Ryokan Tanabe

It’s the only ryokan we’ve stayed in so nothing to compare. We were in a travelling group so ate our meals together downstairs. Unfortunately the set piece dinner service was rushed and completed in 1hr 20min so not as enjoyable as it should have been. There were no choices at breakfast. Room 75 was spacious but inexplicably provided a tv which seems inappropriate. On arrival no attempt had been made to heat the room so it was like an icebox. The handheld control for the a/c was in Japanese so difficult to make sense of. A request for help to reception produced two gas heaters to supplement the a/c. The hot spring bath was clean but dingy. Altogether a bit of a disappointment.

Great experience at this lovely traditional hotel in the center of Takayama. Just 9 minute walk from the train/bus station. We stayed 2 nights in room 13 which had its own little onsen with a cedar bath (although it didn’t use spring water like the communal bath). They provided us yukatas (cotton robes and sashes) to wear inside the Inn. Ladies get to pick the color :) We were happy to have a little alcove in our room with 2 chairs and a small table where we could hang out when in the room. The room is otherwise sparse and they lay out the futons after you eat your meal at the low table on the floor in the center of the room. Not the easiest thing to sit on the floor for a 3-course dinner but we managed. there is a nice seating area with the a coffee machine in the lobby. They were willing to work around food restrictions (no seafood for one of us) because we provided the info in advance. The breakfast and dinners were traditional Japanese cuisine. You do not select from a menu. The staff was very nice and made the experience great.

This is a very nice traditional ryokan with a friendly and helpful staff. The rooms are clean and neat, albeit a bit dated. We found the food a bit disappointing compared to our other ryokan stays. Meal service felt rushed and was very tightly scheduled. The food was mostly cold and seemed prepared well in advance of service. All that said, the ryokan met our needs and provided an interesting experience.

This was our first experience in a ryokan and I’ve to say it will be unforgettable. At Tanabe we had always an extremely kind a ready assistance. We stayed at the second floor with a view on at tree in a secondary road, in a wide and beautiful traditional room. We ate a delicious kaiseki dinner and breakfast dressed in colored yukata. In my opinion this is a golden experience for those who want to have a real Japanese experience. Body and hair products furnished by Tanabe are excellent. I really enjoyed the practice of the Japanese bath, no reservation needed and never crowded. After dinner the staff set up our futon, so so comfortable. We really suggest Tanabe!