Nakaodaira Hotel in Takayama

Our stay at this lovely ryokan was truly one of the most heartwarming and unforgettable experiences of our entire trip to Japan. The place is charming, peaceful, and beautifully maintained — but what really makes it special is the wonderful couple who runs it. From the moment we arrived, they welcomed us with genuine warmth and kindness that made us feel instantly at home.

The private onsens are absolutely incredible — beautifully designed, spotlessly clean, and incredibly relaxing. It felt like having our own private spa surrounded by calm and nature. We could have easily stayed there for hours just soaking in the tranquility.

The rooms are spacious and exceptionally comfortable, with the perfect balance between traditional Japanese aesthetics and modern comfort. You can tell that every little detail was thoughtfully considered, from the subtle scent in the room to the softness of the bedding.

One of the most touching parts of our stay was when we realized we had forgotten to mention that we’re vegetarian. Despite the short notice, the owners went out of their way to prepare a delicious and beautifully presented vegetarian dinner just for us — full of flavor, creativity, and care. It was such a thoughtful gesture that truly reflected their kindness and dedication to their guests.

In short: a perfect stay, run by perfect hosts.
Highly, highly recommended for anyone looking for an authentic, warm, and memorable Japanese experience

Absolutely wonderful experience! The hosts were wonderful people! There are 6 rooms and 6 private baths (2 outdoor, 4 indoor) — it is RARE to find a ryokan with this kind of room-to-bath ratio. The food is plentiful and delicious. The hosts were very kind to drop us off at Shirakabadaira Station (2nd station of Shin-Hotaka Ropeway) and at the Nakaokogen Guchi bus stop. The autumn foliage in the ryokan vicinity was beautiful. We definitely recommend staying here!

Our stay at Nakaodaira was a true highlight of our trip to Japan. After a long day hiking Kamikochi, we arrived to Nakaodaira exhausted and soaking wet from the rain. We were greeted with kindness and exceptional service. They even put our shoes in a special dryer and returned them to us the next day cleaned and warmed! The food was delicious, and your party is always guaranteed a private hot spring as there are 6 for the 6 guest rooms.

Absolutely stunning mountain views, nourishing meals, private onsen, and welcoming and generous staff. We loved our stay here and look forward to coming back again!

I visited this place in June, but I find myself still thinking about this magical place. The onsens are beautifully located in the mountains, you truly are at peace (although they are a bit on the warmer side). The owners are so kind and speak great English. Every night the food served is incredible and so diverse. We hiked Mount Yakedake from here, it's only a 1km walk to the trailhead and the views are impeccable. Highly recommended!

Came in Oct 2024 for one night.
My first Ryokan experience and it was absolutely amazing.

I arrived about 15 minutes early but the hosts kindly let me in.

There are 2 private outdoor onsens and 4 private indoor onsens, shared amongst guests. The keys are placed in the lounge, which you can take on an as-available basis. Of course, try not to hog the outdoor ones particularly for too long which are limited - but you'll likely get dizzy before that anyway.
They will give an introduction to the system when you check in as well, and recommend which outdoor onsen has the best views. (one has both mountain and forest views but is unsheltered, the other is sheltered with mainly forest views)

Perhaps due to luck and as I was the first to check in and out (early rise for the sunrise), both outdoor onsen keys were always available, and I gladly took the unsheltered key each time.
The 1-out-of-4 indoor onsens I happened to try also had fantastic forest views through the window, though I'm not sure about the other three.
All in all, the onsens were a truly magical experience.

The dinner and breakfast were both delightful and beautifully presented. It was ample for my asian appetite, though if you have a bigger stomach to fill, consider bringing some convenience store food or maybe emailing in advance to enquire about options.
(in one of the below photos there was also a Chawanmushi (steamed egg custard) but I ate it so fast I forgot to take a picture)

There are also additional drinks (coffee, etc.) on the menu you can order during dinner/breakfast service (additional $ required),
and otherwise a mini pantry area with beer, tomato juice, etc. (billed on checkout).

The room itself was very spacious for a solo traveller (and even for a couple) and clean. Near the rooms there is also a common rest area with books/Manga.

The hosts were also very friendly and knew a good bit of english, and helped to answer some questions about the surrounding area.

They offer a singles plan (about 30% more expensive than 1 person in a couples setup) which is very much appreciated as a solo traveller.😊
While still expensive, while researching, this Ryokan already seemed to be one of the more if not the most value for $$ options in the area.
I booked it about 2-3 months directly on their website (a little cheaper than 3rd party platforms at the time, you can find it by googling "Nakaodaira") in advance and availability was already limited; I recommend booking even earlier if you have your plans settled.

I would love to visit again if in the area.

This ryokan is without a doubt the best I have ever stayed in while in Japan. Firstly, it is WELL worth it to make your way out here because the views and tranquility of the nature around the building were incredible… sitting in an onsen in a snowy forest was an unforgettable experience (there are two gorgeous outdoor baths and four indoor)- you can even do it Nordic style and jump into the snow and then the steaming hot bath (we did!). The room was beautifully furnished and comfortable, and the food was yet another highlight- the Hida beef was exceptionally buttery, the little dishes at both breakfast and dinner were delicious but the very best thing was the homemade Hida milk sherbet! We wished we stayed longer than a night- there is actually quite a bit to do in the area (in winter the ropeway is stunning and you can do snow-shoeing tours!).

A very traditional Japanese-style B&B in the Okuhida Onsen Nakao area. The location is closer to Shin-Hotaka. It is less crowded and quiet. The owner and his wife are very friendly and can communicate in simple English. They are very proactive in picking up and dropping off at the station.

There are 4 indoor soups and 2 outdoor ones, and the toiletries are very complete. You need to walk a short distance outside, wear a hat, soak in the warm soup with a slight sulfur smell in the forest filled with wind and snow, and chat with your loved ones, it is extremely comfortable!

It was quite warm inside the house, said to be heated by hot springs. It was a little dry but overall felt very comfortable. Although the facilities are a bit old, they are neatly arranged and clean. The soft warm light, soft background music, and the details of the display cabinet layout make people feel warm and relaxed.

We tasted breakfast and dinner, which were very local and quite satisfactory! There are no businesses around. If you want to stay and have a drink after bathing in the soup in the evening, it is recommended to bring your own drinks and snacks.

I like the surrounding environment and living atmosphere, and will come again!

Unforgettable experience in this wonderful little onsen. Our hosts Aki and Naoko are really very kind and very dedicated. The place is nestled in the middle of the forest with breathtaking views of the peaks of the Japanese Alps. We spent two days of pure relaxation in this ryokan of only six rooms, which made the place very peaceful. There are six baths, including two outdoor baths, dug into the rocks. Each bath is private and can be used for couples with complete privacy. The food was our best experience in all of Japan. Aki cooks wonderfully well and she allowed us to taste several local products, with a menu translated into English, which was very appreciated. We ate succulent hida beef there and everything was fresh and tasty. The layout of the interior space is very neat and it is very pleasant to have tea sitting in front of the forest. I recommend without any hesitation this ryokan which will leave us with lasting memories.

This is a great place in the mountains. 6 private hot spring baths for 6 rooms. On a hot summer day you're guaranteed to want to wade in the hot springs and shower at least twice a day.

The owners are super friendly and accommodating..

One of them cooks the meals and she does a fantastic job. I would highly recommend getting dinner here every night. There was local beef and fish every night. I don't think I've eaten beef in so many interesting ways before. For foreign visitors they provide little slips of paper with hand-drawn doodles and explanations of what you're eating. It's pretty cute and much appreciated.

It seems like you could get here by bus from Takayama without much trouble. But we thought it was a good excuse to rent a car. Driving in this part of Japan is really easy and straightforward - even if you're used to driving on the right side of the road like I am.