Yukimurasaki

Lovely low/moderate cost ryokan with high end ambiance and dining experience. 20 years of onsen hopping on visits to see in-laws in Japan and now as temporary expats due to husband’s job transfer. We mostly stay at low end to moderate priced onsen hotels with a very occasional splurge. This small moderately priced private-tubs-only ryokan (suited our older visiting friends from the US best) is just wonderful. We took a Japanese style room, our friends had a similar room but with platforms beds, both rooms with gorgeous mountain views, non smoking floor, and each with a wooden tub on a veranda and a separate wooden tub inside the room. Mini onsen in each room. Unbelievably lovely and relaxing in a beautifully remote mountain onsen area an hour by car from Takayama City. The dinner and breakfasts were Kaiseki quality, and we did not even get the top priced meal course. Transportation is available from Takayama and Matsumoto on the other side if you aren’t driving. Loved it!! Caveat per some other reviews: yes our room had a couple of scrapes on the walls, but was nevertheless very very VERY nice as was the staff. Our friends’ room was flawless. And the entire place is spotlessly clean. There’s such a thing as travelers expecting too much perfection from onsen hotels even when you are not paying the much higher premium prices many older onsen ryokan cost. This hotel is an incredible bargain for the premium quality of the food and overall experience. This place is special.