Oyado Yamakyu ryokan in Takayama
Jan 21st, 2012, 09:14 AM
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Oyado Yamakyu ryokan in Takayama
Any comments on the Oyado Yamakyu ryokan in Takayama? It ranks #1 on TripAdvisor, but the most comments on this forum are about the Sumiyoshi (#2). Sumiyoshi is more expensive- $300/couple with dinner and breakfast and no bath in room. The Oyadu Yamakyu would be $207 per couple with both breakfast and dinner. Is it worth $100 more per night to stay at Sumiyoshi? Also we'll be in Takayama for 2 nights. I know the ryokan dinners are supposed to be fabulous, but should we opt to go to a restaurant on night #2. Any restaurants people can recommend?
Jan 22nd, 2012, 12:18 AM
#2
They are in different locations. Sumiyoshi is closer to the main part of town. The other is in the temple area.
The main part of town being between the JR station and the first river - the Miyagawa. Sumiyoshi is on the station side of that river.
itcj says that from JR Takayama station that it takes 15 min to Sumiyoshi, which sounds right (I have stayed there) and 18 min to Oyado Yamakyu (but looks like it is a fair bit farther, but maybe only 10 or 15 min farther - I did not go to the temple area).
http://www.itcj.jp/eng/421023_map
http://www.itcj.jp/eng/421034_map
Another difference is that Sumiyoshi offers a Western breakfast option and the other does not.
Where did you find the prices for the two places?
The main part of town being between the JR station and the first river - the Miyagawa. Sumiyoshi is on the station side of that river.
itcj says that from JR Takayama station that it takes 15 min to Sumiyoshi, which sounds right (I have stayed there) and 18 min to Oyado Yamakyu (but looks like it is a fair bit farther, but maybe only 10 or 15 min farther - I did not go to the temple area).
http://www.itcj.jp/eng/421023_map
http://www.itcj.jp/eng/421034_map
Another difference is that Sumiyoshi offers a Western breakfast option and the other does not.
Where did you find the prices for the two places?
Jan 22nd, 2012, 12:08 PM
#4
From what I can tell from itcj the price difference is about $70 (5360 yen) based on the "japanese style 2" rate at Sumiyoshi. Sumiyoshi "style 3" is 2100 yen less than style 2, so a difference of $42 between Sumiyoshi and Yado.
It looks like (from itcj) that both places have separate charges for room only and meals are optional I think it is more typical that a ryokan has one price that includes room and the two meals as they make more profit that way, and I know some places don't accept solo guests for the same reason.
I would take advantage of the room-only option for the second night and go out for dinner.
The room only price difference is 840 yen or $2940 depending on style 3 or style 2 room type at Sumiyoshi vs Yado. There's a 2100 yen diff just between the two room rates, so there is a diff in quality.
We (fodorites) have discussed what KimJapan has referred to as the "ryokan experience". Prices vary considerably between low-end and high-end ryokans. The differences are in quality: meals, furnishings, service, bedding, for example. Very high-end ryokans are more of a destination than just lodging+ meals. But the the ryokan traditions, comparable at all levels, are what make it an experience. It is the execution that varies.
It is like comparing a Super 8 vs a Hilton Garden Inn (this is not to suggest that Yado is a Super 8 and Sumiyoshi is an HGI, only that I don't think that both are HGI - there is a reason for the price difference).
Is Sumiyoshi worth more? Yes, probably, as you probably get more value. But if that value is not important to you then save the money. I think that the 840 yen difference, at least, between Sumiyoshi type 3 and Yado is worth it for the location, esp. on the second night when you are going out for dinner.
It looks like (from itcj) that both places have separate charges for room only and meals are optional I think it is more typical that a ryokan has one price that includes room and the two meals as they make more profit that way, and I know some places don't accept solo guests for the same reason.
I would take advantage of the room-only option for the second night and go out for dinner.
The room only price difference is 840 yen or $2940 depending on style 3 or style 2 room type at Sumiyoshi vs Yado. There's a 2100 yen diff just between the two room rates, so there is a diff in quality.
We (fodorites) have discussed what KimJapan has referred to as the "ryokan experience". Prices vary considerably between low-end and high-end ryokans. The differences are in quality: meals, furnishings, service, bedding, for example. Very high-end ryokans are more of a destination than just lodging+ meals. But the the ryokan traditions, comparable at all levels, are what make it an experience. It is the execution that varies.
It is like comparing a Super 8 vs a Hilton Garden Inn (this is not to suggest that Yado is a Super 8 and Sumiyoshi is an HGI, only that I don't think that both are HGI - there is a reason for the price difference).
Is Sumiyoshi worth more? Yes, probably, as you probably get more value. But if that value is not important to you then save the money. I think that the 840 yen difference, at least, between Sumiyoshi type 3 and Yado is worth it for the location, esp. on the second night when you are going out for dinner.
Jan 23rd, 2012, 02:52 AM
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I can't comment on Oyado as we didn't stay there but we did stay at Sumiyoshi for a couple of nights when on our RTW trip in 2008. It was worth every penny and one of the highlights of our trip. A traditional Ryokan, it is not one of the most expensive by any means but the food was out of this world (both braekfast and dinner. The two ladies running the place are a delight! Staying for 2 nights we thought hard about just having dinner on on of the nights but were glad we opted for both nights. I seriously doubt that we would have got dinner of the same qulaity for anything like the same price. That said, there are lots of great restaurants around the town of varying cuisines and price ranges but you may want to seek out one of the Hida beef places for which the town is famous - Kitchen Hida was very good but very expensive.
There are a few photos of Sumiyoshi (and its food) on our blog:
http://blog.travelpod.com/travel-blo...4160/tpod.html
There are a few photos of Sumiyoshi (and its food) on our blog:
http://blog.travelpod.com/travel-blo...4160/tpod.html
