Unbelievable Takayama Luxury: BEYOND HOTEL's 3rd Gem Unveiled!
Takayama, You Absolute Gem! (And BEYOND HOTEL's 3rd Gem? Oh YES!) - A Messy, Honest Review
Okay, picture this: me, absolutely drenched in anticipation. I'd been dreaming of Takayama for ages. Those traditional houses! The mountain views! The sake! And finally, FINALLY, I was booked into Unbelievable Takayama Luxury: BEYOND HOTEL's 3rd Gem Unveiled! I was practically vibrating with excitement. This wasn't just a trip; this was a vibe.
Now, I'm no hotel snob. I appreciate a good, clean, functional space. But I'm also a sucker for a little (okay, a lot) of luxury. So, did this "Unbelievable" hotel live up to the hype? Buckle up, 'cause this is going to be a bumpy, honest ride.
First Impressions: The Good, The…Questionable… and the OMG-Did-I-Just-See-That-?! Moments
Getting there was a breeze, thanks to their airport transfer options. Smooth, easy, no stress – score one for BEYOND. But then, BAM, the entrance! It’s a sleek, modern take on traditional Japanese design. Accessibility seems well thought out too. I’d definitely give a thumbs up for anyone with mobility needs. The elevator was a lifesaver after lugging my suitcase around.
And the front desk [24-hour] staff? Seriously, they're lovely. They’re all smiles, super helpful, and spoke AMAZING English. Which, as someone who barely remembers how to order a coffee in Japanese, was a HUGE relief. The contactless check-in/out was a bonus, especially with all the travel stress right now.
Now, the room. Oh, the room! I had a room on a high floor, so the views were seriously killer. It was clean, spacious, and those blackout curtains? Game-changer for sleeping in, which is precisely what I intend to do on vacation. They also had a desk (for those moments you have to do some work, sadly), a comfy sofa, and a seriously tempting mini bar.
The Room Essentials: (And My Inner Nerd's Appreciation)
- Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! - Bless you, BEYOND! The internet access – wireless was reliable, and the internet access – LAN (for you old-school types) was also there.
- Air conditioning: Mandatory! I needed it after the sweaty travels!
- Coffee/tea maker: Essential. I’m not a morning person, and the complimentary tea and coffee meant I didn’t have to interact with anyone before I was ready to.
- Private bathroom: Of course, that is my biggest requirement! Complete with bathrobes and slippers. Yes! I'm all about the luxury of a good robe and slippers!
- In-room safe box: Always a must for peace of mind!
- Hair dryer: Saved my mane, as always.
- Wake-up service: Handy for those early sake brewery tours!
Things To Do… (And My Attempts At Relaxation with some drama)
Okay, so the amenities… This is where BEYOND went from great to OMG.
- The Pool with a View: Look, I'm not going to lie. I spent a significant portion of my trip lounging by the outdoor swimming pool. The view of the mountains? Insane. I brought my camera – I’m now a pro at mountain photography. It was… serene. Until I realized I'd forgotten my sunscreen and was starting to resemble a cooked lobster. Oops. Still, I did it.
- Spa/Sauna/Steamroom: Oh. My. God. The sauna, spa, and steamroom were heaven sent. I spent a glorious afternoon alternating between heat and cold, and, for the first time in years, I felt truly relaxed. The Body scrub and wrap were tempting. Honestly, I probably should have done it. Next time.
- Fitness center/Gym/Fitness: I peeked inside. Looked like a decent gym. But, you know, the pool… and the spa… Well, let's just say my workout plans were… flexible.
- Massage: Ok, I DID get a massage, and I may, or may not have nearly fallen asleep during it. Bliss.
Restaurants and Dining: Fueling My Adventures (and My Stomach)
The dining situation was… impressive. And complex and overwhelming in the best way.
- Restaurants: Several options!
- A la carte in restaurant dining.
- Buffet in restaurant - I’m a sucker for a buffet. The breakfast [buffet] was a feast!
- Asian Cuisine – Everything was delicious.
- International Cuisine – Check.
- Vegetarian restaurant – Amazing! I'm trying to eat plant-based, and I had plenty of delish choices.
- Desserts in restaurant – YES.
- Coffee/tea in restaurant/Coffee shop – Essential.
- Poolside bar – Cocktails overlooking the pool? Yes, please.
- Bar - Great atmosphere.
- Room service [24-hour]: This is genius! Especially after a late night sake tasting. The bottle of water in the room was a must.
Cleanliness and Safety: Because Nobody Wants a Travel-Induced Illness
Look, the world is a weird place right now. But BEYOND took safety seriously.
- Anti-viral cleaning products.
- Daily disinfection in common areas.
- Hand sanitizer everywhere.
- Rooms sanitized between stays.
- Staff? ALL trained in safety protocol.
- Physical distancing of at least 1 meter.
For the Kids:
- I'm childless, so I can't personally vouch for it, but they had babysitting service and what looked like kids facilities.
The Minor Annoyances (Because Perfection Doesn’t Exist, Sadly)
Okay, here’s the honesty part. No place is perfect.
- Laundry. Expensive. Very Expensive. However, I got my clothes back clean.
- While the staff was lovely, there was at least one evening where the wait at the bar was a bit long.
- The website photos, which is good.
The Verdict: Is BEYOND HOTEL's 3rd Gem REALLY Unbelievable?
Absolutely. Yes. Without a doubt.
Here's why YOU should book:
- Location, Location, Location: Right in the heart of Takayama. Easy access to everything!
- Luxury Without the Snobbery: It’s fancy, but not pretentious. Relaxed luxury.
- The Amenities Are Amazing: The pool! The spa! The food! You'll never want to leave.
- Safety First: They take cleanliness seriously.
- The Staff Is Incredible: They go above and beyond to make your stay special.
My Emotional Reaction: I left feeling refreshed, rejuvenated, and dreaming of a return trip. Okay, I'm getting misty-eyed just thinking about it. The scenery, the atmosphere, the delicious food and, everything was just wonderful!. I rate it 5 out of 5 stars!
STOP SCROLLING! Your Takayama Adventure Starts NOW!
Ready to experience the Unbelievable?
BEYOND HOTEL's 3rd Gem is calling!
Book your stay at Unbelievable Takayama Luxury: BEYOND HOTEL's 3rd Gem Unveiled!
- Imagine yourself: Soaking in the pool with a view of the mountains!
- Indulge in: World-class dining and spa treatments!
- Experience: Unparalleled service and unforgettable moments!
- Don't miss: The chance to explore Takayama in style and comfort!
Special Offer: For a limited time, book your stay and receive a complimentary welcome drink at the bar and a 10% discount on spa treatments! (And I'm not even getting a commission. I'm just excited for you!)
Click here to book your escape to paradise: [Insert Link Here]
Don't wait! Rooms in this Takayama gem are going FAST!
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The Eliot Hotel: Uncover the Hidden Gem of the US!
Takayama Tango: A Rambling Itinerary (Beyond Hotel & Beyond Sanity?)
Okay, so here goes. The "official" itinerary I’ve got from the travel agent is, like, pristine. Beautifully formatted. Lies. This, this is the truth, unfiltered, messy, and probably punctuated with way too many exclamation points. Buckle up, buttercups! It’s going to be a ride.
Day 1: Arrival & "First Impressions" (Translation: Jet Lagged Disaster)
5:00 AM (ish): Ugh. The alarm. The unholy harbinger of 14-hour flights and questionable airport coffee. I'm convinced the entire planet conspired to make airports as soul-crushingly boring as possible.
1:00 PM (approx): Arrive at Nagoya Airport. Customs? Smooth(ish). My suitcase, however, stubbornly decided to have a meltdown on the carousel and nearly took out a small child. Note to self: pack duct tape. For everything.
2:30 PM: Train to Takayama. The scenery? Absolutely breathtaking. The mountains, the rice paddies… it was… snore. Just kidding! Mostly. Okay, maybe after the turbulence and lack of sleep. I dozed. A LOT. Didn't mean to but my body refused, It was a long flight.
4:30 PM: Arrived in Takayama! Okay, so Beyond Hotel looks gorgeous in the pictures. Let's see what the reality is!
Beyond Hotel Takayama - Check In + Initial Reaction
- Okay, so the lobby is minimalist chic. Too chic, maybe? Feels more like a designer art gallery than a place I can actually live. Where are the cozy armchairs? The overflowing book shelves? The character? Ugh, I'm sounding like my grandma. They give me this beautifully designed key card, with my room number and the directions. I wonder if the directions are good.
- Room - Immediate Reaction: The Room? Minimalist to the point of feeling slightly… sterile. Seriously, where are the throw pillows? The fluffy comforter? The personality?! Everything feels perfect, designed. Oh, yeah, the view is perfect. It's of the city. Good.
- The Sleep Test: I’m going to be honest with you all, I fell face-first into that bed (as opposed to the slow dive I was expecting). So comfortable! I had the best night's sleep despite my initial misgivings.
6:00 PM: Wander into the city.
- First Impressions of Takayama: This place… is adorable. Tiny, charming, and smells faintly of wood. I swear, everyone is impeccably polite. I feel like a clumsy, loud American oaf. (Pretty much.)
- Dinner - The Foodie Fail: Wandered and wandered and decided on a restaurant that looked promising. Menu was Japanese. I pointed at a picture, hoping for the best. Result? Definitely the best! Delicious and I had no idea I was eating. Foodie fail and a win!
Day 2: Morning Market Mayhem & Ghibli Dreams (Probably Too Much Coffee)
- 7:00 AM (ish): Alarm. UGGGHHH. (That’s the refined version.) Decided to get up and head for the morning market.
- 8:00 AM: Morning Market Madness! Holy crap. The amount of stuff. Fresh vegetables, pickles that could probably corrode your fillings, and more tourist trinkets than I thought possible.
- Observation: The women running the stalls are incredibly sweet, even though I probably butchered every single word of Japanese beyond "hello" and "thank you." I bought some pickled something or other. Haven't dared to eat it yet.
- The "Local Treat" Debacle: Tried a hida beef croquette. Heaven. Crispy, juicy, and everything I needed. Ordered another. And another. Maybe an addiction is forming.
- 10:00 AM: Stroll through the old town. The old traditional buildings? Absolutely beautiful. The cobblestone streets? Murder on the ankles. Worth it, though.
- Quirky Observation: The old houses are so perfectly preserved it almost feels like a movie set. But a REALLY well-maintained one.
- Emotional Reaction: Got a little choked up looking at the beautifully carved wooden shopfronts. So much history, so much craftsmanship. (And then my tummy growled, bringing me rapidly back to reality.)
- 12:00 PM: Lunch at a local ramen shop. This is it. This is the real Japan. The kind of place that makes you feel like you've wandered into someone's kitchen. Slurped noodles, a real deal.
- 1:00 PM: The plan was the Hida Folk Village…. but I ended up at a cafe. Sometimes, you just need some coffee and a good book.
- The Ghibli Film: Watched a Ghibli film. I wanted to see the forest and I'm missing too much.
- 4:00 PM: Back to the hotel, for some R&R.
- 7:00 PM: Dinner at a restaurant that someone recommended(the name of which. I have no clue). Another culinary adventure and very little Japanese.
Day 3: Day Trip Debacle (or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Train)
- 8:00 AM: Wake up still tired.
- 9:00 AM: Headed to the train station to take a train to see a place! On the way I bought a bento box.
- 9:15 AM: Train to the place. Took the train for a 4-hour ride.
- 1:15 PM: Time to get off the train!
- 1:30 PM: I walked around. I took a few pictures. It was super pretty.
Day 4: Departure and "Good Riddance" (or: Actually, I'll Miss It)
- 8:00 AM: Reluctant packing and a last, mournful glance at that perfect hotel room. I actually liked the minimalist aesthetic after all, I didn't want to admit at first.
- 9:00 AM: Sad goodbye to the Beyond Hotel. Quick check out and a few last photos.
- 9:30 AM: Last-minute souvenir shopping (because, let's be honest, you always forget something.)
- 11:00 AM: Train to the airport. So long, Takayama!
- 1:00 PM: Airport security (ugh). My suitcase won't give me any problems this time, I hope.
- 6:00 PM: Back to the real world, with a heart full of memories and a suitcase full of pickles.
- Overall: Thoughts? Japan is amazing. Yes, it's different. Yes, I felt like a fish out of water half the time. Yes, my bank account is weeping. But the beauty, the food, the people… it's all worth it. I'd go back in a heartbeat. Probably with more duct tape, and a better grasp of the language. And maybe a slightly less sterile room. Now, where do I find that darn pickling recipe…?
Unbelievable Takayama? More Like... Seriously Unbelievable Takayama - BEYOND HOTEL Edition!
Okay, spill the tea. Is this BEYOND HOTEL actually worth the hype? Is *this* the 3rd Gem they're crowing about?
Alright, alright, settle down, drama queens and kings. Hype? Yes. It oozes from the walls like some kind of artisanal, ridiculously expensive honey. Is it worth it? ...Ugh, that depends. On your expectations, your bank account, and how much you *really* need a hot spring built *into* your room. And yes, this is the third gem. They're not kidding. I'm talking genuine, jaw-dropping "I might cry happy tears" level stuff. But, and this is a big BUT, I have some *minor* grievances... we'll get to those little devils later. Let's just say, my inner critic had a field day *and* a spa day.
So, what makes this “gem” so special? What’s the big deal? Is it just fancy furniture?
Fancy furniture is there, sure. Think minimalist chic meets traditional Japanese elegance, designed by someone who clearly *loves* expensive wood. But the big deal? The *atmosphere*. Seriously. It's like stepping into a zen movie, but you're the star. The sound of the river just below makes it the perfect spot to fall in love with the moment. Let me tell you about my room… Oh, the room! (I think it was the **Suite with a Mountain View Hot Spring**... or was it a dream?) The view? Mind-blowing. The *private* onsen (hot spring) on the balcony? Game over. Spent an hour in there, plotting my escape from reality (which, let's be honest, is what we're all *really* after). The service is exemplary, but sometimes a little *too* polished, you know? I almost felt guilty for messing up the perfect feng shui with my mountain of snacks.
Let’s talk food. Is the dining experience worthy of its luxury billing? Or is it just Instagram bait?
The food... okay, the food. Instagram bait? Absolutely. Every dish is a work of art, meticulously plated. But, and again, the "but" rears its ugly head… it's not *just* pretty. The flavors? Sublime. Fresh, local ingredients, prepared with insane skill. I'm talking melt-in-your-mouth wagyu, delicate seafood… It's a culinary adventure, really. I did, however, experience what I’d call a “*portion* problem”. It was so perfect but I felt like I needed a hot dog afterwards to fill the void. The breakfast, on the other hand, was phenomenal, and I had a *very* generous portion. But lunch was a bit… dainty. Again, delicious, beautiful… but my stomach was singing the blues.
What about the location? Is it convenient for exploring Takayama? Or is it some remote paradise?
It's a bit of both. The location is stunning. Nestled in nature, with the river running by. Pure bliss. But it's not *right* in the heart of Takayama's old town. You'll need a taxi (easily arranged by the hotel, thankfully, because I am terrible at navigating) or a bit of a walk (which, let's be honest, I did *not* do because, well, luxury...). So, convenient-ish. Worth the slight inconvenience for the setting? Absolutely, yes. You feel really secluded, which is the whole point.
How's the service? Are they catering to your every whim? Or is it snooty and pretentious?
The service is... *intense*. In an amazing way. The staff is incredibly attentive. They anticipate your needs before you even realize you *have* needs. They’re polite, helpful, and genuinely seem to care. It's not snooty, thankfully! It's more like… exquisitely choreographed hospitality. One time, I was struggling to open a bottle of sparkling water (I know, I’m a failure!), and a staff member materialized out of thin air to assist. They even remembered my *very* specific preference for tea (English Breakfast with a slice of lemon, thank you very much). The only downside? Sometimes it felt like I couldn’t breathe without someone offering to help. A little too much attention, maybe? I'm still not sure...
So, any downsides? Be brutally honest.
Okay, here we go. First, the price. It's not cheap. Be ready to shell out some serious cash. Second, the food portions, as I mentioned, can be a bit… petite. Third, the location, while beautiful, isn't *super* central. You'll need transport to get into the main part of town. Fourth… well, this is more of a personal quirk, but the sheer perfection of the place made me feel, at times, a little… uncomfortable. Like I was afraid to mess things up. I like a little mess! I'm a messy person! It's a luxury problem, I know, but there it is. And finally, and this is small BUT: the Wi-Fi wasn't always the strongest. Again, first world problems, I know, but I needed to document my luxurious existence on the 'gram, people!
Would you go back? Seriously. Would you spend that kind of money again?
Oh god, the million-dollar question. Would I go back? In a heartbeat. If someone offered to pay? Absolutely. Would I spend my *own* money again? Hmm… that’s a tougher call. It’s a splurge, for sure. But that memory of floating in that onsen, with the cold mountain air on my face, and a tiny, perfect glass of sake... That’s something you can't put a price on. (Though, technically, you *can*... and it's a hefty one!) So, maybe. Probably. Definitely, if they’re reading this and want to offer me a free stay. Just saying... 😉
