Hida Takayama Guest House OUKA

Sakura Guest House is a hidden gem in Takayama. I stayed here for 4 consecutive nights. I arrived at Takayama Station by local train from Toyama, transferring at Inotani Station, a journey of about 2 hours in total, costing 1690 yen. From the East Exit of Takayama Station, I turned left and walked straight along the main road for about 700 meters, reaching the guesthouse in about 10 minutes. From the guesthouse, it's a walkable distance to tourist attractions like Miyagawa Morning Market, the historical preservation area of Machiya, Takayama Jinya, Jinya Morning Market, Hachiman-gu Shrine's grand torii gate, and Higashiyama Walking Course. It's also convenient to take the Nohi Bus to destinations like Shirakawa-go, Kamikochi, and Shinhotaka. I stayed in a mixed dormitory bunk bed on the second floor, which has 10 beds. The bedding was soft and comfortable. The entire guesthouse is clean and beautiful, with complete facilities, including a drying area. There are 4 spacious shower rooms on the first floor, and a total of 4 women's restrooms on both the first and second floors. The first floor also has a communal lounge and a common kitchen equipped with an induction cooker, refrigerator, microwave, oven, kettle, tea bags, and coffee. You can buy ingredients at a nearby large supermarket and cook your own meals. On the second floor, there's a coin-operated washing machine (300 yen per wash) and a dryer (100 yen for 20 minutes). What was truly touching and memorable was how exceptionally gentle and friendly the owners were. Their service was incredibly thoughtful and warm. Despite me not knowing English or Japanese, they patiently explained everything to me using a translator, constantly emphasizing that I should feel free to approach them with any questions. My bottom bunk (bed C) didn't have a privacy panel at the head of the bed, which I felt lacked privacy and caused disturbance when others came to this corner to retrieve their luggage. When I raised this issue with the owner, he immediately found cardboard and taped it up, allowing me to sleep peacefully. I felt very safe and warm because of this. This guesthouse is the best place to stay when traveling solo in Takayama, offering excellent value for money. I had a wonderful and pleasant trip here. I absolutely love Takayama and will definitely return to stay here again. See you next time!"

Stayed one night in Takayama and specifically chose the Japanese-style room at Sakura Ryokan. It was my first time sleeping on a traditional Japanese tatami mat, quite a unique experience! I was a bit unaccustomed to the room having no TV or chairs at first, but I guess that's characteristic of traditional Japanese rooms. I slept really well and woke up feeling refreshed for breakfast at the Miyagawa Morning Market the next day. Definitely recommended!