The Best Hotels & Ryokans In Takayama
- Ollie Toth
- Jun 3
- 10 min read
Updated: Jun 12
An expert list of the best accommodation in Takayama based on thousands of customer reviews and knowledge of Japan
Hotel Wood Takayama
Overview
Nikko is an incredible national park only 2 hours from Tokyo. It's a popular destination well-known for it's incredible nature including beautiful lakes, huge waterfalls, and amazing hiking trails. But choosing the where to stay can be difficult, especially with so many options available. Instead of giving you a generic top 10 list with sponsored content, we've combined our expert knowledge of Nikko with a thorough analysis of customer reviews to bring you a reliable list of the best hotels and ryokans in Nikko to suit all budgets.
To ensure there's no disappointment, all of the options on this list must adhere to our strict criteria:
- An average review score above 8.5/10
- A minimum of 100 reviews
- Must be convenient for sightseeing
- The property must have quality photos
Our listing for each place has an efficient overview including a:
Gallery
Description
Highlights
Price Range (peak and off-peak)
Review Score
Review Example
High-End
$250 - $800
The Asunaro Ryokan — 9.4
The Honjin Hiranoya — 9.2
Mid-Range
$200 - $300
The Irori-yado Hidaya — 9.5
The Oyado Koto — 9.1
The Green Hotel — 8.9
Most Affordable
$40 - $300
The Relax Hotel — 9.3
Hotel Wood — 9.0
The Wat Hotel & Spa — 8.8
Hostels
$40 - $300
The K's House Hostel — 8.9
The Best Luxury Ryokan In Takayama
1.
The Asunaro Ryokan
The Asunaro is one of the most popular ryokans in Takayama. It offers an authentic traditional atmosphere combined with high standards for comfort and hospitality. There are so many amazing, charming features of this ryokan - the wood-fire tea stove, the comfy guest yukatas, the free bike rentals, the cute gift when you checkout - it all comes together to create a lovely experience. The owners and staff are super kind and friendly, making you feel very welcome and looked after. The kaiseki cuisine served for dinner and breakfast is amazing, the rooms are spacious, and the design of the property is gorgeous.
• Highlights:
─ Incredible kaiseki cuisine, prepared exclusively for guests, served for breakfast and dinner and made from local seasonal ingredients.
─ Charming features including a wood-fire tea stove, free bike rentals, and a small gift upon checkout.
─ Amazing location, away from the crowds but close to everything, a 5-minute walk from the town centre.
• Price Range: $250 - $450 per night
• Review Score: 9.4 ★ (1000+ reviews)
• Review Quote:
"This spot was probably the highlight of our trip. It has so much character and charm! The rooms were spacious and beautifully decorated. The beds were comfortable and the ryokan was quiet. It was about five minutes from the centre of town, perfect for exploring the area, and you could even borrow their bicycles. The entire experience was so full of small touches like the kimonos, the exquisite breakfast, and the free gift at checkout was so lovely. It’s one place you won’t forget. "
Rooms often sell out fast, you'll find the best prices on Booking.com
2.
The Honjin Hiranoya Kachoan
The Honjin Hiranoya provides the most luxurious ryokan experience in Takayama. The rooms are absolutely stunning, featuring nostalgic furnishings, Japanese aesthetics, and upgrade options that include your own private onsen bath with beautiful views of the town, mountains, or Japanese gardens. Their exclusive restaurant serves incredible kaiseki cuisine in lovely private dining rooms, and their breakfast menu offers both Japanese and Western options. Their open-air onsen on the top floor provides amazing views over Takayama, with a wide variety of beautifully designed baths. And to top it all off, the location is perfect, right in the heart of Takayama's old town district, and within walking distance to all the famous attractions.
• Highlights:
─ Stunning, spacious rooms, offering beautiful views and private onsen baths.
─ Incredible full-course kaiseki cuisine served in private dining rooms.
─ Amazing location in the heart of the old town district, and within walking distance to all of the town's attractions.
• Price Range: $300 - $800 per night
• Review Score: 9.2 ★ (400+ reviews)
• Review Quote:
"From the moment we entered this property we knew that it was going to be fun and different. It was our first ryokan experience, and they greeted us by striking a gong at the entrance. We were given our own slippers, matcha tea and sweets in our room, and kimonos to wear around the hotel. The staff were incredibly nice and helpful. The breakfast was so good, in a private room each morning, with Western or Japanese options. The location was perfect - in the heart of Takayama Old Town, by the Miya River, and close to the Nakabashi Bridge. Just amazing!"
Rooms often sell out fast, you'll find the best prices on Booking.com
The Best Mid-Range Ryokans In Takayama
1.
The Irori-yado Hidaya
The Irori-yado Hidaya receives some of the highest reviews out of all the ryokans in Takayama. The staff are so warm, kind, and helpful, they make you feel at home and provide great tips and advice for exploring Takayama. The property is especially charming, it's over 100 years old and has been expertly maintained over many decades, giving it a historical atmosphere while still meeting modern-day expectations. The rooms are beautiful and come equipped with a traditional irori - a coal-fired pit used to make tea and heat the room. The property also has a lovely wooden onsen bath made from cypress.
• Highlights:
─ An authentic guesthouse in a lovely 100-year-old building.
─ Onsite onsen is made from cypress wood, giving a pleasing aroma and relaxing aesthetic.
─ Every room features an irori - a traditional indoor fire pit used for making tea and heating the room.
• Price Range: $200 - $450 per night
• Review Score: 9.5 ★ (500+ reviews)
• Review Quote:
"More than a guesthouse, you feel like you’re staying in a beautiful Japanese home. The staff go above and beyond to make you feel welcome and ensure you have an authentic experience. We tried on yukata and learned origami, my boys were given a gift of Japanese snacks and sweets. The restaurant and tourist recommendations were spot on. The onsen was so relaxing and peaceful - I had it to myself. The breakfast was delicious. I can’t recommend this place enough. If you’re thinking about it - just book it."
Rooms often sell out fast, you'll find the best prices on Booking.com
2.
The Oyado Koto No Yume
The Oyado Koto truly immerses you in Japanese culture. They provide yukatas to wear for exploring the town, serve an amazing traditional breakfast, and have a nice lounge area offering complimentary teas and origami paper to play with. Their onsen facilities are one of the highlights, they're beautifully designed, and create the perfect atmosphere for relaxing after a long day of sightseeing. The staff here are so lovely and helpful, and the location is perfect, a short walk to the station, the old town district, and all the sightseeing attractions in Takayama.
• Highlights:
─ Amazing onsen facilities for relaxing after a long day of sightseeing.
─ Features a nice lounge area offering complimentary teas, drinks, and origami paper.
─ Perfect location, on a quiet street in central Takayama, within walking distance to all the major attractions and transport.
• Price Range: $180 - $650 per night
• Review Score: 9.1 ★ (2000+ reviews)
• Review Quote:
"This traditional Japanese-style hotel was a wonderful place to call home in Takayama. It was quiet, lovely, comfortable and clean - and had some unique touches that made it a truly special place to stay. The staff went above and beyond to make sure all of our needs were met. The location was a short walk away from every place we wanted to go during our 2-day stay. Japanese breakfast was the best I'd had in my two trips to Japan. The main courses changed up each day. Service at the entire hotel was excellent."
Rooms often sell out fast, you'll find the best prices on Booking.com
3.
The Takayama Green Hotel
The Takayama Green Hotel offers the absolute best value out of all the accommodations in Takayama. It's an upmarket modern hotel with luxurious amenities and beautifully designed facilities, and conveniently include room options for budget-minded travellers. The onsen facilities are truly amazing, featuring a variety of baths and water types, and impressive architectural elements. The property features a total of 7 venues offering both casual or refined dining options, specialising in Japanese, Westen, and Chinese cuisine, plus an awesome buffet breakfast. Their cafe lounge is set overlooking a stunning Zen garden and serves delicous pastries, cocktails, and craft beers. The room options are equllay impressive, with upgrades offering gorgeous panoramic views and private onsen baths. It's only an 8-minute walk from the station, but they also provide a private shuttle service so you don't have to walk. This is one of those places you won't want to leave.
• Highlights:
─ A luxury hotel offering a wide range of rooms options, suitable for all budgets. ─ Incredible facilities, including amazing onsen baths, and 7 dining venues.
─ A beautiful cafe lounge overlooking a Zen garden, plus a delicious buffet breakfast with a wide variety of western and japanese cuisine.
• Price Range: $140 - $650 per night
• Review Score: 8.9 ★ (2000+ reviews)
• Review Quote:
"This is the best hotel we have stayed in. Great selection of restaurants within the hotel serving a variety of cuisine. A fantastic cafe with a view into a large traditional garden with large snowflakes falling. Good value buffet breakfast. Easy walk to the old town, station and bus terminal. We were on the 7th floor in a Western-style room that afforded stunning views of the snow-capped mountains. Our son and his wife and our 2 grandchildren stayed in a traditional Japanese room and they loved it. The onsen was wonderful. The staff were friendly and helpful."
Rooms often sell out fast, you'll find the best prices on Booking.com
The Best Affordable Ryokans In Takayama
1.
The Relax Hotel Takayama
The Relax Hotel offers amazing value-for-money in the heart of Takayama, just a 1-minute walk from the train station. This boutqiue hotel has spacious and well-designed rooms, a humble-yet-delicious breakfast buffet, and easy access to all of the attractions in Takayama. A number of unique features add charm to this hotel, such as free popcorn, snacks, and drinks in every room, and free sake tastings available in the lounge. The rooms are huge, and they even include a glamping rooms which is super popular with the kids.
• Highlights:
─ Amazing value-for-money, only 1 minute from the station.
─ Spacious room options, including a glamping room, plus an onsite laundry.
─ Free drinks and snacks in every room, plus free sake tastings available in the lounge.
• Price Range: $120 - $500 per night
• Review Score: 9.2 ★ (1000+ reviews)
• Review Quote:
"Room was very spacious! There was an area inside our room where we could watch movies or tv with free popcorn! Drinks inside the fridge were all free as well. Beds were comfortable and the place was minutes from the train station. Breakfast was delicious. Staff were all very helpful and welcoming. Close to shops and restaurants. Plus the onsite laundry was very convenient. Would definitely stay here again."
Rooms often sell out fast, you'll find the best prices on Booking.com
2.
Hotel Wood
Hotel Wood offers impeccable and luxurious design elements at a very reasonable price. As the name suggests, there is an emphasis on natural wooden aesthetics to create a relaxing atmosphere, the whole place feels like an upmarket ryokan, without the upmarket price. The rooms are beautiful, the onsen is amazing, and the staff are super kind and helpful. Their lounge is an awesome place to chill and offers free sake tastings during the evenings. It's perfectly located in the heart of takyama and within walking distance to all the attrations and the stationn.
• Highlights:
─ Beautiful design, lovely rooms, and super helpful staff.
─ Free sake tasting and happy hour every evening in a relaxing lounge space.
─ Amazing location, in the old town district and within walking distance to everything.
• Price Range: $130 - $280 per night
• Review Score: 9.0 ★ (3000+ reviews)
• Review Quote:
"Excellent Japanese experience including staff hospitality, comfortable bed with beautiful Japanese style room, welcoming drinks, re-energizing onsen. It was the best accommodation I have stayed in Japan. The happy hour - which runs most of the evening - is lovely as it lends social atmosphere to the large communal space. It's almost a hostel vibe with people relaxing and chatting, except no one is 20 any more. Perhaps best of all is the hotel's location. You are in the old part of town and can walk to the main sites within minutes."
Rooms often sell out fast, you'll find the best prices on Booking.com
3.
The Wat Hotel & Spa
The Wat Hotel is one of the most popular hotels in Takayama thanks to its amazing price, awesome onsen, and high standard of customer service. It's located about 8 minutes from tha station and 15 minutes from the old town distrcit. The rooms are clean and comfortable, and the upgrades come with extra space and nice views. The buffet breakfast is great value, only 1000 yen, and fills you up with both western and Japanese quisine. The onsens here are the biggest highlight, they have multiple baths with a variety of water types, and the hotel limits the number of people to ensure it's a relaxing experience.
• Highlights:
─ Amazing price and one of the most popular hotels in Takayama.
─ Great value buffet breakfast, only 1000 yen, with western and japanese options.
─ Awesome onsen facilites with multiple baths with a variety of water types.
• Price Range: $60 - $380 per night
• Review Score: 8.8 ★ (4000+ reviews)
• Review Quote:
"The room is nice and clean, just like in the picture. Everything looks new and posh. Love the interior and the pajamas available at the lobby. Breakfast is wonderful. Great value for money, not that expensive but really good service. The onsen was exceptionally wonderful while it was snowing. Nice location and the staff were very helpful. It's about 15 mins walk to the old town."
Rooms often sell out fast, you'll find the best prices on Booking.com
The Best Hostel In Takayama
1.
K's House Takayama Oasis
The K's House receive the highest reviews out of all the hostels in Takayama. The poerty is quite charming, with traditional Japanese elements and a nice natural atmosphere. There's a comfy chill space for metting other travellers, and a fully equipped kitchen for cooking your own food. The location is super convenient, in the heart of Takayama only 1-minute from the station, and 5-minutes from the old town district. The capsule-style hostel beds are comfy, private, and come with power outlets and you're own reading lamp. It's the perfect budget option to spend a few days relaxing, socialising, and exploring the area.
• Highlights:
─ A nice chill space, warm atmosphere, and fully equipped kitchen.
─ Capsule-style hostel beds offer privacy and comfort, perfect for budget travellers.
─ Conveniently located in the heart of Takayama, just 1 minute from the station and 5-minutes from the old town district.
• Price Range: $30 - $130 per night
• Review Score: 8.9 ★ (900+ reviews)
• Review Quote:
"Very conveniently located, immaculately clean accommodation with a fully stocked kitchen and charming communal area. Little local cultural items decorate the entire place. Plugs and lights conveniently positioned for each bed. Nice and cozy atmosphere great for meeting other travelers. The staff were very helpful and had some great tips during my stay."
Rooms often sell out fast, you'll find the best prices on Booking.com
