The Takayama Station Hostel

We were surprised by how big the place was, even after seeing the photos. It’s really an apartment, with a large bedroom, a cute tatami-style floor table and two chairs for meals, plus a desk and another chair for a laptop and a private balcony. The kitchen had everything we needed, and there was a nice shower, separate toilet, and our own washing machine. The staff and services were lovely, and it felt like excellent value. The location is great, just a 30-second walk from Takayama Station and the bus stop for Nagoya, Shirakawa, and other destinations. One small suggestion: the TV isn’t smart, so it would be nice to stream YouTube or other services in the evening. A Google or Android TV dongle would do the job, no new TV needed.

I liked how easy check-in was, and they had extra amenities and treats for guests. The hotel is beside the Nohi bus center, but I never noticed any noise. The old townscape is about a 10-minute walk away, and there’s a FamilyMart across from the bus center plus a couple of large grocery stores nearby. For this price, the location and amenities are hard to beat. The clean bedroom had plenty of space, and there were separate shower and toilet rooms. The mini kitchen came with cooking and dining utensils, basic fridge condiments, a water heater, and a microwave. The in-room washer had a built-in drying function with no coins needed, which was really useful. I’d probably book here again if I return to Takayama.

Right next to the train station, too. Walking into the room genuinely surprised me: it was much more than a room, more like a home set up for a family to live comfortably. There’s a kitchen and a washer and dryer. What more could you ask for?

After traveling around Japan for a while, I was so glad to land here. I’ve stayed in several five-star hotels in Japan, but this room had a kitchen, a washer and dryer right inside, and loads of storage, so I could finally unpack for a couple of days. The staff were kind, and it’s beside the train station with an easy walk into the old town.