10 Best Ryokans in Takayama

Takayama is a scenic city in the Japanese Alps and the gateway to the serene Hida region. It is famous for its preserved Edo-period architecture, narrow streets lined with wooden merchant houses, ancient temples, and historic shops. Takayama's famous morning markets offer local produce and crafts. Enjoy life in the slow lane, bathing in hot springs, eating A5 Hida beef, and enjoying the extraordinary backdrop of the mountains when you stay in one of the area’s charming ryokans (traditional Japanese inns).

When you picture a quintessential ryokan, you may well conjure up Yarimikan. This quaint property sparks nostalgia through its chocolate-box exterior, beamed ceilings, sliding Japanese doors, and home-like atmosphere.

It boasts multiple open-air onsen (hot spring) baths overlooking the nearby Mount Yari, one of the 100 Famous Japanese Mountains, providing a spectacular backdrop to a relaxing stay.

Guests can choose from a basic breakfast and dinner plan, a luxurious chef’s plan featuring seasonal ingredients, or a course that includes three types of Hida beef dishes.

Okuhida Onsen Village Miyama Ouan Annex Hirayukan is a 100-year-old ryokan that has been recently renovated to provide all the charm of an historic inn alongside modern comforts. Its outdoor bath, with scenic views of the surrounding Hirayu Onsen, is the ideal way to soak away the stress of everyday life.

Guests can choose between western, Japanese, or fusion rooms to suit their comfort and aesthetic sense. Unlike many other ryokans, you can opt for a room-only option without needing to choose a meal plan. However, breakfast features a buffet of local, seasonal specialties that shouldn’t be missed! The property includes a restaurant, karaoke room, public bath, coin laundry, convenience store, and table tennis, making it a mini retreat in the mountains.

This low-key, welcoming ryokan provides the best of the locale: views of the Northern Alps, high-quality Hida beef, and a mineral-rich outdoor onsen from which you can enjoy the views. Guests at Miyamaouan can select between spacious Japanese-western fusion rooms or western-style rooms.

For guests traveling as a family, a room is available in a separate building over 540 square feet (51 square meters). The most coveted rooms feature western beds, tatami flooring, and a private hot spring bath with exceptional views over the Japanese Alps. Hearty kaiseki (traditional Japanese muti-course) dinners feature local charcoal-grilled Hida beef paired with seasonal ingredients.

Hirayu Onsen Nakamurakan is an idyllic inn just a four-minute walk from the Hirayu Onsen bus stop, making it a great base to explore the area and indulge in the local hot springs. The property has its own natural hot spring water source, which you can enjoy in the shared baths or by reserving time in the private onsen with your partner, family, or friends. Enjoy a leisurely soak that will ebb away your fatigue with the open-air baths overlooking the Kasagatake Mountain.

The area’s famous cuisine is another huge appeal of this ryokan. Guests can opt for a breakfast-only package, or they can indulge in kaiseki cuisine with Hida beef or steak shabu-shabu and a ticket to bathe in the local outdoor onsen, Hirayu no Mori.

Takayama Ouan, just a five-minute walk from Takayama Station, is a convenient base if you want to explore the local area. This flexible ryokan offers affordable multi-night eco-stays in Japanese-style tatami flooring to give a feel of traditional Japanese living.

A highlight of Takayama Ouan is its natural open-air hot spring on the top floor of its premises, one of the highest buildings in Takayama City. Guests will have unique and impressive views of the Takayama cityscape and Northern Alps, which can be enjoyed all year round.

Hida Wagyu beef is a delicacy in the area, and Ryokan Gizan takes the ingredient exceptionally seriously. All dinners feature A5 Hida beef, perfectly sweet, tender, and marbled. Even the set breakfast features Hoba miso with Hida beef, giving you ample opportunity to appreciate this melt-in-the-mouth delight. Guests can also use the ryokan’s four private open-air baths and public baths, which will soothe their minds and stiff joints from their travels.

Honjin Hiranoya Kachoan is a cozy yet premium ryokan just an eight-minute walk from Takayama Station. It is also right by Takayama Jinya (a local government office of the Edo period and nationally designated historic site), as well as the city’s old town. The ryokan is renowned for providing modern luxury and exceptional hospitality, making it a popular spot with families. There is a wide variety of rooms available, from pure Japanese-style guest rooms to Japanese-western fusion rooms and luxurious suites over 960 square feet (90 square meters). Early bird discounts are available for guests booking at least 90 days in advance, with meal options that include a basic Hida beef meal or a Hida beef filet for true gastronomes. 

This contemporary ryokan is a striking example of modern Japanese aesthetics, making it a favorite for style-savvy travelers. Ryokan Ichinomatsu is a great base from which to explore Takayama Jinya, Hida Folk Village Hida-no-Sato, and Miyagawa Morning Market — all within walking distance. Early booking and consecutive nights provide the best deals to save on your stay.

Just one minute's walk from Hirayu Bus Terminal, Okuhida Hirayu Onsen Hiratakan is an archetypal ryokan with beautiful and minimal Japanese rooms, some of which feature private hinoki (cypress) hot spring baths. The ryokan also provides communal hot spring baths, brimming with skin-nourishing water drawn from the oldest hot spring source in Hirayu Onsen.

If you’re an outdoorsy traveler who loves to hike, Shinhodaka Onsen Hotel Hodaka is for you! Hikers and sightseers love Shinhodaka Onsen Hotel Hodaka for its convenient location — just a minute’s walk away from Shinhotaka Ropeway, which features double-decker gondolas that whisk you into the Japanese Alps. Once you're done hiking, bathing in the ryokan’s picturesque hot spring is a perfect way to end the day. Guests can opt for Japanese or western-style rooms of various sizes. Try both the local breakfast and A5 Hida beef kaiseki dinner.