Hotele Hot Springs w: Gifu Prefecture, Japan

Hotel and Spa Gift Takayama, nestled near Takayama Old Town, perfectly blends traditional Japanese style with modern amenities. The onsen (hot spring) water is incredibly smooth, and the open-air bath offers stunning mountain views, washing away any travel fatigue. Rooms are spacious and spotless, and the dinner kaiseki features local ingredients like Hida beef. The service is meticulous and thoughtful. It offers exceptional value for money and is an ideal choice for experiencing Takayama's culture.

The Wi-Fi was terrible; there was none in the room initially. They fixed it later, and I got two bars of signal, but it was still poor. There's no hot spring here; what they call a hot spring is just tap water. The bedding was awful; I got bitten all over and felt very itchy, and the duvet cover kept coming off the comforter. This price is just not worth it; my child's skin was red and itchy from bites.

The hotel is very close to JR Takayama Station. After exiting the station, you don't need to cross the road; just turn right towards Tokyu Stay, and you'll find it after passing Ajikura Tengoku. The hotel's decor is very unique. We booked a corner triple room, so the space was incredibly spacious and comfortable. Besides drip coffee and tea bags, the room also provided bottled mineral water. There's an open-air bath on the 9th floor – simply flawless. Before my trip, I read many reviews recommending Hida beef, but to my dismay, I discovered Ajikura Tengoku was closed when I arrived (ugh!). Luckily, I quickly found Maruaki, a famous Hida beef restaurant open year-round. The beef was incredibly rich and fatty – you'll definitely fall in love with Hida beef! I'm already planning to come back next year! 😋

Lovely Ryokan, close to the busy stop. Everything is clean and the staff is friendly and attentive. Spacious room and comfortable futon. The onsen baths are lovely, on the riverside for a great view of the valley, you can ”reserve” four of them for private use for a bit of time, just locking the door. Dinner was superb

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.

Traveling to and from Nagoya by bus, this hotel is super close to the Nohi Bus Center, making its location very convenient. Hida Beef Restaurant Ajikura Tengoku is also nearby, about a 3-minute walk away. The room felt a bit small. The Premium Twin room is probably meant for up to three people, but for two guests, it felt like a waste of space. The hotel's cleaning service was also minimal; they changed towels and emptied the trash, which was sufficient. On the second floor, you can enjoy drinks and relax. I didn't visit the large public bath, but I did try the foot bath, and since no one else was there, it was quite relaxing.

This might be the highest hot spring hotel in Gero. If you miss the shuttle, it's quite a walk uphill. The hotel is divided into the old wing and the new wing. The old wing has a lot of mosquitoes and poor soundproofing, while the new wing, though newer, lacks some of the old wing's charm. We stayed in the new wing with a private hot spring, but it was extremely small; the photos on Trip.com can be misleading.

Great room! We booked the quadruple room and it fits all of us 4 adults and 2 children. Great onsen experience! They provide complete amenities such as different kind of shampoos, hairband, kose brand skincare, refa hairdryer, and many more. Good japanese style dinner and breakfast! The pork during dinner was so tender, really loved it. All day food is available here such as ramen at 10pm, yakult, and many more!

Environment and Service: The hotel is quite large and relatively new, with a big courtyard perfect for a stroll. There's also a shuttle service to and from the station. The only minor drawback is that rooms on one side face the train tracks, which can be a bit noisy, and the soundproofing isn't great.

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.