Hirayu Prince Hotel — Local services in Takayama

We were here as part of an organised tour so had no choice over accommodation or meal. No connection with "Prince" hotels in other cities. Having checked online, this is at the budget end of the Kamikochi hotels.||The hotel is past its best and needs some money spent to bring it up to average or better.||The good points: (A) 3 individual rotemburo available, good if they meet your needs, washing area poor but our pool was big, enjoyable, easy to relax (B) rooms are big and bed linen is clean. We were 2 but the room could sleep 5 or 6 easily (C) we didn't see this till the following morning in daylight, but a great Japanese garden visible from the lounge/front area (D) generally quite traditional and old fashioned.||But the countering bad points are: (A) the main ofuro was grim, possibly amongst the poorest I've seen in Japan. Slippery floors (gasp) added to the general run-down air. (B) In general the rooms were tatty, wall panels well worn, furniture somewhat distressed, paper screens in group dining areas very, very stained, mainly in yellow but also torn in several places (B2) smoking policy is generally from the 1980s, ashtrays everywhere, contributed to the yellowing of the decor (C) our Hida beef meal was very fatty, you could hardly spot the meat bits; the rest of it was ok.||||So in CONCLUSION, a bit of a mixed bag. You'll get the old-Japan feel but you'll miss the quality available elsewhere. On a captive tour you may have no choice and you'll get a taste, but only a small one, of what there is; but if travelling independently and with room in the budget, you might want to consider spending another couple of thousand yen per person and improving the meal and/or choice of hotel.||||Obviously you're in the middle of some jaw-dropping scenery and the hiking, relaxation,photography etc will be the reason you came. This might do for you if you want a simple place to stay,...

Booked a room ( western style room or a Japanese style room with no meal plan) directly at their website for 2 nights stay. Check in at night and requested for Japanese style room. Japanese english communicate issue and was given with a western style room. It was past their counter operating hours after checking in our room. Call using room telephone and try to request for Japanese style ryokan room and was told room will be available for our 2nd night. In the next day morning, they still remember my request and specially prepare the ryokan room for us and we can transfer our items and shift in right away. The ryokan room is so nice and big! Very comfortable futton, blankets and pillows. Essentials are all provided nicely. Bathroom very clean! So friendly and welcoming service! Natural Outdoor Onsen is in a private room with lockable door. Onsen experience and everything was truly amazing at this ryokan place. It has a nice zen garden with ducks! Everything is peaceful here. Not a busy run hotel. It seems like a small old family operated accommodation business with no other manpower seen. Only get to see 1 old man and lady at counter. Although the place looks a bit old due to being so traditional but it still look very clean including our room, onsen and common areas. Very impressive! Guess they are a couple manning this business. Can’t manage to book at booking website. So happy we found this and book...

Hirayu Onsen is a little off the beaten track, so if you want to try somewhere a little less popular & over-crowded, this place is good. The hotel itself is rather old and a wee bit run-down ... but, most places are nowadays. Some of the showcases located throughout the hotel are fairly dusty inside but, certainly adds authenticity to the place. However, the rooms are very clean and provide the bare essentials. It's reasonably priced.||For the price range, the food is good ... with a fairly large variety of things (esp. mountain veggies) to try but, not such a big volume. Big eaters will go hungry. For breakfast, I would have liked to have had a leaf of houba miso each, but we had to share one (I guess not everyone loves it), so that's life.||Best of all, are the 3 private outside baths ... we tried each one & each one is different. There is really no place to wash there, but they do have an inside bath, for that. The spring water is silky & great!||Some rather shy or nervous types of bathers might not like them, as you can see part of the hotel from the far end of the bath. If you're under the covered areas, there's nothing to worry about, though.||Even though it was full occupancy we weren't bothered by any noise or crowdedness. We had no trouble getting the private baths outside (no waiting, each time).||We will undoubtedly go...