Hotels With Pools in Gifu Prefecture, Japan

The hotel room is pretty big by Japan standards, and the feeling of the hotel is really grand! Lots of locals were staying there, but the rooms are a little bit dated. The toilet lights were quite dim and the bathrooms could use an update. However, everything worked perfectly and the stay was still extremely enjoyable! The hotel is situated right next to a bus stop so that makes things super convenient! There’s also a family mart behind the hotel (shortcut! go out of the main door, turn right, walk down the ramp, immediately turn right and right again into the small path, go up the stairs past the hotel park, then turn left and cross the small roads, and you’ll find the konbini) The hotel also rents out bicycles to hotel guests FOC, so you can take the bike literally anywhere! We rode to the supermarket (~10 mins away) and also down by the river (10/10 recommended!) and just explored lots around! Gifu is a lovely quiet town and we would definitely recommend it to anyone looking to experience a side of Japan that isn’t just Tokyo or Osaka.

To be honest considering this has a 4 star rating I'm a bit disappointed. Generally speaking it is a nice place but there are small things that are lacking compared to other similar Onsen Hotels at the same price. For example they don't provide a basket to go to the onsen but only a cheap plastic bag. The Hotel itself is very old but well maintained and at least the general spaces use nice materials and decoration. Once you reach the room it becomes worse. The materials used in the room are very cheap (Vinyl Floor, Cheap Wallpaper that was put on very poorly). Some aspects of the room have been refurnished, like the sink but most of it seems to be original from the 60s-80s. The bathtub and Toilet are retro models. The Onsen baths are a mixed bag - the one on the third floor with Wood ceiling seems to be the newest and is the best of the three. The other two (panorama and first floor) are in dire need of refurbishing. They seem in very bad condition and extremly old. The worst part (for me) was the Breakfast. 90% of the selection was japanese Style (and even that seemed poor). Western Options were only Pancakes, French Toast (which was good at least) and a few sad pieces of low quality bread with condiments. They didn't even have a coffee machine!!! Only pre-brewed coffee that tasted like water.

The assigned room was not the one I booked. Instead of East Wing with a mountain view, I got assigned to South Wing, not sure if it is a mountain view but definitely not what I expected (I will attach a photo). But generally, I still had a fantastic experience there. The location is great for me because it is near Shinhotaka Ropeway. The open air onsen was beautiful, I liked it a lot, and went every night. The food was fantastic too! I am not well versed with Japanese food culture, but basically it was the traditional course meal (only dinner) you probably will have in a decent Japanese restaurant. I am a vegetarian, the hotel is prepared for my diet every breakfast and dinner. I must say I am really amazed with their food culture and knife skill. Their front desk was helpful with my needs too like a nail cutter, plaster etc.

The hotel has a nice surrounding environment with beautiful scenery, mainly mountain views, with red autumn leaves against a blue sky. The hot springs are also good. However, the location is a bit remote, only suitable for self-driving tours. Moreover, it does not provide catering services. If you want to eat, you have to drive more than ten minutes to Nakatsugawa City to find a place. You must plan ahead for this.

**Cons:** - I had a disappointing experience with one of the drivers. He was very rude and had a bad attitude, especially when we couldn't understand his Japanese. Even though we didn't understand everything he said, his demeanor made us feel uncomfortable and negatively impacted our stay. **Pros:** - The hotel's location is very convenient, with shuttle service available. - The views from the hotel are beautiful. - The facilities are well-equipped and very clean. Overall, while the hotel has many positive aspects, the encounter with the driver left a sour note on our experience. I hope management can address this issue to ensure future guests have a more pleasant experience.

Check in very convenient when we arrived about 8pm, the staff are very friendly, helpful and speaking English. Takayama Bus Center and JR Takayama station only 5 minutes walk. Check some day tour that available from Takayama Bus Center which is very easy to join. Many restaurants nearby and souvenir shops at the main street. Big room and more than enough space to put our 2 big luggage. A bit unstable hot water from the shower but overall is no complaint and we have a pleasant stay at this hotel.

This hotel is definitely worth recommending! They knew we were staying for two nights, so they varied the breakfast and dinner offerings, which was a nice touch. Just like the day before, each room comes with a private onsen. If you're looking for privacy, a romantic space with your partner, and the opportunity to take some intimate photos in the hot spring, this place is absolutely the perfect choice.