Kagetsu Highland Hotel, Takayu Onsen

8.5

This Ryokan has an overall rating of 8.5/10, based on 1,081 reviews.

Rank	Ryokan	Rating	Reviews
🥇 1st	Seifutei	9.1/10	203
🥈 2nd	Ookawaso	8.9/10	791
🥉 3rd	mt. inn(マウントイン）	8.9/10	237
4th	Harumiya Ryokan	8.9/10	193
5th	Kutsurogijyuku Shintaki	9.0/10	65
6th	Sansuiso Tsuchiyu Spa	8.9/10	105
7th	Iizaka Onsen Surikamitei Ohtori	8.8/10	227
8th	Aizu Higashiyama Onsen “Shosuke no Yado Takinoyu” since1880	8.7/10	3,925
9th	Kutsurogijuku Chiyotaki	8.7/10	900
10th	Kounkaku	8.8/10	65
11th	Harataki	8.6/10	1,239
12th	Tagoto	8.6/10	555
13th	Ryokan Tamagoyu	8.6/10	483
14th	Azumakan	8.6/10	312
15th	Yoshikawaya	8.8/10	42
16th	Konjakutei	8.6/10	189
17th	Marumine Kanko Hotel	8.5/10	2,582
18th	Kagetsu Highland Hotel, Takayu Onsen Current ryokan	8.5/10	1,081
19th	Eirakukan	8.5/10	793
20th	Spa Resort Hawaiians Monolith Tower	8.5/10	690
21st	Kashiwaya Ryokan	8.6/10	77
22nd	Moritaya	8.8/10	28
23rd	Hanakanzashi	8.6/10	47
24th	Irorinoyado Ashina	8.5/10	41
25th	Yamagataya	8.5/10	35
26th	Kyukamura Ura-Bandai	8.2/10	75
27th	New Ogiya	8.1/10	190
28th	Premium Suites “Hanare Matsushimakaku” Produced by Shousuke no Yado Takinoyu	8.0/10	73
29th	Spa Resort Hawaiians Hotel Hawaiians	7.9/10	1,291
30th	Onsenya Hirosuke Ryokan	7.5/10	7
31st	Shinobu Onsen Seishū	5.0/10	1
32nd	Shikibu no Yakata Izutsuya	6.8/10	3
33rd	Spa Resort Hawaiians VIR Port	7.8/10	74
34th	Ashinomaki Prince Hotel	7.8/10	250
35th	Isamiya, auberge du voyage et de la découverte	5.0/10	2
36th	Higashiyama Park Hotel Shinfugetsu	7.7/10	267
37th	Ooedo Onsen Monogatari Aizu	7.7/10	437
38th	Yutoriro Bandai Atami	7.6/10	312
39th	Villa Inawashiro	7.4/10	87
40th	Lake Side Hotel Minatoya	7.1/10	37
41st	Itoen Hotel Iizakakanouya	7.1/10	70
42nd	Aizu Higashiyama Onsen “Tsuki no Akari” self-service INN	6.5/10	56
43rd	Mori no RyoTei Mount Bandai	4.4/10	174

Check-in from 3:00 PM

Mountain Setting Hot Spring Town Quiet Village Valley Scenery Snow Landscape Public Onsen

Location

960-2261 Fukushima, Fukushima, 町庭坂字神ノ森１−２０花月ハイランドホテル, Japan

Staff 8,7/10

Facilities 8,4/10

Cleanliness 8,1/10

Comfort 8,2/10

Value for money 8,0/10

Location 8,6/10

Highland PanoramaElevated at about 800 meters, with broad views over Fukushima City and surrounding mountains.

Milky Sulfur OnsenNatural milky-white sulfur hot spring baths are a signature draw of this Takayu stay.

Open-Air Bath ViewsOutdoor baths pair the onsen experience with especially dramatic highland scenery.

Fukushima Station ShuttleGuest shuttle service from JR Fukushima Station makes access easier without a car.

Easy Parking AccessLarge free parking area is convenient for road trips and group travel.

Night View RoomsMany stays highlight guest rooms overlooking Fukushima City's sparkling evening lights.

Recommended stay1-2 nightsScenery and sulfur onsen are the main draw, while the immediate area is quiet and compact. One night works for check-in, dinner, baths, and morning views; a second night makes sense only if you will drive or ride out to Jododaira or do local mountain walks.

Trip-planning verdict: Best used as a 1-night onsen-and-scenery stop or a 2-night nature stay with mountain sightseeing in the snow-free season, not as a long sightseeing base.

Know before booking

Limited walkable areaAround the hotel, the appeal is mostly baths, views, and short onsen-area walks rather than a dense town program.

Public transport timingAccess is workable from Fukushima Station, but free shuttle timing is fixed and a car gives much more flexibility.

Seasonal road closuresNearby high-mountain sightseeing such as Jododaira side trips is restricted in winter, reducing reasons to stay longer.

Restaurant OZE (on-site)

on-site

Named on-site restaurant with seated dining atmosphere.

Dining Room (on-site)

on-site

Main meal venue for breakfast and dinner.

Coffee Corner Akari (on-site)

on-site

Lobby coffee corner for light drinks and breaks.

Distances are approximate and calculated from the ryokan coordinates. Travel times may vary depending on route, traffic and schedules.

Useful access points Stations, stops, airports and practical travel advice.

Best way to arrive For most travelers, arrive at JR Fukushima Station first, then continue by reserved hotel shuttle when available or by local bus to the Highland-mae area; a taxi is the simplest option with luggage or in poor weather. Fukushima Airport and Sendai Airport are secondary gateways rather than direct final-access points.

JR Fukushima Stationstation
14 kmSakaemachi, Fukushima, Fukushima, Japanabout 30–40 min by taxiabout 40–50 min by local bus or hotel shuttle when available
Best overall rail gateway. Ideal for Shinkansen arrivals, then continue by reserved shuttle, local bus, or taxi to the ryokan.
Highland-mae Bus Stopbus
130 mTakayu Onsen area, Machiniwasaka, Fukushima, Fukushima, Japanabout 2–5 minabout 3–5 min by taxibest checked locally from Fukushima Station
Most useful final bus stop for the hotel area. Good option if using the Takayu Onsen route and traveling light.
Takayu Onsen Bus Stopbus
590 mTakayu Onsen, Machiniwasaka, Fukushima, Fukushima, Japannot ideal on foot with luggageabout 3–5 min by taxibest checked locally
Useful as the main onsen-area bus stop, but it is less convenient than Highland-mae for this specific hotel unless you transfer to a short taxi ride.
Fukushima Station West Exit Bus Terminalbus
14 kmWest Exit, JR Fukushima Station, Fukushima, Fukushima, Japanabout 2–5 min from station gatesabout 23–38 min by carmain departure point for onward bus access
Practical transfer point for travelers switching from train to bus or meeting a reserved hotel shuttle.
Fukushima Airportairport
59 kmKitasuetsu, Tamakawa, Fukushima, Japanabout 1 hr 20–1 hr 40 min to the ryokan, depending on traffictypically around 2–3 hr via Koriyama and Fukushima, best checked locally
Useful mainly for domestic arrivals into Fukushima Prefecture, but it usually still requires rail or highway-bus transfer before reaching Fukushima Station.
Sendai Airportairport
69 kmShimomasuda, Natori, Miyagi, Japanabout 1 hr 30–2 hr by cartypically around 1 hr 30–2 hr 30 min via Sendai and Fukushima
A strong airport alternative with broader flight options; usually more practical than smaller regional airports if you can transfer efficiently by rail.

5 reasons to choose this ryokan best points

Authentic sulfur spring bathsThis hotel is in Takayu Onsen and highlights 100% natural free-flowing hot spring water with no added water, heating, circulation, or disinfectant. That makes it especially appealing for travelers who care about a true onsen rather than a heavily processed bath.
Standout panoramic viewsBecause the property sits at the highest point in Takayu Onsen, many rooms look out over Fukushima City’s night lights on one side and the Azuma mountain range on the other. The elevated setting is one of the hotel’s clearest experience advantages.
Easy arrival without a carThe hotel offers a free shuttle for staying guests from JR Fukushima Station, which is useful if you are arriving by Shinkansen from Tokyo or Sendai. That makes a mountain onsen stay more practical than many remote ryokans.
Good base for scenic mountain touringIts Takayu location puts you near Bandai-Azuma area sightseeing and walking spots, with places like Attakayu public bath and Takayu stroll routes reachable from the hotel area. It suits travelers mixing onsen time with nature and road-trip scenery.
More facilities than a tiny ryokanWith a larger property size and multiple room types, it can be easier for families, groups, or travelers who want a hotel-style stay with onsen benefits. There are also private baths available, which adds flexibility for some guests.

5 reasons not to choose this ryokan watch-outs

Feels more like a hotel than a classic ryokanIf you want a very intimate, highly personalized ryokan atmosphere, this property’s larger scale may feel less special. It is better described as an onsen hotel than a small boutique inn.
Public baths are not tattoo-friendlyThe hotel states that, as a general rule, guests with tattoos should not use the public baths. Private baths help, but this is still a real drawback for some travelers.
Shuttle schedule is limitedThe free shuttle is convenient, but the listed departure times are fixed, so it may not suit travelers who want flexible arrival and departure plans. Without a car, you may need to plan your day around the hotel timetable.
Mountain location can feel isolatedThe highland setting is beautiful, but it also means you are away from central Fukushima’s restaurants, shops, and nightlife. This is great for quiet, but not for travelers who want to step out and explore on foot in the evening.
Not every room offers the same wow factorThe hotel promotes night-view and mountain-view rooms, which suggests that room selection matters here. If you book a more basic room category, the experience may feel less memorable than the photos imply.

Current position: 18th out of 43 ryokans in Fukushima.

Rank	Ryokan	Rating	Reviews
13th	Ryokan Tamagoyu	8.6/10	483
14th	Azumakan	8.6/10	312
15th	Yoshikawaya	8.8/10	42
16th	Konjakutei	8.6/10	189
17th	Marumine Kanko Hotel	8.5/10	2,582
18th	Kagetsu Highland Hotel, Takayu Onsen Current ryokan	8.5/10	1,081
19th	Eirakukan	8.5/10	793
20th	Spa Resort Hawaiians Monolith Tower	8.5/10	690
21st	Kashiwaya Ryokan	8.6/10	77
22nd	Moritaya	8.8/10	28
23rd	Hanakanzashi	8.6/10	47