Minshuku Iwatakan

We only stayed one night and wished we had made time for more. The family staff were so kind that we felt treated like family. The little onsen was fantastic, and the shared bathrooms were comfortable, very clean, and had everything we needed. There’s a shuttle to the train station. If you arrive by taxi, they’ll reimburse the fare. We really recommend this place ♥️

I loved the baths. Both communal baths have a small outdoor section, which was especially lovely in the cold November air. I was unsure about bathing communally because I have tattoos, but it wasn’t a problem. There’s no private bath, and the two shared ones alternate between men and women each day. The doors are locked at 11pm, though that didn’t bother us since there isn’t much open late anyway. The owners were very sweet and accommodating, and took an interest in our plans. The rooms are small but cozy, with comfortable futons, a fridge, TV, AC, and fan. They’re a little dated but feel homely. Yukata are provided for men and women. The men’s L size fit my XL husband nicely. I wish we’d stayed here for the rest of our trip.

Quiet and relaxing, with clean rooms near the river. The futons were comfy, the AC worked well, and there’s an automatic coffee maker in the lobby.

Walking from Takayama station took about 15 minutes, with a river view along the way. The ryokan felt like a welcome break from the city. The rooms were beautiful, the futons very comfortable, and yukatas were laid out for us to wear. Even though neither the staff nor I spoke much of the other’s language, we managed to communicate with our limited English and Japanese. They were so welcoming and friendly that I didn’t mind. I’d never tried communal bathing before, something I knew about from watching anime, and found it surprisingly relaxing. Some guests didn’t seem to know they should wash before getting into the bath water.