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9.6/10
Amazing
LLLJDDBOur room was spacious and presented with a private onsen of which we can use any time at our convenience. Because of that, hardly anyone uses the shared private onsen, though the view there is better than that in our rooms. Also, there was no elevator at the hotel, so we had to carry our luggages up and down the stairs, thankfully the hotel only has 2 levels, and the hotel staff were nice enough to help us carry our luggages up into our rooms.
Free parking is available, which is essential as the hotel is not situated nearby any public transport. But it is within 15 to 30 min drive to nearby attractions.
The hotel was quite strict on the meal times as dinner and breakfast are served at 6pm and 8am sharp respectively. We arrived the hotel late on our first night (around 7pm) and almost missed our dinner (and almost got our room cancelled). We were served hida beef in different cooking style at dinner for both nights of our stay, one steamed and one grilled. Both tasted delicious!
All the staff were very friendly and always wearing a grin on their faces. Overall we had a pleasant stay.
GGuest UserThe Wi-Fi was terrible; there was none in the room initially. They fixed it later, and I got two bars of signal, but it was still poor. There's no hot spring here; what they call a hot spring is just tap water. The bedding was awful; I got bitten all over and felt very itchy, and the duvet cover kept coming off the comforter. This price is just not worth it; my child's skin was red and itchy from bites.
ZzizibehappyArriving in Takayama by highway bus, I chose to stay at the same Residence Hotel as my previous visit. It's incredibly convenient, located just a left turn from the Nohi Bus Terminal exit, making it zero distance from both the bus and JR stations. The luxury suite is huge, featuring a balcony, four beds, and a fully equipped kitchen with pots, pans, a microwave, and a large refrigerator. The washing machine with a dryer was an absolute lifesaver. Even better, all the drinks in the fridge were complimentary, including two 2L bottles of mineral water, beer, sake, green tea, and cola. Basic condiments like salt, soy sauce, pepper, and cooking oil were also provided. There's a supermarket right next door, perfect for buying Hida beef and cooking up a feast.
GGuest UserThe hotel room was spacious and clean. They offered complimentary drinks upon arrival in the afternoon, including free beer! After a relaxing hot spring bath, there were free cold drinks available. The surrounding area is lovely, and it's just a short walk to the attractions. Getting to Takayama Station was also super convenient.
TTigerZThe room was very spacious, fresh, and clean. It also comes with a kitchen and access to a laundry room. We would definitely stay here again next time.
Free parking is available (you can access the parking lot directly through the hotel’s back entrance instead of walking around to the front traffic light). The location is convenient, and the service is excellent.
MMike IgOur 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.
GGuest UserThis 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.
GGuest UserThis was such a lovely place to stay.
The room was nice and spacious, allowing us to feel at home.
Not only were we taken care of by means of beautiful breakfast and dinner, but the staff were extremely helpful when we talked to them about hiking in Kamokochi.
I would highly recommend booking this place especially with a meal plan, since it was nice to have food sorted after Hiking all day.
DDuboisTristanThis place was absolute amazing! By far our favorite place from our whole trip. The location was absolutely perfect for the Takyama festival. We were literally right there with shops and street vendors 50 yards away and the parades would have been right there as well if they weren't canceled due to rain. The rooms were humble and traditional and really added to the experience. The tea in the room was exceptionally good and the traditional Japanese breakfast they served was also delicious and fun to eat. We didn't even know they had a legitimate hot spring on site, but they did! They are Japanese style baths so be ready for that, but the water was therapeutic and so relaxing. I cant recommend this place enough and I would absolute make it a point to visit Takyama and stay here again for a few days on our next trip to Japan. They were such great kind hosts. And I cant believe the price, what an great value. Do yourself a favor and stay here. I'm not sure why the other bad reviews are here I read some of them and they sound like entitled stupid American tourists so ignore them and stay here.