I wanted to experience not only the bustling cities of Japan, but also the more traditional rural areas as well. I was drawn to Takayama primarily because of its beautifully preserved Old Town. Finding accommodation was challenging, especially since I was determined to stay in a ryokan in Takayama.
Best ryokan in Takayama – Oyado Koto No Yume
Why choose Takayama?
I spent three days in Takayama in April this year and I have so much to share about this charming city in the Japanese Alps, that I wrote a comprehensive post about it. Takayama has a well-preserved Old Town with Edo period buildings and houses, and exploring it feels like stepping back in time. You can time your visit to coincide with the Takayama Spring or Autumn festival, which are two of Japan’s biggest festivals.
I was actually unaware of the Spring festival event held in Takayama at the time of booking, I just wanted to stay in a traditional ryokan, so that I could experience an onsen. Oyado Koto No Yume has both a public and private onsen for guest use only. Takayama is also conveniently located near onsen towns in the Japanese Alps easily accessible by train. Perfect!
Takayama is a popular destination with tourists and Japanese locals, both appreciating it’s history, accessibility and beauty.
Why stay in a Ryokan?
If you have decided to visit a beautiful historic town like Takayama then why not complete the experience by staying in a traditional ryokan? Ryokans are traditional Japanese Inns that offer not only onsen but also traditional style rooms, cuisine and hospitality.
I did my research, and I think I found the best ryokan in Takayama! From the moment I arrived, I fell in love with Oyado Koto No Yume.
Location of Oyado Koto No Yume
I arrived in Takayama by train from Kyoto aboard the scenic Hida line. The last half of the journey was very scenic once you get out of the city. Passing icy blue rivers flowing through gorges and travelling through mountain tunnels, we arrived in Takayama after approximately 3 hours.
From the Takayama train station, Oyado Koto No Yume is less than a 5-minute flat walk away. The front entrance is unassuming and quietly tucked away from the road behind noren (little curtains). Behind the curtains is a little garden oasis that welcomes you and straight away makes you feel more relaxed. There is also signage out the front, so you will find it.
I was early, check-in is at 3pm. The hotel will store your luggage so you can start exploring as soon as you get there. Just as well, because it was day 1 of the Spring festival and I wanted to get out there as soon as I could! I will be detailing the Spring festival in Takayama in my next post…. stay tuned!
The Old Town is a few blocks walk from the hotel towards the Miyagawa River, close enough to easily walk to, but far enough away from the craziness when it gets busy with tourists.
Room Tour
I stayed in a Japanese-style Superior Twin room, and it was wonderful! I will say from the start that room rates were a little expensive (the exchange rate with $AU is fairly comparable to the Yen, so if traveling from the US you might find it a bargain! 😁). Unaware at the time of booking that I was traveling to Takayama at the height of peak season i.e. the Spring Festival, which explains the higher room rates, I struggled to find accommodation in the area at all. Be aware, if you are travelling to Takayama in April or October, the time of their Spring and Autumn Festivals, you will need to book well in advance.
From the moment you arrive at Oyado Koto No Yume, you feel transported back to another time, another place where you feel welcomed and relaxed. Staff instruct you to remove your shoes, which are then stored in little lockers out the back, and you slip your feet into comfy slippers as you are escorted to a lounge area to complete the check-in process.
As I entered my room, once again, slippers are removed, and you step up to a wooden platform with the bathroom door to the left and the toilet door to the right, separated from the main living area by a sliding panel. I adored the tatami mat floor, the low Kotatsu table heated during the colder months to keep your legs warm, even though the room has air conditioning. There is a comfy couch for seating, as well as the usual hotel accessories.
Guests choose what type of room cleaning they would like during their stay. I chose the regular cleaning option, and a futon was made up for me every afternoon.
Let me talk briefly about the toiletries supplied in your room. I was told that I didn’t need to pack toiletries as everything you could possibly want is supplied at each hotel. I really wanted to believe this as I was packing carry-on luggage only and wanted to pack light. Well, it is true! My room had everything – hairbrush, hair bands (in multiple colours!), razor, toothbrush, cleanser, moisturizer, body soap, shampoo and conditioner).
I found in other hotels I stayed at during my trip, there was no coffee or black tea available in your room. Oyado Koto No Yume had both! I don’t mind a green tea. which they have in abundance in Japan, but I do love a black tea at the end of a busy day, and it was most welcome not to have to buy my own.
Facilities at Oyado Koto No Yume
As I said earlier, one of the main reasons I came to Takayama was to experience an onsen. Oyado Koto No Yume has both a public and private onsen for guest use only. The private bath is not actually an onsen but rather a heated pool, ideal for couples because both sexes can bath together. I wanted to experience the real thing!
An onsen is a Japanese hot spring bathing facility, and ryokans are usually built around them. The water in an onsen comes from geothermally heated natural springs and typically contains a variety of minerals. Japan has many active volcanoes, and so has an abundance of onsen in the Japanese Alps area.
Here’s the thing, in traditional onsen, people bathe nude and so are usually separated by gender. Being a shy westerner, I could have booked the private onsen and had the whole place to myself, but I was determined to push myself out of my comfort zone and experience onsen the traditional way. More on my traditional onsen experience in my next post! For now, let me say that public onsen facilities at Oyado Koto No Yume were beautiful, with both an indoor and an open-air bath to choose from, but you don’t make reservations for these.
Apart from the onsen, Oyado Koto No Yume has a laundry facility for those that travel light and need to do a little washing. There is also a microwave on the ground floor which is handy when you don’t want to go out to eat and just grab some food from the local supermarket (which is amazing by the way!) and eat in your room.
There is also a small gift shop on the ground floor next to the lounge area, where you can pick up all sorts of items…perfect for last minute souvenir shopping when you have bought many things for yourself but forgot about the people at home! 😉
On the second floor is the dining room. I honestly didn’t realize how big the hotel was until I saw guests in the dining room. It has such an intimate vibe, I thought there was only a handful of rooms. Slippers are removed before entering the dining room and stored in little shoe lockers near the entry.
The hotel offers breakfast only to guests and hotel staff are attentive and friendly, while also allowing you to dine in peace.
Breakfast
Initially, I chose not to include breakfast in my stay, determined to get out and explore the town. However, the day starts slowly in Japan. Not many places are open in the morning. So, I signed up for breakfast and I’m so glad I did!
I was staying for the three nights, and the hotel offered three breakfast options…. perfect! I tried all three! All were delicious and staples such as coffee, juice, cereals, salads etc. were always on offer. If I had to choose a favourite I would say the Japanese breakfast just for the experience of it. Cooking your own dish at the table on a little BBQ was fun. Any allergies or food intolerances were catered for.
The Little Extras
It’s the little extras that make a hotel stay a truly special one.
Each guest is supplied with a casual Yukata (a Japanese-style dressing gown), that guests wear throughout the hotel, even down to breakfast.
What I absolutely loved is both men and women get to choose a formal Yukata when you check in, and the staff offer to help you dress in it. I chose a blue one with a yellow and blue obi (sash and bow). The staff were so lovely, even offering to take photos of me dressed in my Yukata. The special socks needed to wear the Japanese sandals, are yours to keep!
I loved the little note left on the pillow on my futon, wishing me a good night’s sleep with a little origami crane.
As I was checking out, the staff offered me a pack of postcards as a memento of my stay. How fitting for me and such a lovely gesture!
Staying at Oyado Koto No Yume was a highlight of my trip to Japan. I can highly recommend a night or two here. If you have been or if you go after reading this post, I would love to hear about your experience there and whether you loved it as much as I did.
Deb Morrow is a wife and mum of two in her 50’s, who works in education. She has a passion for travel and through sharing her travel experiences, tips and recommendations, wants to encourage other women her age to start making time for themselves, grab their besties, and go see the world!
