Hotel and Spa Gift Takayama Review: Rooftop Onsen, Prime Location & Local Breakfast
Planning a trip to Takayama and looking for a hotel that’s walkable, comfortable, and comes with a hot spring bath? This time, Cathead is taking you inside Hotel and Spa Gift TAKAYAMA — a modern Japanese-style stay that blends sleek design with thoughtful details.
From spacious rooms and a complimentary rooftop onsen public bath to a late-night ochazuke (rice with tea broth) snack, this hotel offers more than just a convenient base. If you’re searching for the best hotel in Takayama, especially near JR Takayama Station, this review will help you decide whether it’s the right fit for your Hida adventure.
Table of Contents
🏨 Hotel Overview
Hotel and Spa Gift TAKAYAMA is a relatively new mid-range resort-style hotel that combines warm Japanese wood elements with minimalist modern design. It’s ideal for couples, families, and solo travelers alike.
Address: 6-22 Tenmanmachi, Takayama, Gifu 506-0025, Japan
Location: 3-minute walk from JR Takayama Station, and near the bus terminal (perfect for Shirakawa-go or Kamikochi day trips)
Hotel Star Rating: 3-Star Boutique Hotel
Score: Agoda 9.1/10，Google 4.5/5
Room Rates: Standard Double: USD$110–$170 / night, Suites: USD $200+ / night
Breakfast Pricing:
Best Value: Bundle it with your room! It adds only about $6–$7 USD per person, per day.
À la carte: ¥1,640 (approx. $11 USD).
Book Your Stay
Ready to visit Takayama? Check the latest room rates and availability below:
👉 agoda 👉 Trip. com
💡 Rates fluctuate significantly during peak seasons and holidays in Takayama, especially during cherry blossom and autumn foliage seasons — book early if possible.
🚗 Parking Tips
For those on a Japan self-driving tour, the hotel offers three paid parking lots:
On-site: 8 spaces (fills up fast!).
Off-site: Two additional lots (22 and 12 spaces) just a 2-minute walk away.
Cost: Approx. ¥1,100 ($7–$8 USD) per day. All spots are first-come, first-served.
📍 Nearby Attractions
2-minute walk to the famous Hida beef yakiniku restaurant “Hidagyu Maruaki” (丸明 飛驒高山店),
10-minute walk to Sanmachi Suji Old Town,
10-minute walk to Takayama Jinya,
10-minute walk to Miyagawa Morning Market
This location truly makes exploring Takayama effortless.
🛏️ Room Review: The Suite Experience
I originally booked a Superior Twin but was lucky enough to be upgraded to a Suite. The upgrade is a game-changer. 😸
At approximately 570 square feet, the suite felt incredibly spacious by Japanese standards.
The interior design uses warm wooden furnishings and clean lines, creating a modern yet distinctly Japanese atmosphere.
Room Features & Amenities:
Two double beds (with comfortable mattresses)
A separate living area with sofa seating and a large vanity desk
A tatami-style Japanese sitting room with a low dining table
A large bathroom with double sinks and a deep soaking tub
One delightful surprise? I was thrilled to find a ReFa hairdryer 😺(a high-end Japanese beauty brand) in the bathroom.
The bathroom was spacious enough to sit comfortably while drying your hair. Small details like bedside outlets and a generous vanity mirror made the room feel thoughtfully designed for travelers.
The View:
Our suite was located on a high floor with a great view — overlooking Takayama’s townscape and distant mountains. It added a beautiful sense of place to our stay.
👉Overall, the room was clean, new, and spacious. Even with several large suitcases, the room felt airy and open—a rare find in Japan! For travelers carrying luggage or traveling as a family, this room layout is the best.
🍽️ Breakfast Experience
The breakfast is buffet-style, blending Japanese and Western cuisine with a strong focus on local Hida specialties.
Food
Japanese Selection
Grilled fish, homemade tofu, shumai, miso soup, pickles.
Hida Specialties
Hida beef buns, Hida beef curry rice, Hida beef crepes, grilled chicken, local tofu.
Western Selection
Bread, bacon, sausages, scrambled eggs, fried chicken, hamburg steak, salad, fruit.
Drinks
Juice, coffee, tea.
Atmosphere
The dining area is cozy, and the staff are friendly. But, the restaurant is not large, and it can get a bit hectic during busy hours like 8:00am.
😸 Cathead’s Top Picks:
Hida beef curry with rice (unexpectedly indulgent for breakfast!)
Homemade tofu (rich soy flavor)
👉A few honest notes:
Breakfast is served from 6:30 AM to 10:00 AM. I headed down around 8:00 AM, and while the selection was impressive, there were a few things to keep in mind:
The Food: Overall, the quality is quite good with a diverse spread.
The Temperature: Most dishes were served warm or at room temperature rather than steaming hot. This might be a reflection of Japanese culinary habits (where many side dishes are enjoyed at room temp), but it’s something to note if you prefer your breakfast piping hot.
The Coffee: To be honest, it wasn’t great. You might want to save your caffeine cravings for a local specialty cafe in town.
Service Tip: By 8:00 AM, several salad toppings were already cleared out and weren’t replenished during my meal. If you want the full selection, I recommend arriving earlier (closer to 7:00 AM).
The Bottom Line
Considering the price, the Value-for-Money (CP value) of adding the breakfast plan is incredibly high. It’s a great way to fuel up before a day of sightseeing without breaking the bank. Just keep your expectations realistic—it’s a solid, high-quality 3-star spread, not a 5-star luxury buffet. I’d definitely recommend it for the convenience and local flavors!
🏢 Hotel Facilities
↑ The relaxation lounge outside the onsen public bath — the perfect spot to enjoy a free ice pop with a view.
♨️ Rooftop Onsen & Open-Air Public Bath
Located on the top floor, the rooftop public bath (daijakujo) and open-air bath (rotenburo) offer a relaxing soak with a beautiful night view of Takayama.
The Space: The bath area is quite intimate. With only about five showers and three vanity stations, it can feel a bit cramped. When I visited, there were only three of us, which was fine—but five people at once would definitely feel crowded.
👉A Note on Cleanliness: To be honest, the housekeeping in the ladies’ changing room was lacking. There was quite a bit of hair on the floor, and I didn’t see staff coming in to tidy up during my visit. Compared to other Japanese onsens where staff are constantly cleaning, this was a bit disappointing.
👉Onsen Etiquette: Since this hotel attracts many international tourists, you might encounter some “culture shock.” I witnessed some guests entering the changing area with shoes on or attempting to enter the water without showering first. I had to step in and gently explain the rules! My partner (Cathead #2) even saw guests wearing undergarments in the men’s bath… yikes! I’d love to see the hotel staff provide more on-site guidance for first-timers.
🍦 Complimentary Perks & Amenities
This is where Hotel and Spa Gift TAKAYAMA really adds value to your stay:
Late-Night Snack (9:00 PM – 11:00 PM): They serve complimentary Ochazuke (rice with tea broth). It’s a warm, heart-melting way to end the day.
Free Ice Pops: After your hot soak, grab a free popsicle from the lounge area!
Relaxation Space: There is a lovely lounge outside the bath area where you can enjoy your ice pop while taking in the mountain views.
Laundry Facilities: Self-service washers and dryers are available on four different floors—perfect for long-term travelers or those on a road trip.
On-site Dining: The 1st-floor restaurant serves as the hub for breakfast, dinner, and the evening bar.
👍 The Pros & Cons
✅ The Pros
- Unbeatable Location: Just a 3-minute walk from JR Takayama Station.
- Walkable Sightseeing: Perfectly situated near the famous Hida Beef Yakiniku restaurant “Hidagyu Maruaki” , the Historic Old Town, and the Miyagawa Morning Market.
- Spacious & Modern: The rooms are fresh, clean, and much larger than your typical Japanese hotel—ideal for families or travelers with heavy luggage.
- Local Flavors: A diverse breakfast buffet that lets you sample authentic Hida Takayama specialties.
- Extra Perks: The rooftop public bath and open-air soak are major highlights, and the free late-night snacks and ice pops are a delightful touch.
⚠️The Cons
- Price Point: Slightly more expensive than the surrounding budget business hotels.
- Limited Parking: On-site parking is first-come, first-served with no reservations. ✨ Small Win: I managed to snag the very last spot in the lot directly in front of the hotel! While there are three lots total, the one at the front entrance is by far the most convenient.
- Crowded Common Areas: The hotel layout is a bit intimate. During my stay, it felt quite congested due to large tour groups. With only two small elevators, the wait times in the morning can be long. The restaurant also feels a bit cramped during peak breakfast hours.
- Housekeeping in the Bath Area: The changing room in the public bath was not cleaned frequently enough, which was disappointing for an otherwise modern hotel.
👨👩👧👦 Who Should Stay Here?
Families with Kids: The prime location makes logistics a breeze, and the extra room space is a lifesaver when traveling with children.
Multi-Generational Travelers: If you’re traveling with parents or seniors, they will appreciate the convenience of being within easy walking distance of Takayama’s main attractions and the train station.
Couples: The modern, cozy atmosphere and rooftop soak make for a very comfortable and romantic home base.
Heavy Packers & Road Trippers: If you’re traveling with several large suitcases, you won’t feel cramped here. Plus, with on-site parking available, it’s an ideal stop for anyone on a Japan self-driving tour.
😼 🏆 Cathead’s Stay Report: Final Ratings
| Category | Score (out of 5) | Notes |
| Location | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 3-minute walk to JR Takayama Station |
| Room Comfort | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Spacious suite, modern design |
| Cleanliness | ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ | Rooms and dining are spotless, but the onsen changing rooms need work. |
| Breakfast | ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ | Great variety and local flavors |
| Facilities | ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ | Rooftop onsen and free late-night snacks are a huge plus. |
| Service | ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ | Friendly and professional staff. |
| Value | ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ | Fair pricing for location & amenities |
| Would I Stay Again? | ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ | I’d definitely stay here again, provided the onsen cleaning improves! |
Final Thoughts
Overall, Hotel and Spa Gift TAKAYAMA is a strong choice for visitors to Takayama. The prime location, spacious rooms, rooftop onsen, and local breakfast experience make it a well-rounded stay in the heart of town.
While it’s priced slightly higher than standard business hotels, the comfort and convenience justify the difference. For travelers exploring Takayama for the first time, especially those arriving by train, this hotel offers a stress-free and comfortable base.
Would I stay again? Yes — especially for the location and room comfort. If Takayama is on your Japan itinerary, this hotel is definitely worth considering. 🏔️✨
*All information provided above is for reference only. For full details, please refer to the official websites of the respective hotels and organizations.
🌍 Plan Your Japan Trip:
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Hi, I’m Cat Head! Having lived in the US, Canada, and Hong Kong, I bring a unique global perspective to the world of travel. I’m a Japan travel specialist dedicated to finding the best travel deals and crafting seamless DIY itineraries.
Whether you’re looking for luxury hotel reviews on a budget or travel hacks, I share my first-hand experiences and travel tips to make your next trip unforgettable.
