Rickshaw Inn is a small pension at 54 Suehiro-cho, popular with independent travellers and well rated by guests. It stands only a few minutes from the preserved merchant district, with the morning market about four minutes on foot, the Jinya about six and the station about seven. Rooms are simple and clean and come in several styles: Japanese-style twins with a private or shared bath, a Japanese-western room with two beds, a larger room that sleeps up to six and a single-person room. Rooms have air conditioning, free Wi-Fi and a flat-screen television, and the inn offers bicycle rental, luggage storage, laundry facilities and help with tours and tickets, with multilingual staff.
Location and getting around
The pension is one of the best-placed budget stays in town. Everything you came to Takayama for is within walking distance, from the Sanmachi lanes to the Yatai Kaikan and the folk museums, and the station and bus terminal are an easy walk for onward trips to Shirakawa-go or the Alps. Renting a bicycle from the inn is a pleasant way to explore the outskirts and the Hida Folk Village on a fine day, and staff can suggest quiet routes.
Rooms, meals and facilities
Rooms are small but thoughtfully equipped, with bedding, a hairdryer, slippers, towels and bathrobes, and some include a private bathroom with a bidet and a shower-tub combination. A breakfast is available each morning for a small charge, and the old town has many cafes and noodle shops for lunch and dinner. A free cot is available on request, which families will find handy. There are lobby newspapers, a water dispenser and a safe at the front desk.
Who it suits and what to know: solo travellers, couples and groups who want a friendly, affordable stay with character. Check-in runs from the afternoon until midnight, and check-out is before ten, with a late check-out available for an extra fee. Limited paid parking is available. Pets are not allowed, and there are no extra beds. A local tax may be collected on arrival, you may need to show identification and a passport copy is kept as required by law.
Because the inn is small, book early for autumn and the festival season, and compare room types depending on whether you want a private bath. The inn is also a good place to ask for tips on the best walking routes, quiet cafes and the day trip to Shirakawa-go, since the staff speak several languages and know the town well. If you want hot-spring bathing, choose one of the onsen hotels in this guide instead, because this is a simple pension with a focus on location and value.
Why stay here
- ✓Three minutes to the old town
- ✓Bicycle rental
- ✓Breakfast available
- ✓Free Wi-Fi
- ✓Laundry facilities
- ✓Luggage storage
- ✓Free cot on request
- ✓Multilingual staff
Good questions
Is breakfast included?+
Breakfast is available for a small charge. Check when you book.
Can I rent a bicycle?+
Yes, the inn rents bicycles. Ask at the desk about hours and rates.
How far is it from the station?+
About seven minutes on foot.
