Hot Spring 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!

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!

Staying at this charming ryokan was one of our best experiences. The owner was incredibly gracious, personally driving my friend to and from the bus stop after she injured her knee from a hard fall on ice in Takayama the day before. Both breakfast and dinner were excellent, and the views from our room were absolutely stunning. We finally got to enjoy a private onsen experience, which was wonderful, and the open-air onsens were also fantastic. The owner/host went above and beyond to make us feel welcome and ensure we had a great stay. We absolutely loved this ryokan!

This hotel is super convenient for solo travelers, being close to both the train and bus stations. The room was incredibly clean and surprisingly spacious for a standard room in Japan – we could easily fit two large suitcases! The hotel's location is also great, close to popular attractions and restaurants.

I highly recommend this onsen hotel! The environment, service, and food are all excellent. They have two outdoor private onsens and two indoor private onsens, all free of charge. The public outdoor onsen is also very large, and some rooms even come with their own onsen baths. After your bath, you can enjoy complimentary milk and cold drinks, and in the morning, Yakult. There's a sake happy hour in the evening, and free ramen for a late-night snack! I've stayed at over 20 onsen hotels, and this is the first time I've seen such generosity, haha. The hotel pays great attention to every detail, which is fantastic. For dinner, we chose the Hida beef kaiseki meal, which was also quite good. They offer a free shuttle service. I'll definitely stay here again next time I visit!

This hotel is super close to Hirayu Onsen bus station, just a few minutes' walk away. It's a pretty big place. After checking in, you swap your shoes for slippers, and you can wear the provided yukata (Japanese robes) throughout the entire hot spring hotel. To avoid lugging our luggage up and down, we opted for a slightly more expensive Western-style standard room in the main building. They have an outdoor onsen, and the men's and women's baths switch daily. After a relaxing soak, there's free ice cream available. We had dinner and breakfast included, both buffet style, but the taste was just so-so.

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.

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.

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~