Tanabe
Takayama

Tanabe is the epitome of a traditional Japanese ryokan and any guest is guaranteed a quintessential 'ryokan' experience here. Walk through the sliding doors to be welcomed by rows of slippers, a lantern-lit lobby and a nearby sunken hearth and have your futon laid out for you at the end of the day. Like the owners of the Seifuso in nearby Yudanaka, Mr Tanabe is a charming old gentleman who leaves Mrs Tanabe to do the English speaking, and they both charm their guests with warm smiles, gourmet Japanese food and old school hospitality.

This traditional inn is well situated, halfway down one of the old streets of this historic town with a classic lattice wood exterior and a cosy dark wood interior within. If that sounds a bit gloomy for you then you can stay in the new wing, with airy rooms built with light 'hinoki' cedar wood frames. The ensuite bathrooms with hinoki hot tubs are a great combination of the old and the new and the spot gardens add to the natural, traditional atmosphere of this ryokan. Relax after your day of sightseeing in true Edo-period style by soaking in their beautifully designed hot spring ‘onsen’ (separate for men and women). Authentic ‘kaiseki’ multi-course meals are served in the comfort of your own room and modern touches, such as Wi-fi and TV are not absent despite the old-fashioned atmosphere of this hotel.

>> See more of our Ryokon Hotels here

The first condition of understanding a foreign country is to smell it.
Rudyard Kipling