Sumiya Seica

This cozy townhouse is close to Takayama’s main sights and has everything we needed. The welcome fridge was incredibly generous. Thanks, Sumi, for the great communication before and during our stay. We hope to come back soon.

Check-in and check-out were handled by mobile, and it was easy to find our way. My wife and I spent two hours talking to music from the lamps and speakers. The Japanese-style room was relaxing, and the separate bedrooms stayed quiet. We came on a Takayama trip and had no trouble parking in the lot next door. Several restaurants are within walking distance. For breakfast, you can get rice balls and beef soup at the morning market along the river. The first floor has the Momiji Terrace and open-air bath. It takes 50 minutes to fill the bath, so start early. The first-floor Sakura Terrace feels a bit enclosed and is sure to have bugs, so I’d recommend the second-floor Sakura Terrace. There’s time to take a slow walk along the river or visit the temples.

The autumn leaves looked lovely from the second-floor terrace, where we ate the breakfast we’d requested and listened to the river. The rice balls were all delicious, with some fillings apparently made from Hida ingredients. I appreciated being able to choose white or brown rice. Since I often overeat when traveling and had some heartburn, the basket-shaped rice bowl, rice balls, and miso soup were soothing. Before the trip, the concierge kindly answered all my questions, from nearby autumn leaf spots within walking distance of the old town to souvenir ideas for people in their 50s. I’d searched online too, but learned about several shops I hadn’t found, which made our time beyond the inn more enjoyable. The inn was clean and well stocked with dishes and a washing machine, detergent included. There was a dryer too, and the quality cosmetics and other amenities meant we didn’t need to pack much. We visited when the autumn colors were at their best. As soon as we entered, the thoughtful hospitality and the designer’s details had us excited to look around. Even after exploring for a while, we kept spotting new things whenever we lay down and saw the rooms from another angle. We enjoyed discovering details right up to checkout. I hear they run other inns besides Seika, and I’d like to try one next time. Thank you so much!

The town of Hida Takayama was wonderful, but Sumiya Seika impressed us even more. We stayed with a group on October 24, 2021, and the designer-made interior felt like an artist’s villa, carefully finished down to the smallest detail, almost like a work of art. The thoughtful hospitality and attention to detail made our stay very comfortable. Breakfast was delicious too. Staying at Tawaraya Ryokan in Kyoto, known as one of Japan’s finest inns, had shown me that a truly great inn offers a special experience beyond just a place to sleep. Sumiya Seika is worth it, and I’d definitely stay again on a visit to Hida Takayama. Thank you very much.