Wat Hotel & Spa Hida Takayama

We enjoyed this hotel and liked that they had an onsen, both private and not. We used them daily. Breakfast was good, it does get busy however you can sit on the lower floor if it's full. We needed to head off very early one day and asked if we could just grab a few things from breakfast however we were advised no, then I noticed they do in room breakfast which would have been good to know. Parking was 800 per night, which wasn't too bad. I felt like there wasn't many restaurants around the hotel, we had trouble the first night locating a restaurant that was open, however then found some amazing ones - check out Krua Halu Ball this restaurant is so tasty, was a great surprise. Also, The Higurashi which is 3km from the Squirrell Park, run by one lady, we had pancakes, pizza and Tom Yum Pasta, the Ginger Ale/Beer is to die for. We went to Kamikochi for a day, we had a car so could drive to the parking without getting the bus from Takayama. You can park at Akandana car park - this is the first stop for the buses. There were only a few ppl getting on here, but when we got to Hirayu Onsen the lineup was huge, and they only allow 50 or so on the bus. The forecast was for rain, but we still went, no rain, a little cloud but still magnificent and we seen about 50 monkeys.

A lovely hotel with their own onsen on the rooftop. Rooms are rather large for Japan, the bed is big and comfortable, and they offer a choice of normal pillows and grain pillows, like many hotels in Japan do. The location is a bit away from the buzz, 10 minutes away from the station, which may be both good and bad. The downside is that you have to walk 10 to 20 minutes to the closest restaurants and convenience stores. So mind to set on finding a dinner place early, because popular places fill up way too quickly in Takayama. The breakfast had many Japanese options (even onsen eggs!) and few western ones, so be prepared to breakfast like a local. A couple of words about the onsen: you can use pajamas they offer downstairs to walk to the onsen area, but you have to take the bath naked. There are separate public onsen areas for males and females, and 4 private onsens a family can use. There's no reservation for private onsens, first come - first served. The private onsen itself is really small, a cube almost 1x1x1m, just barely enough for 2 adults. But it feels soooo good! Remember to watch your condition, usually 15 minutes in the bath is more than enough because it's very hot! A private onsen is a great way to experience Japanese hot springs without having to separate with your family. There's also a lounge area near onsens, where you can take a free popsicle and relax on a tatami or in a chair with a gorgeous view of Takayama.

We had a very comfortable stay at this hotel! The staff were very friendly, the room was comfortable, clean, and had everything I needed plus extra for a relaxing stay. What truly made our experience exceptional were all the little extras that added incredible value – from complimentary items to thoughtful touches that enhanced our stay. Overall, it’s clear the hotel goes the extra mile to provide a great experience, and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a great value stay with outstanding service.

Excellent service, friendly staff, very kind and helpful. Loved the additional facilities such as onsen, as well as the lounge with outdoor fire and marshmellows.. great memory. Room was clean and comfortable. Slightly cramped for 3 persons but still manageable for the 3 nights we stayed there.

We loved the facilities of the hotel! The private onsens were great and the breakfast was varied and tasty! Our room was a good size and felt comfortable! The location is a few streets away from the station, we were able to roll our very heavy suitcases with ease. The staff were lovely, and were super informative and welcoming.