Hot Springs Hotels in Takayama City

May 15-16, 2024 From the moment we saw photos of this special place on the internet, we knew we had to stay here! The natural rock onsen baths caught our imagination - and our stay was wonderful beyond expectations! The resort is located in a forested valley is stunning, next to a rushing river. Natural mountain hot spring water is channeled into 7 lovely outdoor onsen baths, as well as ensuite baths. The facility is beautifully designed with gardens and multi-level suites, with each of the levels looking out to the river, with plenty of seating to enjoy the relaxing and lovely views. We were treated with limitless thoughtful hospitality from the moment we arrived, to the moment we left - in fact, one of our group kept commenting ”the y[the staff] must think we're really special!”. The suite was beautifully appointed with tatami mats, traditional Japanese decor, comfortable beds, yukata and slippers are provided along with tabi socks and plenty of clean linens. Our suite had its own private onsen bath encircled by natural stones, and constantly running hot spring water. Such a contrast to water-parched California and even Hawaii where we're from! The outdoor onsens are open all night, for viewing of the starry night sky. The kaiseki dinner was exceptional, with many many delicious small plates, each exquisitely prepared and presented - a petite, freshly caught local fish was skewered as if swimming and roasted in a salt shell. Utterly delicious! In the morning, after a similarly wonderful breakfast, we experienced a mochi-pounding session with the hotel staff and guests joining in - lots of fun - photos were provided! Transportation - It was a challenge figuring out how to get to this place - finally, we had a Japanese-speaking hotel clerk call the resort, and got instructions for the 1-hour bus ride from Takayama bus station to Shinhotaka Onsen / Nakao Kou-gen-guchi. There are buses running every hour! We walked to the resort from the bus stop when we arrived, and a shuttle van to the bus stop was thoughtfully provided by the resort when we left. PS) I was unable to upload photos. Please provide an email, because you won't want to miss seeing this beautiful place!

The hotel is very close to JR Takayama Station. After exiting the station, you don't need to cross the road; just turn right towards Tokyu Stay, and you'll find it after passing Ajikura Tengoku. The hotel's decor is very unique. We booked a corner triple room, so the space was incredibly spacious and comfortable. Besides drip coffee and tea bags, the room also provided bottled mineral water. There's an open-air bath on the 9th floor – simply flawless. Before my trip, I read many reviews recommending Hida beef, but to my dismay, I discovered Ajikura Tengoku was closed when I arrived (ugh!). Luckily, I quickly found Maruaki, a famous Hida beef restaurant open year-round. The beef was incredibly rich and fatty – you'll definitely fall in love with Hida beef! I'm already planning to come back next year! 😋

Everything was wonderful! The room had its own private plunge pool, and there were two outdoor hot springs that you could reserve for your group to enjoy without anyone else around. Dinner and breakfast were served in a traditional Japanese style, which felt very authentic. What really sets this ryokan apart is that the main dish for dinner is Hida beef from the region. The service was top-notch; everyone was so welcoming and kind. After checking in, you change into traditional attire, and the hotel provides everything else, right down to facial cream. Thank you for such an amazing experience!

Stay was worth every penny. Hotel was located very close to train station and bus station so travelling to and out from it was convenient. Check in process was fast and easy to understand. They even had tea ready during checkin Room was decently sized and very clean. I arrived during spring and the beds were so comfortable and warm The highlight of the hotel has got to be the onsen. They have both private onsen that you can book for an hour and common onsen. If you go around midnight (the onsens are open till 1am), its completely empty and you can enjoy it all for yourself. Word of warning though, you can probably be seen if you're standing close to the edge of the public open air onsen so maybe dont do that (or do whatever floats your boat). After the onsen you can help yourself to free drinks and snacks They had beautiful sakura blossoms during that time, and a public foot bath that can be enjoyed by all. I loved my stay here and will definitely return if I have a chance.

This was my son's first experience in a Japanese traditional ryokan. According to him, the experience of just one night there was wonderful. As for me, I would like to be provided more service such as yukata for free, however, I was surprised that I had to pay an additional 700 yen for the yukata despite of the ryokan's high score. The hotel itself is quite large, there are an old main building and a new one connected to each other. There are two onsens in there. I particularly enjoyed the one named ”Fuga” (Tenryo no yu) located on the lowest floor. Everything was quite accurate, elegant and perfectly clean there. For dinner, we had a barbecue with local Hida beef. I tasted 3 kinds of local sake, premium quality, that was very nice. But most of all we enjoyed Hida beef sushi there. My son was very impressed by its softness, that quite literally melted on the tongue.

The room was quite small but all the amenities is good. there's onsen (which i didnt explore) but you can basically monitor everything from the tv, to check if the laundry is currently used or if the onsen is crowded. theres free drink and food upon arrival. and the front desk can speak english 😁 anddddd theres family mart in front of the hotelllllll. with parking some more and not that far from hida town.

Wow my friend and I told ourselves that this was gonna be a little treat for us when we booked, knowing how steep the price was. But it was way more enjoyable than I had expected! We had not planned how to travel back from the hotel to Nagoya, so we just asked the front desk when we arrived. And the staff was so kind to share with us the timetable and modes of transportation available. (I conversed with her in Japanese). We went late at night for the onsen, around 11pm, and basically had to whole place to ourselves! There are 2 indoor pools and 3 outdoor pools, and the outdoor pools are must-tries!! Whole body was so relaxed after soaking in the onsen, and it relieved our weariness and sore from hiking. Buffet dinner and breakfast were awesome too! My friend is vegetarian and initially she worried that she might not have much options, but her worry was uncalled for, as they had a wide variety of food, all super delicious. We also loved the view from our room and also from the lobby… perfect onsen hotel experience for us.

I had a very relaxing three-night stay at Okada Ryokan. The service was excellent—staff were consistently warm and attentive, especially during meal times, which made the experience feel extra special. The food was simple and clean. I enjoyed it a lot but I was getting a little bored of it by the 5th meal. We added on a hida beef steak after seeing a few Japanese tourist ordering it. If you like fatty and soft beef, you should try it. The public onsen is spacious, with four pools. The outdoor pool is big and quiet. The room was comfortable and well heated for winter. The private onsen in the room was a highlight; it easily fits two people and was perfect for relaxing after a long day. This ryokan is over 100 years old, with parts of the structure dating back around 150 years. For a building of that age, I’d say it’s been well maintained. A small part of me wish the bathroom could be newer and cleaner but I would be missing the whole point. Staying here truly feels like stepping back in time—it was a unique and memorable experience. There are two local ski resorts within a 15-minute drive, and Takayama is about a 45-minute drive away.

It would be better if there is a locker facility at the hot spring changing area. & high cost performance~

Our stay at Ryokan Gizan was a truly memorable experience. This is a traditionally built and decorated Japanese ryokan, with tatami floors, sliding doors, and an authentic atmosphere that makes you feel fully immersed in Japanese culture. It’s definitely a “must-visit” if you’re looking to experience traditional Japanese accommodation — even a short stay of 2–3 nights is enough to make it special. The ryokan is quite old, which actually adds to its authentic charm, though it might feel a bit less comfortable for more demanding guests. That said, it’s very well maintained and everything is clean and thoughtfully arranged. The onsen facilities were excellent — one public bath and four private ones that you can use freely. After long days of exploring, it was a real treat. We highly recommend booking with the traditional dinner included. The meals were a highlight: we had Yakiniku the first night and Shabu-shabu the second, both featuring fresh, generous portions of delicious food. Breakfast was a traditional Japanese set — beautifully presented and made with care, though not quite to our personal taste. The location is stunning — surrounded by mountains, rivers, and blossoming trees. It feels peaceful and remote. Just note that amenities like ATMs or grocery stores are limited nearby. However, it’s well connected by bus (just a 3-minute walk from the ryokan), which can take you to Kamikochi or the terminals at Takayama and Hirayu Onsen. Buses run about once an hour, so it’s quite manageable. Overall, a fantastic stay — relaxing, unique, and highly recommended for anyone looking to experience a more traditional and scenic side of Japan.