Machiyado Ichiryu

Behind a classic two-story machiya facade in Takayama's preserved old town sits an urban ryokan that quietly bends the rules of the form. The interiors run modern and spare rather than ornate, but the geothermal spring still feeds both communal baths and in-room onsen, keeping things grounded. The restaurant works through seasonal local ingredients with the usual ryokan seriousness. About two hours from Nagoya, deep in the mountains.