An amazing onsen-hotel in central Takayama with a rooftop onsen that has an astonishing view of the town and surrounding area (in addition of being a pretty decent onsen in its own right, both indoor and outdoor, plus private alternatives to the main public facility). The view from the upper floor rooms is also exceptional, and as mentioned at the start, location almost cannot get any better. The room itself it pretty decent (with a minor caveat, see below), and with a bed that feels like a modern take on the traditional futon. Can also recommend the breakfast option. While I would not say there is no room for improvement, in this price category, and in this location, it deserves a 10/10!

Last time I went to Takayama Ouan, I was astonished how big and well-thought out the room was. The room I got this time (should have been same category, same price) was still pretty decent, but not quite the same level, so do be aware that there is a variety in the room designs, sizes and layouts. Otherwise, sure, you might be able to get a better experience if you would pay a few hundred more GBP or USD, but in this price category, and in Takayama (or at a similar location), you cannot expect to get any better.

The Mountain View from the hotel room is remarkable. The amenities such as onsen hot spring, restaurant, etc are excellent. Just a friendly suggestion for the instructions of the onsen room: 1. View the plan of the 3 onsen rooms on the wall. 2. Decide one of the 3 onsen rooms that you would like to use. 3. Then, look for the line/area with the name of your desired onsen room. There are 3 sitting areas with the name of each onsen room. 4. Queue by sitting on the stool (tree trunk) placed in each line/area of your desired onsen room.

None

We can’t recommend this place enough! Fantastic location, only 4 mins away from Takayama Station, 30 mins walk to Hida no sato (the folk village). There are no shoes allowed inside the hotel, you take them off when you enter and put them in a locker. The interior design of the hotel is so beautiful, looks very traditional, with tatami floors throughout and japanese style rooms with huge futon beds. Our room was really big, and only cost us €50 per night - crazy value for money. They have a public onsen and 3 private ones on the 13th floor, the private onsens are on a first come first served basis, with a 30 mins time limit. On the same floor they offer free icecream. Every night for 1 hour they give out free bowls of ramen, it’s not fancy ramen but it’s a very nice gesture and it’s free so what more could you ask for. There’s even a free to use foot bath, just outside the main entrance, with hot spring water, which anyone can use, whether they are a guest at the hotel or not. All in all we had a fantastic stay and would happily come back anytime. Hotel Ouan, おつかれさまでした.

Everything was perfect.

An absolutely amazing onsen-hotel in central Takayama that way exceeded my expectations. The staff were friendly, the public areas of the hotel were very nice and with plenty of facilities, and the rooftop onsen (both indoors and outdoors, and both public and private alternatives) was exceptional! You could also see pretty much all of beautiful Takayama from the onsen (as well as from the upper floor rooms), which is a major plus, and as I mentioned at the start, location cannot get any better. The room itself is really good (and very well thought-out), especially when considering the price, and the bed was a significant improvement over the usual futon (yet kept the traditional look). I dare say that in this price category, and in this location, you cannot get any better!

Nothing really; sure, you might be able to get a better experience if you would pay a few hundred more GBP or USD, but in this price category, and in Takayama (or at a similar location), it cannot get any better.

The whole experience was exceptional. Such a relaxing and comfortable experience. The beds were unbelievably comfy, the breakfast is phenomenal with a wide range of high quality western and Japanese foods. You put your shoes in a locker beside reception and the whole hotel is tatami mats. The private onsens are such a treat and we never had to wait more than 20 minutes to use them. There are free lollies outside the onsen for guests to enjoy. They also offer free ramen in their restaurant from 9.30-10.30pm for guests. The staff are so friendly and can’t do enough for you. We are already planning our trip back there to stay again. 100% recommend.

Nothing - everything was amazing!

Takayama was a lovely location to escape some of the more well-known cities and explore a more traditional feeling Japan. Previously known for its many sake distilleries, you can visit one of the seven remaining and learn about the full process whilst sampling many varieties! Some very nice local shops as well as lots of places to try Hida beef. The hotel was beautiful with a big reception, very large rooms and great facilities including free to use private onsen. If you want to try the private onsen you can do this without reservation in 30-minute slots, but avoid evenings as it gets very, very busy. We went at 15:00 and nobody was queuing, so the earlier the better! The hotel also offers free evening ramen between 21:00 - 22:00!

We had such a great stay at the Takayama Ouan! There's something about walking around the hotel in your slippers and yukata as you alternate from onsen to onsen. The three private onsens on the top floor are great! Better yet are the public baths which feature large warm spas, cold plunges and a sauna. Once discovering these, it was hard to keep us away. After a big day of hiking or sight seeing, there isn't anything much better than winding down in the outdoor onsen — looking out over the city. Once you're done in the spa, grab a free icecream on your way down to the dining area for a free bowl of ramen. I miss Takayama — would stay again.

The hotel is only a 4 min walk from the station and very close to other landmarks nearby even hida folk village! The staff was amazing and the whole hotel is strictly no shoes policy. They provide comfortable socks to walk around the hotel areas which gives a very pleasant and traditional feel as all the rooms and hotel floors are tatami! The hotel also has public onsen for men and women while also providing for 3 different private onsen which during our stay did not have trouble finding vacant! All onsen are really good! The hotel also provides lots of amenities, and price included drinks, coffees, night ramen and ice creams which were delicious after having a relaxing onsen. Highly recommended for the traditional element of the rooms and the onsen! Breakfast has plenty of choices both western and traditional! I highly recommend to try the local breakfast options.

Rooms do not have usb sockets but the staff provided adapters so it is not a minus just mentioning it!

The hot springs at this property are so nice! There are three private rooms for use, as well as lovely men’s and women’s spa areas, complete with a variety of hair and skin products. The hotel has parking, amenities like a kettle and pajamas in the rooms, and lots of free extras like decent coffee in the lobby, ice cream on the top floor, ramen at 21:00, and a cute little foot spa outside the hotel. This location is walkable to downtown for the morning markets, shopping, restaurants, etc., and also a close drive to Shirakawago. We had a great time!

We always wish there wasn’t a no tattoo policy at hot springs in Japan (we write this in all our reviews so hopefully someday it will change!).

We loved our stay at Takayama Ouan Ryokan Hotel. The location is excellent, making it easy to explore Takayama, and the value for the price is outstanding. The onsen was a highlight — relaxing and beautifully maintained. Our room was immaculate and very comfortable. Breakfast was delicious with a great variety, and we especially enjoyed the free noodles at night and the snacks after the onsen. Highly recommended for a memorable stay in Takayama!

We booked two rooms (for two adults and two kids of 12 and 10 years), fully paid in advance, but I was told during check-in that I had to pay almost 7000 JPY there for the 10 years old kid