HOTEL WOOD TAKAYAMA — Hotel in Takayama

Pros: This is a great hotel, with great rooms, customer service, amenities, and location. The staff at the front desk was incredibly kind and informative. I loved the free drinks session offered in the lounge too - great fresh draft beer and list of sakes! 🍶 Their mattresses are really comfortable, and the interior design is overall well thought out with nice ambient lights. There are a lot of Western tourists, and I found it relatively English-friendly compared to other Japanese hotels.

Cons: However, I must say I was shockingly disappointed with the state of their public bath. I travel frequently around Japan, and specifically always book for hotels with public baths so I can relax at the end of the day. Given the great reviews of Hotel Wood I really looked forward to it. Upon entering the spa, I was shocked at the amount of dirt, hair, and skin flakes that were floating everywhere on the surface of the water of the bath 🤢 I was so grossed out that I pulled my feet out as soon as possible and rinsed it immediately in the shower. I also tried to drain out the bath water myself using the bucket that was there for about 10 minutes... but it still looked more or less the same unfortunately. I am usually not that picky with hygiene but even for me, I could not bring myself to possibly use this bath.

This is a stark contrast to the rest of the hotel which I would otherwise rate 10/10. Please please please inform the tourists using the spa to wash themselves properly before entering the public spa, and ideally have someone regularly check up on the state of the spa as it really does not have to...

Best hotel we stayed in in our week in Japan. Hotel Wood is about a 15 minute walk from the JR rail / bus terminal and nestled right up alongside the Sannouchi Preserved Houses. It's a great base for exploring Takayama and the surrounding region (incl. Shirakawa-go). The rooms are also spacious and combine a lot of modern design features with the tatami bed.

Breakfast needs to be reserved the evening prior and is Japanese-style by default (although we saw some guests with Western-style breakfasts, I think that needed to be specifically requested). The breakfast includes miso soup and a breakfast bento box and they also stock various juices/drinks as well as green tea.

Something that stood out to us by this stay was the amount of services available / general willingness to accommodate requests. They contract with an outside masseuse who provides services in a room on the first floor, and have an indoor spa for relaxation in the evening. There are courtesy umbrellas by the door (helpful for the snow) and afternoon happy hour where we could try various Japanese sakes/liquors free of charge. It had snowed a good deal on the last day as well and we were able to request someone to drive us to the train station with our luggage, which was definitely appreciated! The only thing they weren't able to do was send out a postcard for us, but this is easy enough with the Family Mart next door selling postal stamps, and the PO box directly across the street from the Family Mart.

Overall, highly recommend for the amenities and the...

We stayed over the weekend and arrived in the evening. The mountain road drive to Takayama was quiet and scenic for most parts, a peaceful journey. I parked briefly by the roadside to unload our luggage. The reception staff were very friendly and polite. Check-in was quick and hassle-free. One of them even came out immediately to move the cone so I could park. We were lucky to get an assigned parking lot just outside the hotel, as I had read that some guests had to park quite far away.

The hotel has a warm, inviting look both outside and inside. The decor mixes modern minimalism with natural wood elements, giving it a calm and slightly traditional feel that fits well with the atmosphere of Takayama.

The room was clean and comfortable, though the layout was a bit unusual. It felt more like a studio, with the wash basin located outside the toilet and shower room. Still, it was functional and didn’t cause any issues. The bed was comfortable, and they even prepared a toddler bed and pillow for our child, which was a thoughtful touch.

There’s also free sake tasting at the lounge area. It's a good introduction if you're new to sake, with a few different types to sample and compare. Great way to wind down after a day out. There's also a public onsen available for guests to use at no extra charge, which adds to the relaxing experience.

Overall, a pleasant and well-managed stay. Would recommend if you're...