Hodakaso Yamanoiori

The ryokan was an easy walk from the main station, and our room felt nice and cosy. The bedding was comfortable, and we had a fantastic stay.

The onsen on the premises was nice, and the rooms were spacious. Ours had Japanese-style beds on the floor, which can get tiring after a few days. Staff were pleasant and used translation apps efficiently, though they weren't bilingual, which is common in Japan. The ryokan is within walking distance of both the train station and the main attractions.

The location was a 10/10 for walking around, shopping, exercise, and getting to good food. We had a small carpark around the corner, about a two-minute walk away, and I think it cost under 20 AUD for 48 hours of continuous parking. The river morning markets are easy to reach, but go early, since the midday crowds are awful and often get in the way. It's the same for the Old Takayama area, earlier visits mean fewer people and better photos :-) We enjoyed our stay and would come back, with earplugs just in case 😉 The hoteliers were kind, and the building and rooms have a lovely traditional feel. Our room was spacious, with separate comfortable single beds and AC, though there were signs of wear. Complimentary coffee and tea are available at the entrance whenever you like. The room also came with water, soup, tea, and croissants each day, a thoughtful touch. The water flow was uneven and took a while to warm up. The bathroom was dated, but fine for washing, bathing, and basic needs if you're used to 2-4 star places. I'd suggest bringing your own hair-dryer if you like to use one. The fridge was very cold and froze our sandwiches and fruit, so be careful. There is a smoking area with an ashtray near a vending machine about 10 metres south of the entrance. The old building has thin walls and noisy floors, so neighbours can make a big difference. If you can get a room at the end of the top-floor hall, you should be OK. Next door guests had a child literally stomping through the halls on our second night until my husband asked him to stop. There's no soundproofing, so be prepared for noise, and bring earplugs if you're a light sleeper. Buses come roughly hourly and take cash, no Suica or ICC. We paid about $2.40 AUD per adult to ride from the southern end near the pharmacist and Craft Heart back to the hotel. For ramen, check reviews and aim for the top-rated places. There are plenty, and queues can be misleading. I also recommend the incense and fragrance shop at the river market for local senko; they have a little koboku too. The owners are delightful, with options for different budgets.

We had a spacious room with fantastic air conditioning, and the public bath and location were great. The staff were lovely. The only problem was a foul smell from the toilet, shower, and drainage, though I'm not sure if it was specific to our room.