Due to the fact that the staff works in different location, and there is no fixed staff on location, I’ve missed the hostel vibe where you can get to know better the owner or just other people in the hostel. It felt more like an hotel.

Beautiful old building situated close to the old center of Takayama and 10 minutes from central station. The house was clean with all the necessities needed (free coffee and tee, washing machine drier and full kitchen supplies)! The futon mattress were pretty thick and we slept great, also thanks to the airco in our private room. Walls are very thin so make sure you have good ear plugs 😉 If there’s no staff on location, Check in is super simple via an online call, you press a button and you can talk to a staff member via video call. I think they have 5/6 different hostel buildings in Takayama and this way they can support customers more efficiently. I think it’s a smart solution that works really well! Great price quality balance. Definitely reccomended!

Stayed in August 2025

Great location! Lovely Australian guy to welcome us. Easy going, great atmosphere.

Stayed in August 2025

No private bathroom.

Ryokan experience in Takayama. Many common areas in the building. The atmosphere was very friendly.

Stayed in August 2025

In the morning there was no one at the reception.

Traditional well preserved ryokan. Comfortable room. We never had to queue for the toilets nor showers. There is a kitchen for everyone to use. Great location.

Stayed in July 2025

The washing machine didn't clean the laundry well. I suggest you add a table with chairs in the common area for guests who are a bit taller.

I liked how clean the hostel was. Sleeping on the tatami mats was very comfortable. It was good that we could open the windows and even turn off the air conditioning at night. It was very quiet.

Stayed in July 2025

Only thing we didn't like too much : the showers. A bit bancal by moment, especially for men. It would I've been nice to have more privecy for my partner then just a curtain (I was lucky, there is one with a close door for women). As for the rest with the shower, it was as clean a youth hostel can be (meaning that if 4 peoples pass before you, it showed), but they cannot clean each 5 sec, so good enough for us :).

Very good experience. The people were very nice and helpfull and the place is beautiful in a old japanese house style. It was very well situated, the kitchen area were very nice (even if we didn't need it) and the room, very coozy.

Stayed in July 2025

For my personal preference the stay was ok. I didn't enjoyed the bathroom being on a different level then the rooms.

It is great if you want to experience a more traditional type of accomodation and the staff was friendly.

Stayed in June 2025

Very helpful staff. Great location

Stayed in July 2025

You have to be very quiet in the evening till morning because of the thin walls

The atmosphere was pretty good, I felt traditional Japanese house! The price is so cheap as well

Stayed in July 2025

It is very international, so not really a local experience in case you’re looking for that :)

We had a big and clean private room. There is a nice lounge area and bbq space.

Stayed in June 2025

Good price value relationship, very centric to pretty much everything

Stayed in July 2025

Location, old 100 yo house, friendly staff

Stayed in June 2025

Its business model is a bit odd and 21st-century, and seems predicated on 'digital nomads'. A large portion of the guests seemed to be staff or semi-staff as well, and had long, rather noisy gatherings in the common room.

The building is old and lovely, clean and well-kept. Location is near the river, in a neighbourhood with amenities. The common room and kitchen a re roomy, and it's got a good bath.

Stayed in May 2025

It's a bit of a walk from the station with big bags, given how rare the busses are.

Lovely hostel, with kitchen facilities for those who want that. Despite being ryokan-style with paper-walls, it was very quiet at night. Free, excellent snacks is a great addition.

Stayed in May 2025

Nothing. It was a good hostel.

Easy location. Close to old city and 15min walk to station. Bathrooms are fine. Sleeping mats were thicker than most. And after using blankets for more support was best of the trip.

Stayed in May 2025

It's a very old and beautiful house. Ryokan style operating as a hostel.

Stayed in May 2025

Sadly Irori was booked during our stay so we couldn't enjoy it. Not necessarily a minus because of popularity and it was looking beautiful.

Nice looking older house with all necessary services. Room was gozy with plenty of room and one of the better futons on our trip. Hostel is located near places of interest.

Stayed in April 2025

I didn’t realize how difficult it would be going down steep steps to the bathroom throughout the night. It’s something to consider if anyone in your party has knee issues. I often saw older people struggling throughout the night. It’s not enough to make me rate it low, though, because the cost and staff were so great!

Loved the location, price, pretty garden, and super comfortable futons!!

Stayed in May 2025

It may be slightly noisy compared to the incredibly silent average Japanese hospitality, but nothing to worry about if you've travelled elsewhere.

Great vibe among staff and guests, complete kitchen, feels like a good hub and the place to be for a real Takayama experience.

Stayed in April 2025

- Ventilation could be improved. At 10pm someone cooked downstairs and burned something - the smell wafted up to our room and we couldn't get rid of it for hours - Not a negative note, but keep in mind it's an old house so you will hear every creak and loud talkers/snorers - You only get a tiny towel for free which isn't big enough for your body. Bring your own or pay extra

- Location, cleanliness, friendly staff - Organisation of shared spaces and services was really efficient - The free snacks!

Stayed in April 2025

The location is convenient and it's a beautiful old house. We stayed during golden week so it was really busy. A bit too busy in the kitchen for me but it was still very quiet at night which was nice. We loved having a BBQ on the Irori - one of our highlights in Takayama. ☺️

Stayed in May 2025

No toilets on our floor!

Atmosphere Rooms Kitchen

Stayed in April 2025

None!

I enjoyed my stay at Hostel Murasaki. The location is good (about 15 minutes away from the station on foot), the personnel are polite and friendly. You can also ask the staff for the bike rental service, but I didn't have a chance to do that because of the bad weather. Breakfast was good: hot coffee, toasts, juice and bananas while sitting around the irori fireplace and having a nice chat with the staff and other guests. Price/Quality ratio met my expectations. Nice choice for those who want to save some money and have a pleasant stay in Takayama. P.S. there was an electric blanket in the room which I used for the first time. That was cosy!

Stayed in April 2025

Towels are very small / not the best quality. Not the hostels fault but stairs are super steep so be ware if you are bringing a suitcase

Clean, well kept hostel in a good location walking distance from main streets. Nice staff, good facilities.

Stayed in April 2025