Pension Noel
Yamagata Prefecture / Kaminoyama City
Come empty-handed and enjoy the winter to your heart's content
- Noel will take care of the equipment, all you have to do is ski!
- Local bounty brought to your table with care.
- Dive into the world of silvery white!
Noel will take care of the equipment, all you have to do is ski!
Pension Noel, nestled in the quiet forest of Zao Bodaira Plateau, offers ski and snowboard rental services, making it the perfect base for enjoying winter sports without having to bring anything with you. Directly connected to the lodge, the ski and board shop NRS operates the shop, which offers rental sets of skis, boots, and bindings, as well as junior sizes.
We also focus on product selection and tuning so that everyone from beginners to experienced riders can choose equipment with confidence, and we can make suggestions that suit each individual's level.
Traveling to the snowy mountains is also smooth. If you rent equipment at the accommodation, you can avoid the hassle of travelling and make the most of your time on the slopes. There are also accommodation plans that include rentals, so you can head straight to the slopes without having to worry about preparing your gear.
At Noel, you don't have to worry about your gear. Feel the snow and breathe the mountain air with your whole body as you embark on a winter trip.
Local bounty brought to your table with care.
At Pension Noel, we value "local production for local consumption" and cook mainly with safe and secure ingredients from Yamagata Prefecture. The rice used is local "Yamaguchi-san's Koshihikari" and the jam served at breakfast is made with fresh fruit procured directly from fruit farmers, providing a gentle, homemade taste.
Dinner is based on Western cuisine, but also includes Chinese and seasonal Japanese dishes, with a daily changing style that will keep you coming back for more. All menus are made with the freshest ingredients and are carefully prepared, and are generously sized, making them perfect for refueling during an active trip.
The menu is entirely up to the inn. This is why you can enjoy the freshest seasonal produce of the day in its most delicious form. You can feel the local bounty and warm hospitality in every dish served at the table.
Dive into the world of silvery white!
Come see the art of snow. Pension Noel offers snow activity tours that allow you to fully enjoy winter in Zao Bodaira.
One of the most popular tours is the Zao Senninzawa Ice Waterfall Tour, where you can see the mysteriously sparkling ice curtains. It's a truly spectacular, extraordinary sight, where silence and power coexist.
Zao Bodaira is one of Japan's best snow scenery areas, with its superbly smooth powder snow and frost-covered trees known as "snow monsters."
There are a variety of fields to choose from, from casual walking courses to full-scale winter mountain routes requiring proper mountaineering equipment, to suit all levels and physical fitness levels.
Safety is our number one priority on tours. Our experienced staff will provide you with careful support, ensuring you can enjoy the winter outdoors with peace of mind.
Enjoy a special snow experience that only Pension Noel can offer.
Pick-up plan
[Winter] [Breakfast included] We offer homemade fruit jam from Yamagata, the fruit kingdom. Enjoy sightseeing and don't worry if you arrive late.
From ¥ 9,500
/Price per person when using one room for two people
Don't worry if you arrive late. This plan includes one night's stay and breakfast, but does not include dinner.
As this is a pension in the forest, there are no restaurants or convenience stores nearby. Please have dinner before coming.
[Winter] [Standard] We pride ourselves on our meals that warm the body and soul, made with fresh local ingredients! 1 night and 2 meals included ◎
From ¥ 13,000
/Price per person when using one room for two people
Standard plan with one night stay and two meals
"Locally produced, locally consumed" We cook with care, focusing on ingredients from Yamagata
[Green] [Breakfast included] We offer homemade fruit jam from Yamagata, the fruit kingdom. Enjoy sightseeing and arrive late without worrying!
From ¥ 8,500
/Price per person when using one room for two people
Don't worry if you arrive late. This plan includes one night's stay and breakfast, but does not include dinner.
As this is a pension in the forest, there are no restaurants or convenience stores nearby. Please have dinner before coming.
[Green] [Standard] We pride ourselves on our meals that warm the body and soul, made with fresh local ingredients! 1 night stay with 2 meals included ◎
From ¥ 12,000
/Price per person when using one room for two people
Standard plan with one night stay and two meals
"Locally produced, locally consumed" We cook with care, focusing on ingredients from Yamagata
Store introduction
Guest room
A room with three beds is also suitable for friends traveling together.
Enjoy a good night's sleep in a room that exudes the warmth of nature.
If you have small children, we recommend the first floor.
The loft room can accommodate up to 4 people.
Cuisine
[Meal example] We cook with care using fresh local ingredients
[Meal example] Our popular and carefully selected dishes are made with locally produced ingredients.
[Meal example] Warm food hospitality
[Meal example] A variety of heartfelt dishes made with our proud ingredients
[Meal example] A gorgeous dish that is pleasing to both the eye and the tongue
[Example of dessert] Enjoy the seasons with a little thoughtfulness
We have a wide selection of recommended wines to enjoy with your meal.
bath/shower
Relax in a private family bath where you can see nature through the large windows.
There are two private family baths available. Please use them when available.
A small and convenient unit bath
Appearance/Facilities
[Exterior] We look forward to welcoming you
[Exterior] A pension with 8 rooms where you can relax without any worries.
The attached shop sells ski and camping goods.
There are cats so please be careful if you are allergic.
Please relax in the spacious dining area that blends seamlessly into the forest.
Enjoy some adult time at the counter corner where you can also enjoy alcohol.
Please feel free to read the comics and books in the library corner.
We will keep the common areas clean so that you can use them comfortably.
How about enjoying a forest bath while enjoying the pleasant breeze and sunlight filtering through the trees?
Location
Zao Okama (Goshikidake)
Okama, located on Mount Goshiki in the Zao mountain range on the border between Miyagi and Yamagata prefectures, is one of Zao's most scenic spots.
It is a circular crater lake surrounded by three peaks (Dake Katta, Dake Kumano, and Dake Goshiki), and the highly acidic lake water changes to five colors, such as emerald green and cobalt blue, depending on the weather and light, so it is also called "Goshikinuma" (Five-Colored Lake).
The lake, which is approximately 325 meters in diameter and 27 meters deep, displays fantastic colors throughout the year, captivating visitors. The observation deck can be accessed by taking the Zao Echo Line or Zao High Line and walking just a few minutes from the Kattadake parking lot.
From summer to autumn, you can enjoy the majestic volcanic beauty that is unique to Zao, along with the clear blue skies.
Cherry picking
In Yamagata, cherry picking reaches its peak from early June to early July.
Yamagata Prefecture is the number one cherry-producing region in Japan, and you can enjoy a wide variety of cherries, including Sato Nishiki, Benishuho, and Benisayaka. Within a 30-50 minute drive from Zao Onsen, there are many tourist farms, including the popular Osho Orchard (Tendo City) and Makino Tourist Fruit Garden (Kaminoyama City), which are great to combine with a hot spring trip.
Many orchards are equipped with rain shelters, allowing you to enjoy the experience in comfort regardless of the weather. The luxurious experience of picking and tasting the bright red ripe fruit on the spot is a symbol of early summer in Yamagata.
Rime on trees
The spectacular scenery that symbolizes Zao in winter, the frost-covered trees of Zao (snow monsters), is a natural phenomenon that is rare even on a global scale.
Supercooled water droplets adhere to the Aomori Todomatsu trees, and the snow and ice pile up to create a giant ice sculpture. The best time to see it is from late January to early February, and if you take the Zao Ropeway you can get a panoramic view of the rime-covered fields that stretch from the foot of the mountain to Jizo Sancho Station.
During the day, it is a magnificent snowy landscape, but at night it is lit up and transformed into a fantastical world, and sightseeing tours on the Night Cruiser are also popular.
The spectacular artwork created by nature in the harsh winter, "Zao's Ice Trees," is an impressive spot that you should visit at least once during your winter trip to Yamagata.
Pension Noel, surrounded by the nature of the Zao Bodaira Plateau, is an inn full of winter fun, including ski and snowboard rentals and activity tours to see frozen waterfalls and frost-covered trees.
The food is homemade using safe ingredients from Yamagata, and the cuisine changes daily, with a focus on Western cuisine, but also Chinese and Japanese cuisine, so you won't get bored even if you stay for several nights.
The rice is Koshihikari, sourced from local farmers, and homemade jam is served for breakfast. Enjoy active play and relaxation. Noel is a base for those who want to enjoy all that Zao has to offer.