The ryokan Honjin Hiranoya Kachoan is the best and the most luxurious ryokan in Takayama.

We were very happy to stay there from April 26 to 29 2019. It has beautiful rooms with a view of the village and boasts two wonderful onsens (hot baths), one on the first floor of the main building and one on the seventh floor of the annex building right across the street. The Onsen on the seventh floor has an incredible view over the center of Takayama city.

Besides the onsen and the rooms, what made our stay at Honjin Hiranoya Kachoan memorable was the service and the employees. Everyone from the driver who picked us up at the train station to the doorman and the host who welcomed us was so nice, so courteous, so polite and so kind.

When staying at a ryokan in Japan, the evening meal was usually included. The food at Honjin Hiranoya Kachoan was different every night, it went from typical to amazing, some dishes were basics and others were sophisticated.

As in any luxurious ryokan each guest or family had their designated hostess during their stay. The hostess is there to make sure that the guests will have a smooth and wonderful stay. She also serves all the meals from breakfast to dinner. We had the privilege to have Yuki Toyohara as our hostess and we have to say that her kindness, her consideration, her sense of service and anticipation really made a difference in making our stay delightful.

We strongly advise those who wish to visit Takayama to stay at least two nights at the Honjin Hiranoya Kachoan’s ryokan to fully appreciate the traditional Japanese hospitality.

Honjin Hiranoya Kachoan