Okuhida Hot Spring Village, Takayama hotel rooms at the Independent

"Lots of foreigners and local travellers. Can be crowded. Some foreigners may not understand public bathing etiquette - for example, rinsing the shower stall clean and clear of soap suds for the next person and standing in the shower stall - there is a reason why each comes with a stool for you to sit. Of course you can kneel if you wish which a lot of old sentou will not have a stool readily there. A lot of English speaking foreigners speaking very loudly inside the elevator. I understand the excitement of finding out a washer-dryer inside your hotel room but it’s nothing to be overly excited and if you are, express that when it’s not inside the elevator. The hotel should put signage up or print these rules for foreigners. I love this country and wishes well for all visitors but I would like to at the same time preserve the “specialness” of this place for all to enjoy in the future…… Otherwise it was a good stay. "

"Roomiest hotel we’ve stayed in with great amenities, rooftop onsen, and a view of the train rolling by (not too loud though). Best of all, there’s space on either side of the bed- a rarity in some Japanese budget hotels. "

"Hotel got 2 onsen, both with outdoor onsen. The one on 1F was so relaxing in a green setting. Rooms n amenities provided have also exceeded expectation. Hotel provides shuttle service from JR station, but very limited timing. Nonetheless, will stay again when in Takayama"

"Nice location, just wish there were more nearby restaurants "

"Nice dinner for Hida beef and breakfast. But their price does not clearly indicate $67 includes dinner and breakfast. Nice hot spring indoor and outdoor. "

"We enjoyed every minute staring at this Ryokan. The service was impeccable. The hostess Miki was amazing, very friendly and helpful. The food was delicious. The whole facility is just great! We would definitely come back again to this magnificent place!"

"Amazing onsen! I booked a room with a private open air onsen for end of March 2024 and was blown away at how nice my room and the entire hotel was. The facility was impeccable, food was good, staff was super nice and my room was so great. I was only there two nights and regret not staying longer. I will definitely come back to this onsen. Also, the surrounding was snowy and it snowed the second night, loved it! It felt great to relax outdoors in the warm water! Thank for Onsen staff for such a great experience. "

"We had a wonderful time at this ryokan. We chose this inn specifically for its remote location and traditional atmosphere and were not disappointed. The hotel, outdoor onsen, and woodsy surroundings were all excellent. The building is old and reminded me of the railroad lodges of the western United States: creaky old doors and floors, metal keys, and rotary dial phones. Other than the hotel, there are no restaurants nearby (that I know of) and dinner is an elaborate kaiseki ryori that requires advanced reservations. They were able to accommodate us for dinner when we arrived around 3:00 pm, but I recommend emailing prior to your stay to be sure you have dinner reservations for your first night if you want to eat there. Otherwise, there is instant ramen in the gift shop and hot water in the room. The staff are all very friendly. Most do not speak English but did their best to communicate with us and we were able to check in and out, make dinner and breakfast arrangements, and discuss the bus schedule without a problem. If you're coming from the south or southwest, I recommend the Hida Limited Express train to get to Takayama, then the public bus to the hotel. The train and bus rides are both wonderful scenic rides into the mountains. "

"I went to this hotel twice. The first time was last year and the second time this year One of the best in the area The staff are friendly and kind. I really enjoyed my accommodation here "