Welcome to Sumiyoshi. This Traditional Ryokan is typical of Takayama's famous architectural design, and it was built in the early 20th century. Indeed, the owners have kept the same design and style throughout the 20th century at Sumiyoshi. In the lobby, a suit of samurai armour greets the guests and there is also an open hearth from Japan's samurai era. Staying at Sumiyoshi is like staying in a museum. Sumiyoshi is filled to the brim with artifacts, nick-nacks, and furniture dating back many, many years. If you are looking for a historical Japanese atmosphere, then you will enjoy your stay at Sumiyoshi. There are 20 traditional Japanese-style guest rooms, and the rooms offer either a river view or a view of Sumiyoshi's garden. This is an old fashioned traditional ryokan and only one guest room has a private bath and toilet - the other 19 guest rooms do not have private baths or toilets. The owners are very proud of the high quality of their cuisine, and guests can enjoy typical Takayama-style dishes.

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Ryokan Reviews:

• Fantastic!

  Berangere

  Month of Visit: February

  Country Of Reviewer: Australia

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  We stayed 2 nights in the ryokan which is well located. The room is traditional and the one we stayed in had a view to the river. The food was excellent (breakfast and dinner) with lots of variety. The hosts were kind and funny. Highly recommended!

• Fantastic hospitality

  Alex

  Month of Visit: November

  Country Of Reviewer: USA

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  This was an excellent place to stay in Takayama, and a real highlight of the entire visit to Japan. The rooms are traditional but are made to be extremely comfortable even if you aren't used to traditional sleeping/eating arrangements. The hosts couldn't be kinder or more welcoming, and their sense of humor brought a lightness to a traditional stay that made it feel like a home and not just a hotel visit. Highly recommended.

• Best night ans dinner in Japan 2019

  Jean-louis

  Date of Review: October, 2019

  Month of Visit: October

  Country Of Reviewer: France

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  I came in this Ryokan soaked from heavy rain, the host took hold if my luggage and his wife gave me a towel immediatly. There are two bathroom fully equiped so you'll never have to wait to take a bath. In addition there is toilets and a wash sink inside the room. In my room there was a small balcony giving view to the river. The landlady served dinner in my room beginning by "kanpai" with saké. There were a dozen of plates and bowls with fish, Hida beef, vegetables cut and cooked in different manners. All of these were excellent and surprising. Again in the morning there was a breakfast with nearly as much and as good plates. Best stay in Japan !

• A Highlight of Our Visit to Japan

  Markus

  Month of Visit: July

  Country Of Reviewer: United States

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  We visited Takayama and the Sumiyoshi ryokan after several nights in Tokyo - what a wonderful contrast, like stepping back to an earlier era! So relaxing. The hosts were kind, funny and discreet. Each meal had exceptional variety, taste and presentation. Excellent location on the river, and an easy walk to the morning market, historical district and numerous hillside temples. Highly recommended!

• Recommendable Ryokan in Takayama

  Peter

  Date of Review: July, 2019

  Month of Visit: July

  Country Of Reviewer: Denmark

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 4

  Atmospheric house, wonderful hosts, good food and a good location for exploring the old streets of Takayama

• Great Ryokan

  Gordon

  Month of Visit: May

  Country Of Reviewer: Germany

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  Since we were travelling around Japan we only managed to stay for one night. The ryokan is beautiful, has a very nice atmosphere and is right next to the river (great view from room). The service is great (and funny) and the food (dinner and breakfast) amazing (and they serve coffee for breakfast!).

• experience fantastique

  Nathalie

  Month of Visit: April

  Country Of Reviewer: france

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  endroit magnifique, chambre avec bain vue sur la rivière et les sakuras en fleur repas très bons et très variés (nous sommes restés 2 nuits) hôtesse très empressée et toutefois très discrète enfin le rêve!

• Authentic Ryokan Experience

  Month of Visit: February

  Country Of Reviewer: United States

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  Staying in the old family home of the proprietors added to the autenticity of this ryokan. Food was so interesting and well-prepared. The rushing waters of the river outside our window soothed us in sleep. The ryokan onsen was delightful. A truly worthwhile experience !!

• Pre ski visit to old Japan

  Robert

  Date of Review: February, 2019

  Month of Visit: February

  Country Of Reviewer: Australia

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  We made the mistake of only booking 2 nights. More time needed to enjoy Sumiyoshi and Takayama. Great hosts. Lots of fun.

• Fantástico, no os arrepentiréis

  Marta

  Month of Visit: October

  Country Of Reviewer: Spain

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  Recomiendo absolutamente todo de este ryokan: la cena, el desayuno, el onsen público (que puedes usar privado), el personal que lo lleva, la localización... De las mejores estancias en nuestro viaje. Repetiríamos sin dudarlo.

• Really special

  Sean

  Month of Visit: September

  Country Of Reviewer: USA

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  My elderly mother and I had a wonderful one night stay here. The hostess was spectacularly friendly and helpful - the "perfect grandma" described in an earlier review is spot on. The food was delicious.The ambiance was exactly what we wanted. The view was spectacular. The sound of the river rushing past was a great way to fall asleep. The touristy streets in Takayama are a three minute walk away. The train and bus station is ten minutes. I can't recommend this place enough. So you know, we spent significantly more for a similar experience in Kyoto and Sumiyoshi beat that hands down.

• Amazing place, full of character and history.

  Daniel

  Date of Review: August, 2018

  Month of Visit: August

  Country Of Reviewer: Canada

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  I stayed at Sumiyoshi for (unfortunately) one night. The place is an oasis in the middle of the busy streets of Takayama, and a perfect base of operations for any cultural or shopping endeavours you may have in mind. Sitting just by the river, you are within walking distance of everything, but it is the charm of the place that will win you over, along with the hospitality of the owners, and the really awesome food you will be served. Prepare to go back to a better past.

• Great local ryokan

  Emily

  Month of Visit: June

  Country Of Reviewer: Australia

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  Sumiyoshi is a great ryokan to stay in. Its very cosy and is very decorated in Japanese items. I spoke with a local in Takayama and he reckons it is the best ryokan in the neighbourhood. For this stay, I did not order any meals so I was very surprised when I received a drink upon my welcome, and a small plate of fruit and coffee in the morning. There are two baths available on the floor I was in so I did not need to wait at all. The staff were very friendly and very quick with setting up my room for the evening and the morning. Depending on the room you select, the road side does not have much of a view but because Sumiyoshi is located on a very small street, there's barely any traffic noises. Sumiyoshi is also located centrally so its a bit of a walk from the station but close to everything else in the town. I would definitely come back to Takayama again and stay in the same ryokan.

• Amazing experience in a nice Ryokan

  Miguel

  Date of Review: May, 2018

  Month of Visit: May

  Country Of Reviewer: Spain

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  We only stayed at Sumiyoshi for one night, but if knowing how nice the place was, we would have stayed for longer. It was the nicest Ryokan we stayed in our 2 week trip in Japan. Everything was fantastic, and the staff is lovely. We chose the traditional Japanese dinner and Breakfast and we enjoyed huge meals with loads of small dishes. We were lucky enough to find the big Onsen available just the moment we could use it, so everything was perfect.

• So Personal; So Lovely

  Violet elizabeth

  Month of Visit: November

  Country Of Reviewer: USA

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  This is a lovely old house, decorated with many personal antiques, located along the river, very central to the old quarter of Hida-Takayama. The dinner, served in the room, was copious and delicious. We also enjoyed the furo. But what made this stay really special was the warmth of the owners. They spoke fine English, and could not have made us feel more welcome. They were helpful in every way.

• A highlight of my two weeks in Japan

  Lawrence

  Date of Review: November, 2017

  Month of Visit: November

  Country Of Reviewer:

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 4

  I stayed at Sumiyoshi for two nights at the end of my trip to Japan. It was a lovely experience. The ryokan is on a small side street that is very quiet. It is about a 10-15 minute walk from the train station, mostly under sidewalks with covered canopies. At the intersection of the sidestreet where the ryokan is with a larger street that crosses the river, there is a clear, good-sized sign. There were only two small negatives: only communal baths and the fact that the hosts' English was not good. These negatives were greatly outweighed by the simple beauty of my room and the friendliness and willingness to communicate of the hosts and staff. The baths (separate toilet room and bath/shower/sink rooms) were always very clean and in good order. I also must say that the breakfasts and dinners I had were the best meals of my two weeks in the country.

• Wonderful, cosy Ryokan

  Lucy

  Date of Review: October, 2017

  Month of Visit: October

  Country Of Reviewer: United Kingdom

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  We had a lovely time staying at this sweet, cosy Ryokan for two nights. The food was delicious and the staff were completely charming - despite us not being able to communicate very well in each other's language! I would really recommend staying here for a great experience of Japanese hospitality, and amazing home-cooked food.

• A fantastic remarkable Classic Japanese style experience

  Yvon

  Date of Review: October, 2017

  Month of Visit: October

  Country Of Reviewer: Netherland

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  Room was very good, diner and breakfast on our room fantastic, the Ryokan run by a lovely japanese couple. The service was excellent. Unforgetable.

• L'hospitalité incarnée

  Claudine

  Date of Review: August, 2017

  Month of Visit: August

  Country Of Reviewer: France

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  Charmante auberge de style traditionnel tenue par des personnes assez âgées et très accueillantes : l'hospitalité incarnée. Modèle du genre, la maison vaut pour elle-même le séjour car elle parvient à conserver son esprit antique tout en offrant un confort appréciable avec ses salles de bains privatisables. La cuisine servie aux pensionnaires est à l'image de l'établissement : généreuse et représentativité d'un art de vivre certain et partagé avec passion, à la fois simple et raffiné. Bref, une bonne adresse, sans chichis, mais avec beaucoup de caractère et à taille humaine.

• Warmly recommended

  Per Kristian

  Date of Review: July, 2017

  Month of Visit: July

  Country Of Reviewer: Norway

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  Being guests in the wonderful guesthouse of the good people of Sumiyoshi was one of the high points of our visit to Japan and we recommend it warmly. In fact, fearing the location may be dense and hot in mid-summer months, we had made reservations also at a hill-side hotel. But we decided nevertheless to try our luck at Sumiyoshi and did not regret it. The house - including hall, guest rooms, dining rooms and baths - are exquisite. We felt the pictures here are understated rather than the opposite. A family of four, we got a wonderful two-room setup facing the river and the little garden. As with the other parts of the house we got to see (including the private dining room we were led to for meals) the rooms had fantastic atmosphere with delicate and nicely kept antiques, but without overdoing it towards the quint amid bright and clean tatamis. Just as important, staff is as welcoming as you come to expect in Japan, and quickly shuffled a few sliding doors to include more space (a hallway) in our guest room when they realized the ridiculous amount of luggage we were hauling. Breakfast was good and plentiful - Japanese as well as Western. Can't speak for dinner since we'd reserved a meal plan without it to sample the many great restaurants in town. The host couple also has patience with clumsy Europeans unfamiliar with Japanese ways about the house, and together with a great sense of humor they really contributed greatly to the three unforgettable days we spent in beautiful Takayama. We'll look no further should we have the good fortune to return.

• Very satisfied

  Charles

  Date of Review: June, 2017

  Month of Visit: June

  Country Of Reviewer: USA

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 4

  We had a very nice stay at Sumiyoshi. really it was the highlight of our trip. The food was great! Staff very friendly and helpful. The only drawback was the cigarette smell emanating from one section of the ryokan which unfortunately permeated to our room.

• Ryokan traditionnel plein de charme

  Baptiste

  Month of Visit: May

  Country Of Reviewer: France

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  Le bâtiment est certes un peu vieillot et la décoration des chambres parfois "kitsch" mais l'ambiance qui se dégage de ce ryokan vaut le détour. Les responsables se mettent en 4 pour vous satisfaire notamment le couples de personnes âgées super sympa même si la communication est parfois difficile. Notre chambre avait vue sur la rivière et était très calme... Les salles de bains typiques disposent de bains chauds type "onsens" privatisables donc sympa lorsqu'on voyage en couple car c'est rarement le cas de pouvoir se délasser dans ces bains chauds homme et femme ensemble au Japon. Les repas sont divins, de type kaseiki avec pleins de petits assortiments ce qui permet de goûter ce que l'on oserait pas commander au restaurant! Petit dejeuner au choix japonais ou continental. Cet hôtel est un pur bonheur pour se ressourcer!

• Amazing stay and experience

  Anne

  Date of Review: May, 2017

  Month of Visit: May

  Country Of Reviewer: France (living in Singapore)

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  We had a fantastic time at the ryokan. We are a family of 4 with 2 kids and all of us loved our experience at the ryokan. The rooms, the ryokan and its atmosphere were just prefect. Really well decorated, well equipped and clean, with an amazing traditional Japanese touch! The food was delicious and the ryokan people adapted it specifically for our kids. All the people in the ryokan are very friendly, nice (especially with our kids) and so happy to help you. It is a truly great way to discover the Japanese culture. I highly recommended it!

• A week in japanese ryokans

  Month of Visit: February

  Country Of Reviewer: France

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 4

  I invited friends to discover Japan through ryokans and this one in Takayama is unique It's an alive museum with a so warm atmosphere due to a lovely staff don't miss it !

• Hidden Paradise

  Month of Visit: October

  Country Of Reviewer: Brazil

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 3

  When I first entered, I havent got a very good impression because although I have booked an eastern room for one, they showed me a very little room with NO WINDOWS, wich I honestly think is unacceptable. I payed a little more and had an amazing room even with a porch.The old house is beautiful on the outside and inside. The staff could not be more kind and always ready to help. The food is wonderful. The whole thing is fashioned for those who want a truly Japanese experience.

• Wonderful Stay!

  Month of Visit: March

  Country Of Reviewer:

  Atmosphere Rating - 4

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 4

  Room Rating - 5

  Very good, great ryokan experience

• Fantastic stay.

  Month of Visit: April

  Country Of Reviewer: Singapore

  Atmosphere Rating - 4

  Food Rating - 3

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 4

  Room Rating - 4

  We were really happy with our stay at Sumiyoshi. You have to walk a bit from the train station to reach the ryokan but the location is fantastic, overlooking the river and close to many shops and restaurants. The hosts were very helpful and friendly, the rooms were comfortable and the ryokan is very nicely decorated. We had only one meal there(a breakfast) as we are vegetarians but it was very nice. We loved the common hot bath as well. The toilet was a bit small. Overall, if you wish to spend some time in a ryokan in Takayama, Sumiyoshi is highly recommended.

• Great experience!

  Month of Visit: May

  Country Of Reviewer: USA

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 4

  Room Rating - 4

  Nestled in a quiet alley, this ryokan offers great service,great food and comfortable rooms. The owners that greeted us were very sweet and the lady that brought us food and make our futons was a hoot! We loved the decorations and the antiques. The shared bath was quite nice as you can lock it and have privacy. We even liked the cat that stays on the veranda1 Highly recommended!

• Second time and it's was as great as the first time.

  Month of Visit: June

  Country Of Reviewer: US

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  It's not often that returning to a place can live up to the expectations / memories of your first visit but Sumiyoshi does just that. The warm reception, food, location are all excellent. If you've never tried a Ryokan before this is the perfect place to get you feet wet and submerse yourself in the true Japanese experience. If you can, try to get a room on the river.

• Chraming old house

  Month of Visit: July

  Country Of Reviewer: Canada/Quebec

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  This house is amazing! there are stairs everywhere...in our room we had hidden stairs behind a door...the kids thought it was really cool! We were a family of 4 so we got a big room (kind of 2 communicating rooms). The old lady that would serve our meals was just too amazing, she could be a character from a book. We fell in love with her...she was showing us how to eat our meal and she was laughing at us...she was sooo funny and warm. The perfect grandma! Takayama is a beautiful destination and we loved the morning markets...just strolling trough the streets...and after a long walk, what is nicer than a foot bath, right on the street!!! (look on the city map) this was great!

• Wow

  Month of Visit: August

  Country Of Reviewer: The netherlands

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  What a very nice place to stay. The room is good,the food is great, the staff very happy and friendly. They make your stay in Takayama to a feast. It was clean, the bathroom facilities are good, the house itself packed with beautiful japanese arts and crafts. Takayama is like small Kyoto but without the thousends of people, and with a cosmopolitan flair.

• Magnifique

  Month of Visit: August

  Country Of Reviewer: france

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  Notre meilleure expérience japonaise, tout simplement magnifique. L'acceuil chaleureux, la chambre comfortable, les repas savoureux. je vous le conseille les yeux fermés.

• Amazing Experience

  Month of Visit: August

  Country Of Reviewer: Italy

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  A very tradizional experience in a wonderful Ryokan with very kindly persons. The food is delicious and generous. The location along the river is romantic and quit. Nessuna review potrà rendere giustizia a questo posto: location tranquilla lungo il fiume, camere tradizionali molto ampie e comode. Il Ryokan è piccolo per cui i bagni in comune non sono un problema e tra gli ospiti nn ci si disturba. Piccolo onsen interno a disposizione. Cibo abbondante e da alta cucina giapponese, unica critica si cena veramente presto e le portate (tantissime) si susseguono un po' troppo velocemente. Un'e Vero Ryokan, altamente consigliato.

• Thank you for a fantastic expeience

  Month of Visit: November

  Country Of Reviewer: U.S.

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  We had a wonderful 2-night stay at this Ryokan. Excellent location. We traveled through Japan for 2 weeks and our stay at this place was one of our unforgettable experiences. The people were very nice and helpful. We loved the traditional food they served and appreciated that we got to try and enjoy food that we would not have known to order in restaurants. We also enjoyed the traditional bath they had (the bigger one). I highly recommend this place.