This traditional style accommodation was exactly what our family of 8, including an infant, needed after a long trip from home to Tokyo the day prior. We traveled by train from Tokyo in the mid day to arrive around dinner time. From the moment we were picked up at the train station in Takayama until we left 2 days later, we felt very pampered, well fed, well rested, and relaxed. As you leave the van to enter the traditional style accommodation, you breathe in fresh mountain air and are surrounded by visual beauty, with integration of the landscaping, building, and decor making you smile and feel joyful. As you remove your shoes and don the special socks that are offered, the offering of coffee or other beverages appropriate to the time of the day, in the lobby area, helps you to just unwind. Our rooms were traditional style with tatami mats and bed futons laid out at night. The onsen, hot baths, were incredible and I enjoyed going at least once each day, sometimes twice, to see the gorgeous scenery presented in both venues (men and women bathe separately and the rooms are switched each day so that you can enjoy both venues). It was my first experience with an onsen, and it was by far the best on our entire trip - the water was so soft and luxurious, the outdoor "scene" so zen, and the commitment to quiet was divine. We found the experience with breakfast and dinner, in our own dining room together, so remarkable with multiple courses at dinner, each described in detail and the breakfast included a map of everything in front of us (for those who chose the Japanese breakfast option). The Western option included eggs and bacon, which wasn't clear in our travel itinerary from our tour provider, so we were pleasantly surprised to have that in addition to bread, jam, fruit and vegetables. For our family members with allergies, they were fantastic to accommodate us so that everyone had something good and filling to eat. We slept well and were so refreshed in the mornings. There was so much attention to detail and so much to enjoy at the facility that it was hard to break away to explore the local village - but we did, and we loved that as well, including a hike to the top of one of the local peaks where we learned that they have bears in the Japanese Alps - so cool.
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