Yama no Ryosha Nakaodaira is a six-room hot spring inn at the far end of Nakao Kogen in Okuhida Onsengo, Takayama, at about 1,100 m. It opened in 1970 and is run by the owner, Akihiro Minoura, and his wife; the rooms were renovated in 2006. The inn says plainly that it is not a luxury ryokan: its draw is quiet, forest and hot spring water. Before you book, three things matter: there are six private baths and no shared bath; bookings are online only, never by email; and families with children under elementary school age are limited to one family a night.
The six private baths at Nakaodaira
The inn has six private baths: two outdoor baths, two large indoor baths and two small indoor baths. None is shared with other guests, and there is no booking and no time limit; they are open 24 hours during your stay, alone, as a couple or as a family. Day visitors cannot use them; the baths are for staying guests only.
What are the baths like?
“Mae no Yu” is a roofed outdoor bath a short walk into the forest, open on one side. Further in, “Oku no Yu” has no roof, with a fence only on the village side. Indoors, “Morimi no Yu” has two glass walls facing the forest, and “Neyu” lets you lie down in the water. The two small indoor baths were rebuilt in December 2024, with adjustable lighting, according to a news post.
How do I use a private bath?
For an outdoor bath, take its key from the 1st-floor lobby; if the key is gone, someone is in it. For an indoor bath, hang the “occupied” sign at the entrance and lock the door. The indoor baths have shampoo, conditioner, body soap and showers; the English page says the outdoor baths have no soap, so rinse with water first.
What is in the water?
The spring is a sodium chloride spring from a shared source about 200 m below the inn, pH 7.8, clear with a slight sulfur smell. The source is too hot to bathe in, so the inn cools it by heat exchange and adds water, then lets it flow without chlorine or recirculation.
Can I bathe with a tattoo?
The English bath page says all baths are private, so guests with tattoos need not be concerned. The Japanese pages do not mention tattoos. Our tattoo and onsen guide explains how private baths differ from shared ones.
Nakaodaira at a glance
| Item | Official information |
|---|---|
| Address | 436-25 Nakao, Okuhida Onsengo, Takayama, Gifu |
| Rooms | 6: four for 2 guests, one for 3, one for 4 |
| In the room | Sink and toilet; no private bath; air conditioner |
| Baths | 6 private baths, no booking, 24 hours |
| Dinner | 18:30 or 19:00, in the dining room |
| Breakfast | 7:30 or 8:00 |
| Booking | Website only; opens on the 1st of the month, 4 months ahead |
| Phone | +81-578-89-2568 (8:00–21:00, Japan time) |
| Extra charges | Bathing tax and Takayama accommodation tax, paid at checkout |
From the official site in Japanese and English, read October 14, 2026.
Rooms at Nakaodaira
Four of the six rooms are for two guests, each with about eight tatami mats of futon space, a rocking chair, a coffee table, a sink and a toilet. The family rooms add a living room: one for three guests with about eight mats, and one for four with about ten. Every room has a mountain view. Futons are laid out before you arrive, and the owner will not come to your room unless you call. Towels, yukata, toothbrushes, a hair dryer and an electric kettle are provided. Wi-Fi is available but weak in some rooms; the 1st-floor lobby has the strongest signal. In winter, heat from the hot spring warms the building.
Meals at Nakaodaira
What is dinner like?
The couple cook dinner themselves from local ingredients, sometimes with mountain vegetables and mushrooms they pick, and the menu changes daily, so longer stays are easy. It is Japanese at its base with some Western seasoning. The inn’s own examples are a Hida beef roast beef made with A5-grade beef over 6 to 7 hours, and char from Northern Alps streams baked in bamboo leaf with miso. The owners do not drink, but friends helped them stock local sake, wine and fruit wine.
When and where are meals served?
Choose dinner at 18:30 or 19:00 and breakfast at 7:30 or 8:00, all in the dining room next to the kitchen; there are no meals in the room. Breakfast includes hoba miso grilled over charcoal. Families with small children eat in a private room on the 1st floor. During the Nakao Kamakura Festival in early February, dinner is at 18:30 only.
Can the inn handle allergies or a vegetarian diet?
Tell the inn about allergies when you book, and it will accommodate them as far as it can. For vegetarians, its notice says vegetable dishes are made without meat or fish but often contain bonito broth, a fully vegetarian meal is not possible, you may get fewer dishes, and you must ask at least three days ahead. Extra dishes also need advance notice.
Prices, children, cancellation and payment at Nakaodaira
How much does a stay cost?
We could not read the prices: the booking page did not load for us, and the site lists no rates. Since July 2023 the price changes by date. Enter your plan and dates on the booking page and press the estimate button. The inn says booking direct can cost less than going through a travel site.
What taxes are added?
Both are charged at checkout, separate from the room price, says the inn. Takayama’s accommodation tax is 100, 200 or 300 yen per person per night depending on the room rate, with children exempt until the March 31 after they turn 12. Takayama’s bathing tax is 150 yen per person, per its budget. See our onsen bathing tax guide.
Can I bring children?
Yes. The inn takes bookings for children under elementary school age from one family per night, and serves that family in the private dining room. Let it know what your child likes and dislikes. It is a small wooden building, so it asks that children not run or shout in rooms and halls. Child rates are not on the pages we could read.
What is the cancellation policy?
The cancellation fees were not readable on the official pages. A news post says the inn may charge cancellation fees even when a typhoon approaches. Check the rule on the booking page before you pay, and see our hotel cancellation guide.
How do I pay?
Credit cards are accepted, and since April 1, 2025 the card PIN is required; a signature is no longer enough, per this notice. Check your PIN before you travel. Other payment methods are not listed.
Getting to Nakaodaira in Okuhida
How do I get there by bus?
From Takayama Station, take the Nohi bus for Shinhotaka Ropeway. From Matsumoto, ride to Hirayu Bus Terminal and change to the Shinhotaka line. Tell the driver you are getting off at h59 Nakao Yakedake Tozanguchi, or the bus may skip the stop. Buses coming from Shinhotaka Ropeway stop at Nakao Kogen Guchi instead; call the inn and it will pick you up. Our Takayama map shows how the region fits together.
Can I drive there?
Yes. The inn says winter equipment is required from November to March, and asks for studless winter tires. Some car navigation systems in 2026 showed detours on Route 158; the inn says normal cars can pass. Parking details are not given on the official pages.
What foreign guests should know before staying at Nakaodaira
- Bookings open on the 1st of the month, four months ahead; for a stay on October 10, booking opens June 1.
- The inn does not take bookings or price questions by email; use the booking page or call.
- The owners run the inn as a couple, so ask for dietary changes and extra dishes early.
- Bring your card PIN; a signature will not do.
- Nights at 1,100 m are cool even in summer, and below freezing in February.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to book the private baths at Nakaodaira?
Can I bathe with a tattoo at Nakaodaira?
Can I book Nakaodaira by email?
Can Nakaodaira serve vegetarian meals?
How do I get to Nakaodaira by bus?
Bottom line (2026): Nakaodaira is a quiet, six-room inn at the end of the road in Nakao Kogen, with six private baths open around the clock and dinner cooked by the owners. Book online on the 1st of the month four months ahead, and ask the inn about times and prices the pages do not give.
Sources
Every fact on this page is from Nakaodaira’s official pages: home (Japanese), English home, about, baths, meals, rooms, access and reservation notice, and Takayama City’s accommodation tax page. All were read on October 14, 2026. Prices and rules change; check the official site before you book.
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