Best round trip in Japan

Link to our google maps itinerary: https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1d4j0L-CeSeCgpQg_nR5fxB0fZij6Y643&usp=sharing

We stayed at a Ryokan in Takayama. There are lots of Ryokans in that area, but we chose Yamatokan Ryokan. It was average, it had it's ups and downs - the best thing it had was the included breakfast and dinner - if you want to taste the japanese food, then you will have A LOT of it, especially all kinds of fish. They brought so much food we couldn't even finish it. Then there's private hot spring that you can reserve (take the keys from reception and lock it while you're inside), it was romantic and very private.

The downside was the room - it was old, hard to sleep in and noisy. Also the owner wasn't nice, we thought we booked a local ryokan experience, but it was just like any other hotel in Japan. Though, the ladies that served the food were super nice! One of the dinner meals included that you cook by yourself thin slices of meat on a device powered by a candle - the servers showed us how to do it and in what sequence, so that was a nice experience!

We also took a daytrip to Kamikochi, which is a village, high in the mountains. You could really feel the altitude difference. Those were the nicest nature views in the whole of Japan! I strongly recommend, if you want to do some easy hiking and enjoy tranquil views, then Kamikochi is the right place! However, beware of the local bus prices, they are insane! We had planned for 2 or 3 trips by a local bus, but when we saw how much they cost, we decided to take only one. But it was enough.

There were also wild monkeys in Kamikochi, that you could observe at a close distance, but do NOT feed them at any cost! Please respect the local rules, so you don't ruin the experience for others.