Honjin Hiranoya Kachoan

Honjin Hiranoya Kachoan sits right in Takayama's preserved historic quarter, with the old-town streets barely a minute on foot. The ryokan runs two buildings, and guests have access to all bath areas across both. The main building's Ishibashi-no-yu (石橋の湯) is a spacious indoor bath with wide glass windows; the annex Kofu-kan (光風館) has separate men's and women's baths on the top floor, and from the men's side you can step outside to the rooftop rotenburo (露天風呂) called Relax Manten, with the Hida mountain range spread out in front by day and a clear night sky after dark. A sauna sits alongside. A converted old storehouse (kura, 蔵) on the grounds serves as a women-only bathing retreat with a small courtyard garden. Several room types come with private hinoki (檜) cypress tubs or semi-outdoor baths. The water is the soft, gently alkaline spring typical of Takayama.