Beyond Hotel Takayama 1St

The ladies’ spa had three whirlpool/jacuzzi tubs at onsen temperatures, and the breakfast buffet was terrific. The room was spotless and cleverly laid out. Its contemporary bathroom has glass walls that make the room seem even bigger. Good location.

Our twin room was spacious and well equipped, and the breakfast had a good range of Western and Japanese options. It was perfectly adequate. The hotel is about a 10 minute walk from the historic town area and 15 minutes from the large shrine, both must-sees in Takayama. Service was friendly and efficient. The staff spoke a little English, but we never had trouble communicating. Their ‘hole in the wall’ car park was a novelty for us and worked like a charm.

The beds and pillows were extremely firm, though the massage chair in the room helped ease my tense muscles. The room was a nice size, very clean, and had all the amenities you’d expect. Staff were incredibly kind and helpful, with lots of hotel and town information in very good English. They made recommendations, offered to arrange reservations, and checked restaurant times since they might have changed for COVID and the holiday season. There was also a spa we could book for free and use privately for 45 minutes, which was really relaxing. Good room, good price, great location, and great staff. I’d recommend staying here.

We got in past midnight and were still met with hospitality. The hotel was very foreigner friendly, and the service was wonderful. Our room was a decent size for three people, actually rather large compared with most Japanese rooms. The next morning’s breakfast was delicious, with a mix of Western and Japanese food. It’s very close to the station and the tourist shops and sights, though getting to the river takes a bit of walking, around five or ten minutes. After checkout, they even let us leave our bags while we walked around.