I definitely recommend Yamagata Guesthouse. The bedroom is clean and comfortable, there’s a locker for big luggage and a good heating system. There’s good shower/bathroom installations and the kitchen is spacious and very well equipped (both located on the ground floor). Also, the staff is friendly and welcoming, they own a mochi shop that I recommend checking it out! It is located in Link Murayama, a renovated Prefectural school and during the day is open to the public. You can search it and see how interesting the place is! The time I was there, they offered free transportation to the beautiful Ginzan Onsen!! Which was greatly appreciated. Thank you for the lovely time I spent there!

Stayed in February 2024

Personally I enjoy walking, so the few flights of stairs up and down are welcome. But if you hate stairs… learn to love them because this place is just too good to miss!

What an absolute gem! They’ve done a great job of repurposing an old high school into this guesthouse/community centre/gym/restaurant. Everyone was so friendly and welcoming it felt like home. The beds are comfortable and private, bathrooms clean and kitchen well equipped. There’s some great recommendations for hikes around the area which are well worth checking out. The pizza at the restaurant downstairs is absolutely amazing!

Stayed in February 2024

The family that runs the place is very welcoming and kind. The common kitchen is huge and wifi comes with a great speed - really helpful for working. It's near the train station but If you're taking the taxi to get to the guesthouse for whatever reason, just say Link Murayama to make things easier for the taxi driver :)

Stayed in March 2024

There are no real doors between rooms so if one person is snoring everyone can hear it.

Super cool guesthouse in a school, it also had a kitchen and everything you need. The bed was very comfortable. The family who runa the guesthouse is super nice :)

Stayed in February 2024

The staff were incredible. From giving restaurant recommendations to driving us to the onsen they went above and beyond. The place felt homely and safe, couldn’t recommend more.

Stayed in March 2024

The staff were amazing and really made me feel welcome and went out of their way to help me organise day trips and dinner reservations.

Stayed in March 2024

Staff was extremely welcoming and nice, I am really happy I got to spend some time with them. The location is great- it's close to the station and the whole accomodation is cozy. Indeed the bathroom is on a different floor, but I didn't have problems with hot water or anything so that's more important for me. It can get a bit cold on the halls of the building, but inside the common spaces and rooms it was warm enough. Towels and laundry are available to rent and you can use the big kitchen they have. The bagel breakfast they offered was actually with good bread.

Stayed in March 2024

Shower water was just a little cold 😅 but I know they can fix it.

It was a an interesting guesthouse with a history of being a shutdown highschool. Staff were very nice.

Stayed in February 2024

Nothing special.

The staff are friendly and the property is clean.

Stayed in February 2024

The concept is so unique, clean and aesthetic. The view tho! Superb! The room is clean, I had a good sleep.

Stayed in February 2024

The bathroom and shower are on the ground floor. bathroom/shower are very clean and modern though, which makes up for the extra steps. A bigger drinking water dispenser and a sink on the 3rd floor would be a plus.

Location is close to Murayama Station. Good restaurants near the guesthouse. You have to check google maps to see the various restaurants, they are quite unassuming and simple but they serve very very good food. Value for money. We got to meet other travelers. Good jump off point to other places in Yamagata but assured that you are in a quiet area and close to nature. The place also has a very nice pizza place and coffee shop at the ground floor. Both serve very good food. Nao, the owner, is very friendly and took care of our needs especially when we had to get a taxi to bring our big luggages to the train station. Her brother helped us communicate with the taxi driver and even went to the station to help us. The kitchen on the ground floor is well equipped with all the things you need, all the utensils, cups, plates, bowls etc.

Stayed in February 2024

Everything

Stayed in February 2024

the bathroom is at 1/F which is a bit far and not enough hair dryer to use.

free shuttle bus service to Ginzan Onsen (tho I didn't use the service) ; nice and kind owner of the guestroom ; very clean and tidy inside the room.

Stayed in February 2024

sam was superb and generous. He is from England but have been living in Japan for 20 years. He makes the whole process so easy (especially in Japan where we have language barrier)

Stayed in February 2024

Because the hygiene facilities are on the first floor and the guesthouse/beds are on the 3rd floor, it's a bit of a long distance, and in winter it can get quite cold during the night. It's fine though if you dress warmly.

Besides the good quality of the facilities and the really nice host, staying at this place was just a great experience in general! It's located in a renovated school and it was really cool to explore this place, see the rooms and corridors, and relax at the nice cafe and lobby at the entrance. The host was really warm and friendly and the guesthouse on the 3rd floor had a cozy feeling to it. People may stay here for Ginzan Onsen, but the city Murayama itself is really nice, I just liked walking around the streets and enjoying the background view of the hills, felt so peaceful.

Stayed in January 2024

Comfy bed and atmosphere, great host, near the train station

Stayed in February 2024

The staff were really nice and helpful. They offer free service to Ginzan onsen which was great! It was a cool experience it being in a converted school too!

Stayed in January 2024

nothing

Very unique and awesome idea to convert the school to this kind of place. The couple who manage the guesthouse are very nice. Nao san prepared us a delicious onigiri and soup. we would like to stay longer but we had to go to other destination to continue our journey. We surely want to go back for the sakuranmbo picking and the rose garden. we also would like to visit the mochi shop and the rice paddy visit and eat ramen etc. i higly recommend this huest house

Stayed in January 2024

Its a bit away from a central location i would say, getting to Yamagata attractions requires a bit of planning and time.

Its a school converted into a commercial center and they used some parts to mke it a hostel. Facilities are adequate. There is a pizzeria just downstairs. Yoichi and Sam are very welcoming. The free transport to ginzan onsen was really helpful and was the highlight of my trip in Yamagata. I would recommend people to stay there.

Stayed in January 2024

Perfect base for seeing Ginzan onsen, Yamadera, and other attractions. The owners are super friendly and provide great restaurant recommendations. Make sure you take advantage of the free shuttle to Ginzan onsen - just book ahead of time

Stayed in January 2024

The owner and her daughter are so nice, and the bed is very cozy

Stayed in January 2024

The staff were super friendly! The place is nice and quiet and there’s a little cafe downstairs. Great time for a hostel!

Stayed in December 2023

You have to walk downstairs for the toilet and shower and at night it can be annoying. But otherwise I was happy and satisfied.

It was once an abandoned school, now used for a community space and in it is a hostel. One of the most unique stays I've had, for good reasons as well. The staff was really nice and helpful also

Stayed in December 2023

The staffs are really friendly and helpful, and the place is really comfortable and clean. Not everyday you can stay at school which converted to community center dan guesthouse. Really interesting experience. Too bad that I only spend 2 nights there. Definitely will stay again if I am in the area.

Stayed in November 2023