Hotels near Hida Kokubun-ji Temple, 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!

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.

The rooms are luxurious and look great. Even though there's no restaurant in the hotel, there's a small mini-mart where you can grab something to eat. The drinks sold at the mini-mart are good, and there are tables to sit at, a microwave, miso soup, and ice available. Overall, it's very good and close to the public onsen.

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.

I stayed for 5 nights, and first of all, the price is very reasonable for a backpacker hostel. Check-in is done online: you choose your language, scan your passport, and have a f2f call with the staff via an iPad. FYI, there is a mandatory accommodation tax in Japan of 100 yen per night. You can also request a paid ”Irori” service at a nearby sister branch, where you can grill your own ingredients over a traditional Japanese sunken hearth. Just a reminder: you can get fresh ingredients from the nearby market ”Family Store Satoh” or further away at ”Surugaya Asumo.” The common area isn't huge, and the kitchen is basic but functional with tableware, an electric kettle, ovens, a microwave, and a mini fridge. The tap water is drinkable; the mixer tap can be toggled to adjust the temperature, so you won't get a chill from the ice cold water in winter! 😂 In the back, there are a toilet, three shower stalls, and communal sinks, along with a washing machine and dryer that are free to use (you just need to buy detergent from the capsule machine or bring your own) Since it's a hostel, the dorms have top and bottom bunks. The bunks are quite spacious and come with two power outlets (remember your travel adapter!), an overhead locker (bring your own padlock), a towel, and two hooks. You have to make your own bed; it's a futon-style setup where you lay the linens on the mattress. A pillow and duvet are provided. During winter, they run the AC (split system) on heat mode to keep it cozy. In the room, there’s a luggage storage area and hanging rods for clothes. On the second floor where I stayed, there are two toilets in the room: one with a urinal and another unisex one with a smart bidet/washlet. To be honest, while it's very close to the Miyagawa Morning Market, it feels a bit far from the Nohi Bus Center and JR Station. If you don't like walking or tire easily, this might be a bit of a challenge. Overall, it's a great, affordable choice for backpackers😗

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.

This 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.