shin.brian: Takayama accomodation - Ryori Ryokan Hanaoka

There’s a wide variety of accommodation available when you travel in Japan, with a range of price tags that follow suit. Same with anywhere / anything else though, if you look hard enough and shop around a bit, you’re bound to find a good deal! We started off our trip by spending 3 nights in Takayama. Some hunting around online led us to stumble upon a review of Ryori Ryokan Hanaoka posted on a blog. The review was extremely positive with a great price tag to boot! In hoping not to steal Paul’s (hats off to you!) limelight – here is our mini review of Ryori Ryokan Hanaoka.

Up to writing this we are still not sure why Hanaoka has left the biggest impression on us after staying at a variety of places ranging from AUD$250 (p/person p/night) to AUD$60 throughout our trip. Maybe it’s because we spent our first few nights there and it set the standard? Maybe it was the best (and I mean BEST!) value ryokan we stayed at? Maybe it was the fantastic taste and spread of the meals we had there? I reckon it was definitely all of the above:

Accomodation name: Ryori Ryokan Hanaoka

Address: 2-36 Hanaoka-machi, Takayama-shi, Gifu-ken

Pricing: 6600 yen p/person a night, inclusive of dinner and breakfast

Website: http://www7.ocn.ne.jp/~hanaoka2/

Bookings: We tried to secure our room at Ryori Ryokan Hanaoka initially by contacting the Takayama tourist information centre and requesting a booking for 3 nights. We were surprised to receive an email directly from Ryori Ryokan Hanaoka in English to double-check our booking and seeking confirmation.

Number of room: 1 (7.5 tatami mat room with w/private bathroom)
Number of persons: 2 (1 male, 1 female)
Arriving: 10 May 2010
Departing: 13 May 2010
Number of night: 3
Rate per person: 6,600yen including dinner, breakfast and tax (w/private bathroom).
4,500yen including tax (w/private bathroom).

Direct email for booking: hanaoka@vesta.ocn.ne.jp

Getting there: From the tourist information centre / train station, take a left (bearing north) and continue walking down the road. The Takayama Nohi Bus Centre is to the left of the train station and you will pass by it. Continue walking down the road – Ryori Ryokan Hanaoka is about 10 minutes walk from the station depending on how much luggage you have! You’ll pass by a Family Mart (7-11 type of shop) and a pachinko parlour on your way there. Other good landmarks are the Takayama City Hall (tall brownish grey building) and a police building (headquarters maybe?). You’ll find Ryori Ryokan Hanaoka just a wee bit further down the road once you’ve passed the police building.

Walking towards Ryori Ryokan Hanaoka from JR Takayama train station; Takayama City Hall on right and the pachinko parlour that you'll pass by on the way there

Once you’ve started looking for accommodation in Japan or have booked a couple of places, you’ll realise that 6600 yen (roughly AUD$85) p/person a night, inclusive of a multi-course “kaiseki” dinner plus a 7-course breakfast + 7.5 tatami mat room + private bathroom, is a BARGAIN. This by far was the best deal we managed to secure the whole trip, and definitely the one that made us feel at home straight away.

Dinner at Ryori Ryokan Hanaoka: Legendary Hida beef, fresh sashimi, assortment of local mountain vegetables and the sweetest strawberry we've ever had to date!

Ryori Ryokan Hanaoka is clean, convenient + easily accessed, comfortable, has great food, you name it. You even have space to stretch in the bathroom and shower (trust us; some of the bathrooms in Japan are really small)! We strongly recommend Hanaoka if you decide to spend a night(s) in Takayama – you will not regret it.