Ryokan Kaminaka

The staff were very kind, and we enjoyed a traditional breakfast. You can reserve a time for the onsen. We had a room overlooking the garden, and it was beautiful and worth having.

The room was spacious and comfortable, just like the photos, and the ryokan felt peaceful and authentic. My girlfriend and I stayed one night. The owner was very warm and keen to help, and breakfast was a generous, tasty spread with cooked fish, meat, and omelet. You can reserve the onsen at reception at no charge. It’s private for you during your booking, changing room included. The shared bathrooms and the onsen changing area were always spotless.

Breakfast came in six courses and was delicious. The people looking after the place were genuinely friendly and ready to help. It’s a traditional Japanese house right in the city center, with roomy guest rooms, shared bathrooms, and a free onsen reservation for private use. Everything was perfectly clean. I’d recommend it without hesitation.

They were so accommodating when we mentioned our early train and offered to start breakfast half an hour ahead of the usual time. The meal was a real spread, with miso soup, fruit, matcha, rice, and more. We had hoba miso on day one and Hida beef on the second, two Takayama specialties we’d hoped to try. The owner even came outside to say goodbye and stayed in the cold until we’d turned the corner and were out of sight. That felt like the height of Japanese hospitality. My husband and I had a lovely stay in a spacious tatami room. It had a small balcony with a table and chairs, though it was too cold to sit out there, and the room itself was nicely heated. They also provided something to warm the futons. The place was extremely clean, including the shared toilet and the hot bath, which you can reserve for the whole family at once. There were fresh towels and yukatas for our second night. Even with a shared toilet, I never had to wait, so it didn’t seem like many guests were using it. The breakfast room was warm and communal too. This felt like staying in a Japanese home without having to cook or clean. I’d highly recommend the ryokan to anyone wanting to try one in Takayama.