Reference price as of October 13, 2026 (stay 2026-11-07). US$ is an approximate conversion from yen. Check the booking site for actual rates.
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forumWhat families say
Rakuten Travel rating 4.58 out of 5 (2,606 reviews). Guests mention the welcome drink and shaved ice service, and one family reported that even their child, who normally eats little, happily ate the Yamagata beef shabu-shabu at dinner. Another wrote about three generations, from a 90-year-old grandmother to young children, spending time together here, making it a good fit for family trips. On the other hand, there is a step of about 15 cm between the Western-style room and the bedroom, and the paving stones around the open-air bath are rough, so watch your footing and keep an eye on small children.
Kids Facilities
Kids' meals
Kids' meals
Kids' meals are prepared for children in the lower grades of elementary school and for preschool-age children. Children in the upper grades of elementary school can also be switched to one if you contact the ryokan in advance.
Allergy accommodation
Allergy accommodation
The ryokan accommodates the 8 major allergens: egg, shrimp, crab, buckwheat, milk, peanut, wheat and walnut. This must be noted when booking.
Baby futon
Baby futon
For children ages 0 to 2, there is a paid rate that includes futon bedding without meals.
Categories
Overview
Bankokuya is a long-established ryokan in Tsuruoka, Yamagata, founded more than 300 years ago. It is a purely Japanese-style ryokan surrounded by the rich natural setting of Atsumi Onsen. Children can stay from age 0, and there is no facility fee for children ages 0 to 1. Kids' meals are prepared for children in the lower grades of elementary school and for preschool-age children, and the kitchen can accommodate the 8 major allergens. Some rooms have an indoor bath with onsen water flowing directly from the source or an open-air bath, so families with young children can enjoy the onsen privately without worrying about other guests.
Rooms
All rooms are non-smoking and come in a variety of styles, including Japanese-style tatami rooms and Japanese-Western rooms. The Japanese-Western room, with an 8-tatami Japanese-style area and twin beds, combines the calm of a Japanese room with Western comfort, and additional futon bedding can be prepared for parties of 3 or more. There are also rooms with their own bath - either a hinoki-wood indoor bath with onsen water flowing directly from the source or an open-air bath with an Oishida-ware ceramic tub - so families with young children can enjoy the onsen in a private space without worrying about other guests.
Dining
Dinner is a kaiseki course made with local seasonal ingredients, including shabu-shabu of Yamagata beef and Komusume pork. Kids' meals are prepared for children in the lower grades of elementary school and for preschool-age children. Children in the upper grades of elementary school can also be switched to a kids' meal if you let the ryokan know in advance. The kitchen accommodates the 8 major allergens - egg, shrimp, crab, buckwheat, milk, peanut, wheat and walnut - and if you note this when booking, both the dishes and the tableware are changed accordingly. Breakfast is a Japanese set meal that includes Bankokuya's signature tai chazuke (sea bream over rice with tea).
Baths and Onsen
Guests can enjoy Atsumi Onsen, a celebrated hot spring with a thousand years of history, flowing directly from the source. The baths are wonderfully varied: the large garden open-air baths Sakura no Yu and Sato no Yu, which are the largest in the Tohoku region; the communal bath Rakuzan, with a silk bath whose microscopic bubbles give a soft, gentle sensation; and the spacious communal bath Rakusui.
Family-Friendly Features
Children ages 0 to 1 stay with no facility fee. Children ages 2 and over who do not have meals are charged a separate facility use fee of 1,100 yen including tax. There is also a rate for children ages 0 to 2 that includes futon bedding without meals. Depending on the plan, meals can be served in your room or in a private dining room, which puts parents of young children at ease.
Access
The ryokan is about 5 minutes by car from the Atsumi Onsen I.C. on the Nihonkai-Tohoku Expressway, and free parking is provided. If you come by train, a free shuttle bus runs from the nearest station, Atsumi Onsen Station on the JR Uetsu Main Line, timed to the limited express trains. The shuttle must be reserved by the day before.
Access & Information
| location_onAddress | 1 Tei Yuatsumi, Tsuruoka, Yamagata 999-7204 |
|---|---|
| directions_carAccess | About 5 minutes by car from the Atsumi Onsen IC on the Nihonkai-Tohoku Expressway, about 5 minutes by taxi from Atsumi Onsen Station on the JR Uetsu Main Line, and about 40 minutes by car from Shonai Airport. |
| trainNearest station | Atsumi Onsen Station |
| local_parkingParking | Parking for 300 vehicles is available free of charge, on a first-come, first-served basis. |
| paymentsCards | VISA, JCB, American Express, Diners Club, UC, NICOS, Bank Card, UFJ Card, Mastercard, Saison, ORICO |
| languageOfficial site | https://www.bankokuya.jp/open_in_new |
Map
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Reference price as of October 13, 2026 (stay 2026-11-07). US$ is an approximate conversion from yen. Check the booking site for actual rates.
Check rates & availability
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Frequently Asked Questions
What ages is Bankokuya best suited to?
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It has facilities that work especially well for babies and toddlers (ages 0 to 2) and children aged 3 and over. There is no age limit, and families with children of any age can stay.
Is there parking at Bankokuya?
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Parking: Parking for 300 vehicles is available free of charge, on a first-come, first-served basis.
How do you get to Bankokuya?
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About 5 minutes by car from the Atsumi Onsen IC on the Nihonkai-Tohoku Expressway, about 5 minutes by taxi from Atsumi Onsen Station on the JR Uetsu Main Line, and about 40 minutes by car from Shonai Airport.
What are the rates for children?
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Junior high school students and older pay the adult rate. Children ages 6 to 12 pay 70% of the adult rate and children ages 3 to 5 pay 50%, while the rate for children ages 0 to 2 is 2,000 yen, with futon bedding and no meals.
Are meals prepared for younger children?
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For children ages 3 to 5, a one-night stay with two meals is provided, with dishes made for children rather than the adult menu.
Can we have dinner in our room?
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Meals are normally served in the dining area, but with some plans they can be served in your room, and a banquet room or similar space is arranged according to the size of your party.
What are the hours for the communal baths, and do the men's and women's baths swap?
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The third-floor communal baths Rakuzan and Rakusui swap between men and women by time of day, alternating between 11:30 a.m. to midnight and 5 a.m. to 10 a.m. They are closed for cleaning from midnight to 5 a.m. and from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Can the dishes be changed if my child has a food allergy?
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If you let the ryokan know when booking, they will accommodate allergies and disliked dishes as far as possible.
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Information on this page was compiled by directly consulting Official website, Rakuten Travel, Ikyu.com (a Japanese booking site) (last verified: August 2026). Prices, availability and seasonal operations change. Please check each booking site for the latest information.
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