We usually do lots of research prior to our Japan trips and we had singled out this hotel and location as one of interest. The location was right on the river bank where the ukai cormorant fishing takes place and it looked appealing and the forested mountain opposite crowned by Gifu Castle seemed too good to be true. We were driving by car so the location out from the centre of Gifu was an advantage to us rather than not.
It is a seriously big hotel, nice staff and when we were shown to our room I was surprised when we were shown in. The room was big - lots of soft furnishing but with no beds! Through into the next room we located them. Now that's a lot of room for a Japanese hotel. And the views were to die for. Two big picture windows looked out on the river, forest, mountain and castle just like we had hoped. And this is in suburban Gifu!!
We went ukai fishing that night organised by the hotel and the viewing spots were in the shoals quite close to the hotel. A highly recommended experience.
The price was a little high but it was one of those places that was unique and we will remember for ever.
Because I had a good feeling about this place I had pre-recorded a CD of the title track "Grand Hotel" by Procol Harum. I presented the CD to a somewhat confused desk staff on our checkout the next day. Crazy gaijin!