Takayama Ouan

Rooms and decor

Takayama Ouan opened in 2017 — an 8-storey modern-Japanese building in dark wood and grey, about a 7-minute walk from JR Takayama Station. The lobby is minimalist Japanese, with a big wooden table, an ikebana arrangement and a sumi-e ink painting under a high ceiling. Staff greet you with a bow, a cup of hoji-cha and a small manju sweet — it feels like walking into a ryokan, just a modern one. Guests booked a Twin Standard of 22 sqm at around $177 a night: raised twin beds, a small tatami corner for tea, and a window over the town. The bathroom is a Japanese unit-bath with a combined shower and tub, a Toto Washlet, and Pola Japan toiletries. A free yukata and obi belt come with the room — wear it in the room and to the onsen — along with slippers and four towels.

Food and amenities

The in-house steak restaurant, Hida Beef Steak Yamatake, sits on the 1st floor and serves only A5 Hida-gyu, with the beef coming in daily from Hida Beef Association farms. The set steak is a 150g portion for about $43 per person, plated with Hida rice, miso soup, nukazuke vegetables and a dessert. They cook the steak on charcoal at the table — medium-rare in a few minutes — and the marbling is excellent. It works out roughly 90% cheaper than the Honjin Hiranoya kaiseki for the same grade of beef, which is what makes it a foodie pick. Breakfast is a buffet for 1,800 yen (about $12), and Wi-Fi is fast throughout.

Location and getting there

You're in the centre of town here. It's a 7-minute walk from JR Takayama Station and 8 minutes to Sanmachi Old Town — the three Edo-era streets lined with 17th-century black wooden buildings, several still working sake breweries. There's no shuttle, but you won't need one. The catch is the onsen timing: it gets busy from 18:00 to 20:00, the pre-dinner rush, so it's worth going earlier or later.

Things to know before booking

The rooms lean minimalist and start at 18 sqm, smaller than a standard hotel room, so set expectations if you like space. There's no shuttle from the station — fine at a 7-minute walk, less fine with heavy luggage. And the public onsen fills up in that 18:00-20:00 window before dinner. One way around the crowding: the free private bath, which you can book in a 50-minute slot at reception. There are 4 of them, each with a hinoki wood tub and Hida Onsen mineral water, decorated with large stones and fresh flowers.

Our take

Takayama Ouan is a modern take on the ryokan — you get the atmosphere without paying luxury rates. The rooftop onsen on the 8th floor looks out over the city, the private bath is free, the Hida-gyu steak is in the building, and you can walk to Sanmachi. It scores 8.9/10 across 800+ reviews, with rates from about $150 a night. Best for couples, groups of friends and foodies who want fresh Hida-gyu without the kaiseki price tag.