Hotel Takachiho

The building's exterior, which looked unassuming in photos, was actually stunning in person! The room was spacious and bright, and the bed was so comfortable I slept wonderfully. The yukata (robe) was absolutely beautiful, and they even thoughtfully provided cushions for us to use at the Kagura performance. Truly, not a single fault to be found.

Extremely close to Takachiho Gorge, it took us less than 3 minutes to drive there! We stayed here after driving from Beppu the night before, then checked out and went to Takachiho Gorge! I think this was an excellent arrangement! The room had a balcony, and the air was incredibly fresh; my whole body felt purified from breathing in the fresh air! The breakfast was quite substantial, and the restaurant was very spacious, clean, and comfortable! If I visit again in the future, I would choose this place again!

A mixed bag of a hotel. On the one hand, the location is excellent, close to Takachiho Gorge. On the other hand, it's a 15-20 minute walk uphill along a winding road, and about 20-25 minutes uphill to the bus center. Pros: - Price - Shochu tasting - Hot springs available - Close proximity to the main attraction - Kids' area available - There's a smoking area inside the hotel, but it's not covered (you'll get wet if it rains) Cons: - The hotel is old, and it shows - There are many spiders in the hotel, which is understandable given its location. Bed bugs might also fly in. - The tatami mats are old, with huge gaps between them. - No convenience stores or supermarkets nearby. - Tattoos are not allowed in the public baths.

This place really surprised me! I initially booked a room for one night through Trip. Since I couldn't book for a single person, I booked for two. Then I decided I wanted to stay two nights instead of one, but Trip wouldn't let me change the reservation because it was a special rate. So I decided to sort it out with the hotel, and even considered booking a second night at a different hotel if this one couldn't accommodate me. When I arrived, they told me I could definitely keep the same room for two nights, but I'd have to pay for the second night the next day. The next day, I went to pay for the second night, and they asked if I wanted to buy breakfast for 1800 yen. I said yes. They charged me the 1800 yen, and when I asked to pay for the room as well, they said I didn't need to, because I had already paid for a two-person stay for the previous night. So, in the end, I got two nights for a pretty reasonable price. On top of that, the service has been exceptionally friendly. The location is right next to Takachiho Gorge. By the way, don't try to go there by bike; it's almost a 100-meter vertical drop behind the hotel! Someone complained here that the restaurants are too far away and you need a car to get to them. The closest ones are just a few hundred meters away. So, a person of normal fitness can easily walk to eat, unless they've booked dinner at the hotel restaurant. You can also order room service in the evening (picked up from reception). I had curry. The portion was so huge that I couldn't even eat the onigiri I ordered alongside it. The onsen is good, and it has a sauna! In the lobby, there are sake tastings in the afternoon. The only negative thing is that the onsen is closed during the day. It only opens at 3 PM. So, if you're staying here for two nights, there might not be a ton to do during the day after you've seen the gorge and the shrine. Almost everything in the village is closed during the day, opening in the evening.