Extremely overpriced — luxury ryokan prices, hostel-level experience
This was one of the most disappointing stays of our Japan trips over the years among approx. 35 hotels we have been stayed.
The biggest problem is that the price bears almost no relationship to the actual quality of the property.
The rooms are dated, the facilities are tired, and the sound insulation is shockingly poor. On our first night, our room was directly facing the private bath area. We could hear guests repeatedly coming and going throughout the evening. Even after the baths closed at 11pm, the sound of running hot-spring water continued throughout the entire night.
We complained the following day. To the hotel’s credit, the staff consulted the owner and moved us to a more expensive room. This was the one thing the hotel handled properly, and I genuinely appreciated it.
Unfortunately, the second room was no better when it came to noise. The guests above us were running and jumping around until after 2am, and the building’s extremely poor sound insulation meant we could hear it clearly. Two consecutive nights of seriously disrupted sleep is simply unacceptable for a hotel charging this level of price.
And then there is the service.
At check-in, we were initially told that parking would cost extra. We showed the staff that our booking clearly stated that parking was free. Instead of knowing their own booking conditions, the staff had to photograph the booking and consult the owner before finally allowing us to park without charge. Check-in was also unnecessarily slow, with staff appearing inexperienced.
What really bothered us, however, was the overall philosophy of the property.
The hotel appears to be selling a packaged version of “Japanese culture” — yukata, private baths, traditional-style rooms and so on — but the actual experience feels much closer to a dated hostel with a Japanese theme than a quality ryokan.
Even small details reinforce this impression. The yukata provided were surprisingly poor quality, futon was not comfortable and the texture was cheap, while the toilet paper came with a notice essentially telling guests to use one roll before opening the second. On their own these details are trivial. Taken together, they create a very strong impression of a property that is trying to minimise operating costs while charging premium prices.
There is nothing wrong with targeting international tourists, but this hotel feels particularly designed around selling the idea of a Japanese experience to WESTERN visitors rather than delivering the level of Japanese hospitality that its pricing suggests. During our stay, almost all the guests appeared to be Western tourists.
For travellers who are unfamiliar with Japanese ryokan culture, the property may initially look charming and authentic. But if you have experienced genuinely good Japanese ryokan hospitality, the difference becomes very obvious.
The hotel did respond positively to our first complaint, and I want to acknowledge that. During our stay, the staff were positively friendly. But an upgrade cannot fix a fundamental building problem, and polite staff cannot justify an unreasonable price.
For those considering booking, this is not a luxury ryokan experience. It is a dated, hostel-like property packaged as a Japanese cultural experience and priced far beyond what the actual product warrants.
I would strongly recommend comparing other ryokan options in Takayama before booking this one. We certainly would not stay here again.
