guest room has an open-air bath with natural hot spring water.I thought it would be suitable for a workday, but since there are no tables suitable for work, I think it is suitable for people who simply want to enjoy the hot springs.Also, while it's fun to wear yukata in a variety of ways, there aren't that many places to walk around outside, so it's also suitable for people who want to relax in their rooms.The best thing about this room is that you can adjust the flow rate of the hot spring water in the open-air bath with just a turn of the faucet. There is also a well water tap, so both those who like hot hot springs and those who like lukewarm hot springs can enjoy it.

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光輝の中指

4/5
The guest room is terrible.The meat at the attached yakiniku restaurant for dinner was also delicious.Recommended is salt and wasabi.No complaints!That's what I wanted to say, but unfortunately the room was not cleaned properly.There was a piece of log screwed to the top of the wall, but dust was noticeable on top of it and under the chairs.I deducted one star because it can be easily cleaned up with a vacuum cleaner.It's not a cleaning job that takes a lot of time, so I think it's a good idea to just do it.On the other hand, other than that, everything else is a wonderful accommodation.I want to come again.

Cover Image for ラードマン

ラードマン

4/5
An inn located in Togatta Onsen where each room has an open-air bath. There are not that many rooms, so you can spend a relatively quiet time. Dinner is a choice of either yakiniku or an izakaya next door. I chose Yakiniku, and I think it was the right choice because it was delicious for the price. It was also nice to have a drink service and a mega mug to choose from.

Cover Image for ベンツまつ

ベンツまつ

4/5
2024,06 There are several large parking lots next to the inn, so even if I went with a large SUV, it didn't feel cramped and I was able to take my luggage in and out. Since you pay the bathing tax at check-in, all you have to do is return the key at check-out. It was convenient because you can pay the bathing tax with electronic money in addition to Niconico cash.After checking in, we first used the day trip hot spring across the road. You can wear a yukata from your inn, and you can also rent sandals. After that, I took several baths in the large open-air bath in the room (I guess it was a semi-open-air bath because there was a roof). On this day, the temperature of the hot spring was so high that it was difficult to take a bath at that temperature, so I filled it with groundwater from the faucet and took a bath.I had chosen the Yakiniku course for dinner, so I moved to the Yakiniku restaurant next door. Of course, yukata is also OK. Moreover, if you choose to start your meal early, you will also receive one free drink, so we chose to start at 5:30 p.m. Most of the guests were inside the store. (lol)The ice-cold draft beer is so delicious that the meal progresses. It was also nice that if you didn't have enough meat, you could order more on the spot. You have to pay for the additional amount at the yakiniku restaurant, but you can also use a credit card in addition to Niconico cash.After dinner, I was able to laze around in my room (on the futon) and take a hot spring bath repeatedly. I thought it would be a little more comfortable if there was a sofa in the room if possible.There was also a coffee machine (limited hours) and a water dispenser for tea, etc. in the hallway, which was convenient. I hope to be able to repeat it again in a different season.

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有澤裕一

4/5
All guest rooms at this ryokan have large open-air baths with natural hot spring water.The quality of the spring water is good and your skin will be smooth.Use the day spa across the street from the large communal bath.Tea, coffee, and yukata are served in free spaces within the building, ensuring the privacy of the guests as much as possible, so you can relax without feeling nervous.There are various accommodation plans, and the accommodation rates are reasonable for this type of inn.

Cover Image for 琢也

琢也

4/5
Because it is located deep in the mountains, it is a quiet and relaxing environment.The ryokan has a nice atmosphere and is a beautiful building, so I think you can enjoy the hot springs and guest rooms.