Amazing hostel - look no further for your stay in Takayama. The owner and his mum are both amazingly friendly and full of good advice. He speaks really good english. The hostel is brand new and very clean. All the facilities are high quality; comfortable beds, good ac, nice hot showers, well equipped kitchen. It's also very close to the station and all the main attractions.

Taku-san is the best host ever! The moment we arrived we were warmly welcomed by him and his wife. He prepared maps for us, searched for bus schedules for us to go to Shirakawago and also gave us a unique map that he created with recommendations on food and interesting places in Takayama!We went to a Hida beef restaurant he recommended called Kyoyo and it was delicious and affordable!! He also showed us around the hostel and it looks exactly like a Ryokan but much newer, cleaner and modernized which is perfect. There's 2 shower rooms and 2 toilets (1 for females, 1 for males). Towels are provided. There's a microwave oven, stove, fridge and all sorts of utensils and cutlery that you need. The garden was beautiful and it's so relaxing to sit inside the house snug and warm while watching the snow fall outside. ***** TLDR: The place is SPARKLING CLEAN and there's everything you need to have a good stay. We were so comfortable that we didn't want to leave after 2 nights! We are definitely going to come back and visit one day!!!

Perfect spot. Only stayed one night, though we were given lots of suggestions for how to maximise our night (went to a local hotel with a rooftop onsen), host had an excellent grasp of English, and was very personable. Room was clean and minimal, everything we needed. Wish we had booked more time here and in takayama!

Both owner and his mother were really nice and friendly. Spent some time with then every morning and evening, chatting about the places and their recommendations. The self drawn map of the food recommendations is superb and the recommended food places were spot on! The beddings was comfortable and the room was nice and comfy.

A perfect stay, wish I had booked for two nights, not just one. The hostel is warm and welcoming, I chatted with the host, she was lovely and had prepared all kinds of maps for me. The facilities are like new, obviously well maintained. The bedding was comfortable, rooms were well organized, and the common space was awesome. Thank you soooo much! I hope to return someday.

This was one of the best accommodations we had in our trips. Taku was super good host and treated us really well. He gave us all the tips to enjoy Takayama and he even gave us a small present when we left! The place is super warm and super new (they just inagurated it in June 2017!). It only has 3 rooms: 1 for share and 2 privates. The common area is nice and the kitchen is brand new and fully equipped. You have coffee and tea for free. It is not a party hostel, just a very relaxing place in a traditional Japanese house. Toilets are super clean and very nice. Our room was amazing. We had 2 comfy beds with views to the small garden. The hostel is just 5' walk from the JR Station, where you can take the buses to Shirakawago and other places around. You will not regret staying here! We wish the best for this place!

Our arrival at Fish in a River Hostel was met with a lovely smile from Taku who was incredibly helpful in everything we wanted to know about the hostel and what to do and eat in Takayama. The accommodation was impeccably clean and comfortable in a lovely Japanese style room, the shower and toilets are like new. Thank you for the kindness and friendliness of Taku and his mum that makes this stay so worthwhile and memorable. We will miss them!

A fantastic family run hostel! We had a lovely stay and enjoyed getting to know Taku and his mother, Michko. The rooms and common areas are great and the price very reasonable. A highlight of our trip!