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! 😋

I actually booked a two-night stay at the super hard-to-book Gunmikan on Ctrip! The price was less than 2,000, so touching! Take the bus from Takayama to Shinhotaka and get off at H058. After getting off, walk about 10 minutes along the route I drew. If you are good at English, you can also call the hotel to pick you up. A member hotel of the Japan Secret Hot Spring Association, the hot springs are unique, with 9 hot springs, including two mixed bathing hot springs and 4 private hot springs. The hotel's breakfast and dinner are very good. We stayed for two nights, and the dinner on the second day was more exquisite and of higher quality. Because we needed to leave the hotel very early, we couldn't have breakfast in the hotel, and the hotel thoughtfully prepared a lunch box for us. A unique hot spring hotel, recommended for people who like hot springs.

Location near the station and bus stop. Walkable to old city and morning market. They have private onsen and public onsen. Free ramen at night and drinks at lobby. No shoes allowed inside property. Clean room and comfortable bed.

The hotel's location is excellent, right outside Takayama Station, and the Nohi Bus terminal is also nearby. Dining options around are very convenient. We wanted to try Ajikura next door, but it was closed that day. After hiking in Kamikochi on a rainy day, soaking our feet and enjoying the hot springs was incredibly relaxing. I feel like if I ever come back to Takayama, I'd choose to stay here again.

I have no complaints at all to this Onsen Ryokan. It is definitely an old building, but the upkeep was done well. We were slightly late to check in (need to check in by 6pm so that the kaiseki dinner could be served), emailed them on their way and they replied pretty fast. We were greeted by the receptionist that is able to speak fluent English, she showed us around and sharing the facilities available. One small disappointment is although we mentioned we would like to have dinner together with 2 other rooms (our parents and siblings) when they asked us via email before the trip, they didn't manage to arrange it (and we arrived too late to make necessary arrangements). Nonetheless, the breakfast at the hall 2nd day they did arrange a big table for 9 of us including a kid and an infant. The onsens are superb, it is clean and has clear instructions what to do. When I visited, the ryokan is quite quiet, I enjoyed the serenity a lot!

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.