Kai Okuhida
界 奥飛騨
Does Kai Okuhida allow tattoos? Yes!
Tattoos are allowed in the baths at Kai Okuhida, with nothing to cover. Some rooms also have an open-air hot-spring bath of their own.
Hoshino Resorts’ group FAQ says it doesn’t restrict guests with tattoos. It may still decline use of the baths if staff judge it would make other guests uncomfortable.
The bath
The indoor bath has two tubs: a hot one fed with free-flowing hot-spring water and a cooler one for a long soak. The open-air bath is modeled on the snow corridors of Okuhida’s deep winters, with an opening in the roof. An after-bath lounge offers drinks and ice pops. The spring is mild and skin-softening. The baths are for staying guests only, with no day use.
Some rooms have an open-air bath of their own on the same spring. There’s also a foot bath in the courtyard, with free-flowing hot-spring water, looking out at the mountains.
The hotel
There are 49 rooms, each sleeping one to four, decorated with Hida woodcraft and bentwood chairs made in Hida. Check-in is 2:30 p.m., and checkout is 11 a.m. Dinner is a kaiseki course with Hida beef cooked two ways, served in semi-private dining spaces. Wi-Fi is free throughout, parking is free with no reservation needed, and the whole building is non-smoking.
Good to know
- Dogs welcome in two rooms, up to two medium dogs of 20 kg (44 lb) or less.
- No shuttle. The hotel runs no pickup, but it’s a short walk from the bus terminal.
- A talk on the hot spring in the afternoon. The bath attendant explains Hirayu’s history and how to bathe, and a small gallery in the building covers hot springs.
Getting there
Hirayu Onsen bus terminal · Nohi Bus
About 3 minutes on foot.
From Nagoya, take the Hida, JR’s limited express, to Takayama, then walk five minutes to the Nohi Bus Center beside the station. Ride the Hirayu and Shinhotaka line bus to Hirayu Onsen, 58 minutes. It’s about 4 hours in all. From Tokyo, a direct highway bus from Busta Shinjuku reaches Hirayu Onsen in about 4 hours 40 minutes. The hotel is across the road from the Hirayu Folk Museum.
Where it is
Hirayu Onsen bus terminal
- JR Hida limited express 2 hr 35 min
- Nohi Bus 58 min
- Shinkansen tickets Seats between any two stations, booked by date.
- JR Takayama-Hokuriku Area Tourist Pass ¥19,800 · 5 consecutive days Worth it if you’re riding the Hida from Nagoya to Takayama.
- Japan Rail Pass from ¥53,000 · 7, 14 or 21 days For a trip that takes in several regions by Shinkansen and JR lines.
What happens when you arrive
Go straight to the baths; there’s nothing to cover. In a room with an open-air bath, you can also bathe in your room.
How we know
Confirmed from the operator group’s own FAQ (hoshinoresorts.com/ja/sp/faq/hotelinfo/). The condition attached to seals applies only where non-residents bathe, and Kai Okuhida’s baths are guests-only.
私たちは、お客様の文化背景や価値観を尊重し、刺青・タトゥーをされているお客様の利用を制限しておりません。しかしながら、すべてのお客様が快適にお過ごしいただけるよう、他のお客様が恐怖心を抱く可能性があると私たちが判断した場合、温泉・大浴場のご利用をお断りする場合がございます。
The operator’s own wording. Show it if anyone asks.
Best for: couples and dog owners who want a modern ryokan in the Northern Alps, with Hida beef for dinner
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