Ryokan Gizan

Pre Check-In I booked my room quite way back, even before they renovated. Communications were quite prompt, which put me at ease. Check-In Reading that reception would be unmanned until 3pm we turned up accordingly. Everything went smoothly. Amenities LOVE THEM!! Cold & hot drinks, snacks, chargeable but cheap Soju/beer/Highball (¥200), amenities for facial, dental, hair, etc etc. Room We were allocated a room on the 2nd floor (Goes up to 3rd floor). Good size and I love the rocking chair. View was good despite they informed not much of a view. We face nice trees and sounds of water since below us was the pond. Would have preferred a thicker mattress. The foyer had enough space for us to open both of our 24” luggage so there was no need to clutter the tatami area. Meals We booked half board for both nights. Dinner - Hida beef served for both evenings. 1st night was Yakiniku while 2nd night was a sublime Shabu2 (We’ve had enough grilled beef by now 🤪). Very good quality. A mini buffet to supplement our dinner, which I found the soba to be good. Breakfast - Slivers of Hida Beef & Miso on Hoba leaf - Never my favourite as it’s very sweet. Plus usual Japanese breakfast fare like grilled fish, egg, pickles… There isn’t any coffee or juice in the restaurant - You need to bring in from the lobby. 100% Japanese so if you need Western staples - go elsewhere. Parking Not to worry - 5 parking spaces right in front of the entrance. Across the road a bigger parking area - Probably 20 cars..? Onsen Public onsen is basic and indoor but with a window to the outside. Here is also where you can take your shower. Despite my room being equipped with a bathroom I still ended up here to shower before and after my onsen dips. Of course with a short dip in this indoor pool everytime. There is also a massage chair inside the changing area (¥200/10min). Gizan’s selling point is their 4 private outdoor onsens. Really nice and I went during the day as well as after dinner. I like how they are so near to the public bath, even on the same floor. You can’t shower at the private onsens. You either do so in your en-suite bath, or the public bath. This ryokan is perfect for people who are shy of common bathing. Location We had a car but apparently the bus stop is 2 mins away. Okuhida offeres many attractions. Besides Kamikochi we also visited a few attractions very near Gizan - TOCHIO ONSEN TIERED WATERFALL - Must visit daytime and nighttime!! SHINOBU EROSION CONTROL DAM (しのぶ砂防堰堤) LOOK-OUT POINT FOR MT. HAKODATE (飛騨 星の鐘) KITA ALPS BRIDGE JIGOKUDAIRA SABO DAM Conclusion What I love the most about Gizan (besides the private outdoor onsens) is how compact it is. My room on the 2nd floor looks down at the reception. Laundry room just a few pace away. On 1st floor (ground floor) few steps away from the reception you find the public baths. The door to the outdoor private onsens are just right there. Restaurant is a few steps further. I’ve gotten a bit tired of the long meandering corridors of bigger ryokans, with requirements to change lifts at some. Gizan was a relief at the end of my week+ stay in Kyoto & the Northern Alps.