Hoshinoya Guguan

What a surprise and delight to arrive at this exclusive and secluded spa- retreat outside the beaten track. Wonderful and attentive service, comfortable rooms with hot-tub, a separate spa with treatments and hot water pool - and not to forget the exquisite japanese inspired cuisine! Thank you, Chef Hitoshi Kagawa.

I spent two nights at Hoshinoya Guguan in a Feng room. The hotel was accommodating, converting the beds from three singles to a king and a single for us. Regrettably, despite its stunning location in the mountains, the resort doesn’t justify its high rates. I’ve visited other hot springs resorts, and, unfortunately, Hoshinoya Guguan doesn’t measure up. Additionally, there’s ongoing construction nearby, which is incredibly loud. The noise from the banging and machines disrupted the peaceful setting, forcing us to stay indoors rather than enjoying the outdoors. For those interested in the onsen, it’s worth noting that the public hot spring is open only from 6-10 a.m. and 4-10 p.m. It closes for cleaning daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., which seems impractical. Ideally, cleaning would occur overnight to not disrupt daytime use. The dining options are quite limited. Dinner at the restaurant was underwhelming with bland food, and the courses arrived too quickly, making us feel rushed. Breakfast is available from 7-9:30 a.m. and lunch from 12-2 p.m., offering narrow time frames for meals and very limited menu options. Missing the breakfast window means waiting until noon to eat. We were glad that we opted out of the meal plan. Our room spanned two floors, with the convenience of having the toilet on the same level as the bed. This is helpful for nighttime visits, though I was surprised that a room at this price point didn’t have a toilet on both floors. An automatic light and toilet seat are thoughtful touches, but the brightness of the light at 3 a.m. can be jarring. Adjustable lighting would be an improvement. The beds were comfortable, but the room lacked effective blackout blinds, letting in early morning sunlight. Additionally, an illuminated exit sign and a bright red ceiling light contributed to a less-than-dark sleeping environment. The resort provides pajamas and lounge wear, but the quality is disappointing. Our set had missing buttons and ties, and replacements were similarly damaged. A ‘mini-bar’ with complimentary beer, Coca-Cola, Sprite, coffee, and tea is included. However, given the cost of the stay, these offerings seem basic. Complimentary snacks or fruit would enhance the value. The staff at Hoshinoya Guguan is exceptional—friendly and helpful. Yet, the facilities, dining, and overall value fall short. In summary, the experience doesn’t live up to the price. Significant improvements are necessary to justify the cost.

Amazing spot for a quick family vacation. Lunch and snack options are lacking, especially compared to other Ryokans in Japan, but excellent breakfast and dinner quality.

3 hours + drive from Taipei. Kinda expect more from Hoshinoya. The room is extra spacious with 2nd floor for the bathroom and private onsen pool. The place is relaxing, yet private which I like. The happy hour for ice cream is nice. Got some 30 min to 1 hour activities to do during the day but it's nothing much. Nothing else to do in the hotel. No gym, no sport activities, no nothing. Just onsen so better come here when the weather is quite cold (really not recommended during summer). Food options are low. If you want to dine in the room you only have one option - shabu set, which makes your room full of smoke and food smell when they actually have a la carte food menu at their only restaurant. Some of the staffs cannot communicate in English that well and they're very punctual about the housekeeping time. Like 1 minute late from the housekeeping appointment (which you have to tell them in advance) then they'll ring you. Definitely not worth the money. average service and facilities overall.

I stayed at Room 205 where the view was disappointing. The grass outside my window wall was dying and desperately needed landscaping. Thinking about the price I paid and looking at the grass pissed me off!! Inside wasn’t much better - bulged and stained carpet created an unpleasant atmosphere. If you stay in Room 205 you also get the pleasure of looking at the driveway and see all the cars coming in the hotel. This hotel is totally overrated! Try to book the highest floor you can get…good luck to all!

I am at loss for words. This place is the best hotel I have ever stayed in. It has everything you could wish for and more. They have an amazing inside and outside onsen, 24 hour ice cream, and everything is beautiful. There are lots of fun activities to do such as forest in a bottle where you make a miniature plant display. This place is the best.

We had a very thorough check in service, where they explain everything about the place, your room and onsen etc. I would have given 5 stars, however, the food options were just a too limited for us, and there was no restaurant availability for our first night which was really disappointing so we had to make do with the in room dining options. Also, it would have been nice to know they were able to do breakfast a la carte (which was really nice of them to do this for us in the end, but we didn't know up front) - sometimes you don't want such a lot of food in the morning. Also the surrounding area is quite built up, so although the hotel is beautiful, you can see a lot of other buildings (from our room at least).