Solest Takachiho Hotel

The self check-in machine was a fun surprise. You scan your passport almost like at immigration, then it prints your room details and cards. Staff were friendly and very helpful throughout our relaxing two-night stay at Solest Takachiho Hotel. Breakfast was simple and satisfying, and at ¥1,500 per person it seemed reasonably priced. It was a comfortable base while we explored Takachiho.

I stayed one night at solest while passing through Takachiho. The rooms were quiet and clean, with all the amenities, and the hotel has a cozy, classy look. Breakfast was a small but good spread and good value. If it isn't included, I'd recommend adding it, at ¥1500 for adults and ¥750 for children under 12. Staff were friendly with food suggestions, using a cuisine-based restaurant list, and even made a reservation for me. The self-service check-in wasn't very intuitive even though staff were at the counter. I had trouble paying for breakfast on the machine and had to ask the counter staff anyway. The TV felt dated and very slow. It could connect to the network and run basic apps such as YouTube, but my Wi-Fi connection was unreliable and some videos wouldn't play. Netflix wasn't available. The room also seemed too dim, though I may not have found all the light switches.

The concierge staff were friendly and professional, but for the price I paid, the stay was mediocre at best. The first-floor suite was spacious, though not very clean. There was a lot of dust in the exhaust fan and AC vent, and a small ball of it fell into the bathtub. After breakfast, we were reminded to leave at 9:30, which felt unnecessary since checkout was at 10 and we weren't going to stay much longer. I found the hotel overpriced for the service offered in Takachiho, which I also felt was overrated.

We left after just one night and wouldn't return. The location is good for visiting the Gorge, and there's parking; the little town also has some lovely places to eat. But we felt unwelcome. Check-in is by machine, and although we were booked for two nights, we couldn't get dinner at the hotel restaurant either evening. It was more than half empty, yet we were told nothing was available. When we asked about the next night, they said they had a reservation but couldn't give us a time, and would call if something opened up. If you stay here, don't count on dining at the hotel unless you're a local.