Hot Springs Hotels in Gifu Prefecture, Japan

Hotel and Spa Gift Takayama, nestled near Takayama Old Town, perfectly blends traditional Japanese style with modern amenities. The onsen (hot spring) water is incredibly smooth, and the open-air bath offers stunning mountain views, washing away any travel fatigue. Rooms are spacious and spotless, and the dinner kaiseki features local ingredients like Hida beef. The service is meticulous and thoughtful. It offers exceptional value for money and is an ideal choice for experiencing Takayama's culture.

The hotel is very close to JR Takayama Station. After exiting the station, you don't need to cross the road; just turn right towards Tokyu Stay, and you'll find it after passing Ajikura Tengoku. The hotel's decor is very unique. We booked a corner triple room, so the space was incredibly spacious and comfortable. Besides drip coffee and tea bags, the room also provided bottled mineral water. There's an open-air bath on the 9th floor – simply flawless. Before my trip, I read many reviews recommending Hida beef, but to my dismay, I discovered Ajikura Tengoku was closed when I arrived (ugh!). Luckily, I quickly found Maruaki, a famous Hida beef restaurant open year-round. The beef was incredibly rich and fatty – you'll definitely fall in love with Hida beef! I'm already planning to come back next year! 😋

May 15-16, 2024 From the moment we saw photos of this special place on the internet, we knew we had to stay here! The natural rock onsen baths caught our imagination - and our stay was wonderful beyond expectations! The resort is located in a forested valley is stunning, next to a rushing river. Natural mountain hot spring water is channeled into 7 lovely outdoor onsen baths, as well as ensuite baths. The facility is beautifully designed with gardens and multi-level suites, with each of the levels looking out to the river, with plenty of seating to enjoy the relaxing and lovely views. We were treated with limitless thoughtful hospitality from the moment we arrived, to the moment we left - in fact, one of our group kept commenting ”the y[the staff] must think we're really special!”. The suite was beautifully appointed with tatami mats, traditional Japanese decor, comfortable beds, yukata and slippers are provided along with tabi socks and plenty of clean linens. Our suite had its own private onsen bath encircled by natural stones, and constantly running hot spring water. Such a contrast to water-parched California and even Hawaii where we're from! The outdoor onsens are open all night, for viewing of the starry night sky. The kaiseki dinner was exceptional, with many many delicious small plates, each exquisitely prepared and presented - a petite, freshly caught local fish was skewered as if swimming and roasted in a salt shell. Utterly delicious! In the morning, after a similarly wonderful breakfast, we experienced a mochi-pounding session with the hotel staff and guests joining in - lots of fun - photos were provided! Transportation - It was a challenge figuring out how to get to this place - finally, we had a Japanese-speaking hotel clerk call the resort, and got instructions for the 1-hour bus ride from Takayama bus station to Shinhotaka Onsen / Nakao Kou-gen-guchi. There are buses running every hour! We walked to the resort from the bus stop when we arrived, and a shuttle van to the bus stop was thoughtfully provided by the resort when we left. PS) I was unable to upload photos. Please provide an email, because you won't want to miss seeing this beautiful place!

The hotel is quite close to the railway, about a 5-6 minute walk. The private hot spring bath offers a beautiful night view of the mountains. If you're visiting Takayama in winter, taking the train is a must – the snowy mountain scenery is absolutely stunning.

Traveling to and from Nagoya by bus, this hotel is super close to the Nohi Bus Center, making its location very convenient. Hida Beef Restaurant Ajikura Tengoku is also nearby, about a 3-minute walk away. The room felt a bit small. The Premium Twin room is probably meant for up to three people, but for two guests, it felt like a waste of space. The hotel's cleaning service was also minimal; they changed towels and emptied the trash, which was sufficient. On the second floor, you can enjoy drinks and relax. I didn't visit the large public bath, but I did try the foot bath, and since no one else was there, it was quite relaxing.

This might be the highest hot spring hotel in Gero. If you miss the shuttle, it's quite a walk uphill. The hotel is divided into the old wing and the new wing. The old wing has a lot of mosquitoes and poor soundproofing, while the new wing, though newer, lacks some of the old wing's charm. We stayed in the new wing with a private hot spring, but it was extremely small; the photos on Trip.com can be misleading.

The environment here is great, and the shuttle bus service is very convenient. The hot spring area has several indoor and outdoor pools of varying sizes, so even when it's crowded, people can spread out. However, there's a lot of room for improvement in the service. The shuttle bus driver on our return trip didn't help with luggage, and when there was an issue with our pre-booked meal, the restaurant staff's attitude was quite stiff. Thankfully, the Trip.com customer service was quick to respond, which somewhat alleviated the unpleasantness caused by these issues.

Environment and Service: The hotel is quite large and relatively new, with a big courtyard perfect for a stroll. There's also a shuttle service to and from the station. The only minor drawback is that rooms on one side face the train tracks, which can be a bit noisy, and the soundproofing isn't great.

Our stay at Ryokan Gizan was a truly memorable experience. This is a traditionally built and decorated Japanese ryokan, with tatami floors, sliding doors, and an authentic atmosphere that makes you feel fully immersed in Japanese culture. It’s definitely a “must-visit” if you’re looking to experience traditional Japanese accommodation — even a short stay of 2–3 nights is enough to make it special. The ryokan is quite old, which actually adds to its authentic charm, though it might feel a bit less comfortable for more demanding guests. That said, it’s very well maintained and everything is clean and thoughtfully arranged. The onsen facilities were excellent — one public bath and four private ones that you can use freely. After long days of exploring, it was a real treat. We highly recommend booking with the traditional dinner included. The meals were a highlight: we had Yakiniku the first night and Shabu-shabu the second, both featuring fresh, generous portions of delicious food. Breakfast was a traditional Japanese set — beautifully presented and made with care, though not quite to our personal taste. The location is stunning — surrounded by mountains, rivers, and blossoming trees. It feels peaceful and remote. Just note that amenities like ATMs or grocery stores are limited nearby. However, it’s well connected by bus (just a 3-minute walk from the ryokan), which can take you to Kamikochi or the terminals at Takayama and Hirayu Onsen. Buses run about once an hour, so it’s quite manageable. Overall, a fantastic stay — relaxing, unique, and highly recommended for anyone looking to experience a more traditional and scenic side of Japan.

Beautiful traditional Property! The property had plenty of onsen baths available and also has a private Bath you could book for ¥3300. There is also a swimming pool with the bathwater. The hotel is very child friendly and has an arcade with games and claw machines. Recommend to bring cash so you can play the games in the arcade to entertain the kids. The property is very convenient within a three minute walking distance from the train station. There is also a free shuttle bus that will pick up / drop off passengers from the train station once you get out of Gero train station it is directly there it takes less than 1 minute to drive to the property very convenient if we have a lot of luggage.