Guesthouse Mintaro Hut

Really friendly place, social dinner (by donation) every night and the food is amazing. The house itself is very cool.l, the main shared area downstairs is the nicest we have come across in the 30 places we stayed in Japan - social in the evening and quiet in the morning, overlooking a garden. If you stay please try the sake recommendations from the guys and gals running this place, they have a great collection! The cats are an obvious highlight, so cute

The staff were incredibly friendly and the guesthouse had a charming communal atmosphere. For travelers in search of connection and willing to take the time to more deeply explore the area, this guesthouse seems like a perfect place!

Very good guesthouse, warm atmosphere, staff cooks dinner and are very hospitable. There is a cute cat. Close to Castle Park, walking distance (10-15 min) to train station. This is the place to stay in Yamagata if you'd like to meet people and enjoy the best of japanese hospitality.

The walls are thin so you hear people talking downstairs, but both guests and staff are considerate enough not to disturb at night (there are earplugs available but I didnt need them at night). The beds are on the hard side.

Staff and regular guests were friendly.

Inconvenient having to go downstairs for the WC and bathroom, which may be occupied when you need one. Other guests noted the loud conversation of guests which lasts until late hours. The facility provides ear plugs for guests who want to sleep! I suggested, instead of providing ear plugs they should stop the meeting at, for example by 23:00. They seem to consider it impossible. Quite without common sense, I think. That was the main reason why I bothered to make this extensive comment. The breakfast was not great, to put it mildly. Bed not very comfortable. Towels not pleasant to use: they must use a softener, which makes towels less water absorbing. Impossibly many Japanese seem to consider it good.