Scout loves
- Very helpful staff
- Proximity of the hotel to the bus stop, ski slopes and other dining options
- Selection of private onsens
- Exceptional Japanese cuisine
- The small gift shop and vending machines in the lobby area
Scout tips
- Minimal English spoken by the staff but the manager is fluent in English
- A free shuttle is provided to the two ropeway ski lifts in the morning and afternoon however you can just take a walk to the base of the Nakamori slope
- Valley and mountain views from the rooms
- Features a drying room
- Internet access is available
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Tsuruya is an authentic Japanese experience which may pose challenges to some travellers. Read our story about Staying in a Japanese hotel.
SCOUT REVIEW
Tsuruya is a Japanese style hotel that is friendly, charming and mainly caters to Japanese tourists. They do say that if you want to immerse yourself in a country’s culture, you must stay or eat in places where the locals usually congregate, and hotel Tsuruya is that kind of a place. Although not a lot of English is spoken the helpful and friendly staff will make you feel welcome. From the moment someone rushes to help you with your bag and find you some slippers, to when they fondly farewell you goodbye to the bus station across the road, they will go out of their way to meet your needs. Just be ready with your translation apps, Japanese-English dictionaries, or get used to lots of hand gestures.
The hotel has 41 guest rooms most of which are traditional Japanese style rooms with no western beds. The rooms can accommodate from 2 to 5 people and are equipped with a small toilet and capsule showers. All of the rooms have tatami mat areas. There are a couple of rooms with small separate area with twin beds. Scout opted to sleep in the futon that was surprisingly relaxing and comfortable (although we did our usual trick of requesting an additional futon to double the mattress and western pillows instead of the traditional rice pillows). All of the rooms have big windows (though sadly they have a kind of netting in the windows) and guests who are in the higher floor will enjoy a great view of the valley and the mountains.
The hotel has a restaurant which provides an exceptional Japanese cuisine experience. Guests on a deluxe plan can choose to dine in the restaurant or in their room. The breakfast is a humongous spread of Japanese dishes, however if you opt for a western style breakfast, you have to request for it the night before. You can choose from a variety of dishes including sukiyaki, shabu-shabu or traditional kaiseki courses.
One of the key features of Tsuruya Hotel is the fantastic onsens which are really soothing after a day in the ski slopes. The hotel has a communal indoor and outdoor onsen, the water of which is sourced from the springs that abound the area. The water has a high sulfuric acid content which is great for your skin. The onsen has a strong sulfuric smell which permeates in the entire floor but this only means you get a very invigorating bath rich with minerals. There are four private onsens where you can enjoy luxurious hot bath privately. This may cost an additional charge or for free depending on the plan you opt for.
A perfect location, wonderful rooms, great location, satisfying meals and soothing baths is what you will have when you stay in Tsuruya Hotel.
Who should stay here
Tsuruya hotel is great for families or couples wanting a wonderful high quality Japanese experience yet not immensely luxurious
Location
Tsuruya hotel is in the heart of the Zao Onsen village, and directly opposite the bus station and tourism office. A 5-minute walk from the Zaochuo ropeway.
You can find Tsuruya hotel on this Zao Onsen Village Map.
- Hotel shuttle provided
About Zao Onsen
Zao Onsen ski resort is a Scout favorite and a lesser-known gem. It has a charming, traditional village, a great selection of hotels, natural onsen hot springs and a vast ski resort featuring its famed snow monsters. If you’re looking to get away from all the Westerners, experience something rich in culture combined with some great skiing, then Zao Onsen makes a great choice.
Read more about Zao Onsen and other hotels in the area.
Deals & Packages
Thank you for your inquiry. A copy has been emailed to you. We will scout out availability and rates for your selected properties and get back to you as soon as possible with an answer.
There are currently no pre-set packages at Tsuruya. To create your own package use the Room Selection booking process and one of our agents will get back to you to confirm availability and add your extras
Select RoomCheck Package Availability & Rates
You will need to contact us to check availability and rates for this package (this does not confirm the reservation). Please take a moment to complete and submit the request form below. We will then contact you directly to confirm the details and if you wish to proceed we will arrange your reservation.
Please tell us if you'd like to tweak the package to change the dates, number of nights or number of people. And if you'd like us to add in any extras just let us know, anything to make your snow holiday simpler and more enjoyable. < Back to Packages
Scout Booking Terms & Conditions
- Availability: Booking of all packages & accommodation is subject to availability at time of confirmation of package option by customer.
- Rate includes: All associated taxes. Some hotels charge extra fees for parking, cots, rollaways etc. Such fees can be confirmed on request based on your requirements.
- Payment Schedule:
- Deposit: 25% of the full amount is due WITHIN 7 DAYS OF CONFIRMATION to secure the booking.
- Final Balance: Invoice will be issued for the remaining balance 80 days prior to departure. PAYMENT IS DUE 70 DAYS PRIOR to departure. Failure to pay by 70 days may result in the auto-cancellation of accommodation by the accommodation provider or late payment fees.
- Bookings within 70 days: Full payment is required within 7 days to secure the booking.
- Variations: In some circumstances suppliers may have different payment policies to the above. Additionally some Early Bird deals require full payment by or soon after the book-by date. In these instances Scout will clearly communicate any variances prior to confirmation.
- Cancellation Policy:
- All deposits are non-refundable once received.
- For balance payments made within 70-45 days prior to the trip the deposit amount is non-refundable.
- No refund for total amount for cancellations 45 days or less prior to arrival and no-shows. In unexpected, unfortunate circumstances (family death etc) Scout will work to negotiate with the supplier for a full or partial refund, however this is not guaranteed. We recommend taking travel insurance to make sure you are covered. Cancelling due to weather, missed travel connections or lack of snow is not considered an unexpected circumstance and is one of the risks you must wear as part of taking a ski trip. Unless the supplier has a snow guarantee or weather cancellation policy, Scout will not refund any part of the package due to these factors.
- Variations: Please note that some hotels may have stricter policies (such as no refund within 60 days) and we are required to pass on these policies. We will communicate any varations to the above cancellation policy prior to confirmation of booking.
- Changes Policy:
- Once bookings are confirmed and deposit is paid service fees will apply for every amendment to existing elements, late final payment and travel document re-issue in addition to fees charged by suppliers
- In a few instances we purchase products through third party providers. If you change part of your package whilst at a destination, the 3rd party provider may have a different refund policy to that of the supplier in the destination. Wherever possible we will work to recover any refunds that come from a change at the destination, however it is not guaranteed.
- Surcharges: Scout does not charge any additional fees for the booking. Prices quoted are for cash (bank transfer) payments only. Credit card payments (Amex, Visa or Mastercard only) will be subject to 1.8% surcharge.
- Booking Currency: Scout will quote and charge in one currency of your choice from AUD, USD, CAD, JPY, EUR or GBP only.
- Currency Exchange Policy: If you book an international destination all remaining balances are subject to change (based on currency fluctuations) until the final payment has been processed. This can go either way (if your currency gets stronger you will be invoiced less!). We will confirm at the time of invoice what the final amount is, based on the exchange rate at that time. Should you wish to pay the balance earlier (prior to when it’s actually due) to secure that current exchange rate you are welcome to request the final invoice at any time. Once payments have been made (deposit or final balance), no refunds will be given for changes in the amount of what that payment would be, based on currency changes at any time prior to your trip.
- Travel Insurance: Once your booking is confirmed, we strongly recommend taking out travel insurance as it will often cover the cost of cancelled reservations.
For any questions regarding booking terms & conditions please email: inquries@scoutski.com
Available: This selection is currently available for this price. Once you submit an inquiry our agents will confirm your booking via email and send you an invoice for a deposit. You will need to pay a 25% deposit within 7 days (unless otherwise specified) to secure the booking.
On Request: Our agents need to confirm availability of this room. Once you submit a request we will endeavour to get back to you by the next business day to confirm availability (some properties may take longer). If prices are listed they are the exact prices for your dates, room selection and room occupancy. Where prices are not listed we will confirm the price when we confirm availability. In either instance, you are not committed to your selection until after we confirm availability and price. Once you agree to that confirmation, you will be sent an invoice and will need to pay a 25% deposit within 7 days (unless otherwise specified) to secure the booking. If your requested room is not available, we will present alternative options.
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