Absolutely stunning place. The 150 years old house has soul and is so beautiful. Family running it is lovely and the amount of attention they pay to every detail made me understand how hospitality can be an art. There are only 8 guest max so the house is quiet and perfect for relaxing. View from the room to the garden is lovely and there are chairs right next to the window where you can read, relax and drink tee from tea set stored in your room. The meals are experience on it's own, dinner made of maybe 10 different dishes, each served beautifully allowing you to talk and enjoy the meal for 2 hours or so. Breakfast was equally good. I was really stunned at how this place and the whole experience exceed anything we've been expecting. It's so worth it to stay overnight in a place like Shirakawago and be able to enjoy empty village during late or early walk and soak in the atmosphere. We also really appreciated the trip to view point with head of the family. It was raining a bit to car made it much more comfortable and there were even lovely umbrellas provided.

Absolutely nothing. This place has everything anyone can need. The family is lovely and we will come back if we are again in Japan. It's absolutely worth the trip.

An incredible experience in Shirakawa-go! My wife and I stayed there for only one night and it was gorgeous! The hotel is run by a local family which lives in the city for more than 100 years. The ryokan was recently renovated (2y from now) and the rooms are truly impecable, combining comfort with a historical touch. The food service (dinner and breakfast) are unique, with dishes the family collect in the area (they harvest, fish and even hunt the food they serve). The hospitality was also another level. The remarkable example was that we mentioned in the beginning of the stay we were travelling to Japan to our honeymoon and they quietly prepared a mini event during our dinner - they asked our favorite song, which was our mother language and specifically asked if we drank alcohol. During the dinner, they did a small celebration typical in japanese weddings where the couple shares a sake on a red bowl. Thank you Shiroyamakan team! 👏

Amazing place. Genuinely welcoming staff that clearly takes pride in their hospitality. Dinner and breakfast was extremely good. Staff is super friendly, you can tell it's a lovely family and they do their best to make you feel comfortable. Communication in English was no problem at all. Private Onsen was super good. All the utilities are spotless clean. The building is 140+ years old but looks like it went through a thorough renovation and it's the perfect mix between contemporary/minimalistic and traditional. We went with the choice of 5 alcoholic drinks that match the 8-9 course dishes and it was perfect (actually it was probably 6-7 drinks accompanying 10 dishes, but this may be a special occasion). We've had the best sake we ever tasted (which was local) along with other tasty drinks (their own homemade yuzu wine was extremely good!) We stayed in the "Japan" room, which was the "traditional" one, and it was cozy and warm. We even had our own little tea party in the small balcony that has the view of the river and the pond with Koi fish. This was our second time in Japan but Shiroyamakan would be the biggest reason we would consider travelling to Japan all the way from the UK for a third time! (This time maybe in winter)

Very well kept considering the age of the property. It is also perfectly adorned with just the right amount of decorations. The river running through beside the property was a bonus. Our room was right next to it. It was also a short walking distance to the village. The staff, all family members of the owner, were so wonderful and accommodating. The owner also gave a tour of the village all the way up to the observation deck were you see the entire Shirakawago village. We were sad to leave.

There is nothing to dislike about this place. If I were to be picky, it would have to be the bed. The mattress is not thick enough for US taste but I didn’t mind it since it was a 1 night stay. Having stayed here though, I wished we stayed for 1-2 more nights.

This is a ryokan run by family members. Upon arrival, the daughter, who speaks excellent English gave us an orientation of the place. This is our families' second time staying here. My husband and daughter had a wonderful experience last year, so I came with my other children this July. We had the room with river view on the second floor. This room has its' private toilet next door. There is a big wash basin in the room. The room is huge by Japanese hotel standard. The owner/father gave a tour around the town in his van at about 3pm. He is so friendly and drove us to the top of the observatory for a beautiful view of the village. The onsen is so comfortable with a view of the river/garden , we went before dinner, did not have to wait. Dinner and breakfast are meat/fish/vegetables native to the area, the son, who is also the chef hunts and gathers most of the food. Everything was delicious. The village becomes quiet after tourist leaves around 4pm. We got up early the next day, I had a morning walk and my son had a run, came back, showered, soaked in the onsen one last time, and breakfast was ready. Thank you for the wonderful time in Shiragawa Go!

Nothing

An absolutely stunning ryokan that is run by a phenomenal family. The ryokan is perfectly situated ( a 1-2 minute walk from the central bus station). The ambiance is quiet, peaceful and calm, and the bathing facilities are clean and modern, with top notch soaps/shampoos/conditioners. There was a breathtaking view of the river and gardens from our window. The meals were so delicious and unique. With locally foraged and hunted foods that were exquisitely presented, I felt like I was eating at Noma. This is a family-owned business and operation, and the Matsufuru family is incredibly gracious and kind. Their generous hospitality was felt the moment we stepped into Shiroyamakan. The tour of Shirakawa-go that Mr. Matsufuru gave at the the beginning of our stay was a highlight of our entire trip to Japan and the warmth and joy that he exudes is truly amazing. Thank you for a wonderful experience and stay!

Everything about our stay was perfect! If you’re reading reviews debating on if you should stay here, the answer is yes! If you think there’s no way it can be as good as these reviews, trust me when I say, it is better. Facilities: We stayed one night in a double room and it was so great! Beautiful views of the pound and river from our very serene room. The private onsens were wonderful, and because there are such few rooms, we never had an issue finding at least one of the two onsens free when we wanted them. Hospitality: We corresponded before we got there, so they could know when to expect us. When we got there, our bags were quickly taken to our room, while we were walked through the inn with explanations on meals and facilities. At 2:30ish we joined the father (the whole place is family run) for a tour of the town. It quickly becomes apparent how much the town respects and loves this family as we were given access to closed off areas. He also loves to take pictures and would offer to take our pictures every time we saw him. This was the best hospitality we had all trip as it was done in such a familial way and not overly formal. Food: The food was so good. Some of the dishes felt like fine dining dishes well others felt like home cooking, but all were delicious and beautifully presented! There’s always the option for more rice if you’re still hungry! My partner chose the alcohol pairing with dinner and enjoyed it thoroughly. 10/10 would go back in a heart beat! Also being in Shirakawago when the crowds aren’t there is so special. We went walking early in the morning, and it was so peaceful.

Nothing! We didn’t realize that we pay for everything at the end of the stay, so we did sit at the table at dinner for a while waiting to pay for our drinks before realizing we didn’t need to.

Wonderfully located, we could walk to the village in 5 mins, and early morning was quiet, without tourists. Except us. Beautifully renovated ryokan with rooms that are simple and peaceful. The spacious ground floor room had huge windows that opened up to the river next to it, with ensuite toilet and private onsen just next door. Dinner and breakfast were very memorable, local ingredients and unique preparations. Delish. A family runs the ryokan and it feels very welcoming. English-speaking Yuki was so helpful. Would definitely come back.

Nothing.

The hotel is managed by a family that has owned the place for 140 years, and we can feel the care they put into the place in everything they do. We stayed in the traditional bedroom with futons, and go struck by the beauty of the room, overlooking the stream, the pond and beautiful trees. The onsen, the rooms, the complementary kimonos - everything is of a high quality and made to provide a strong sense of calm, making it a memorable stay. The food was Michelin guide level - a 9 course meal for dinner, a 6 plate breakfast, all with local ingredients. They went above and beyond to cater to our dietary requirements (vegan and Gluten Free) which was truly appreciated. Finally, the family shares their love for the village - the father organises a short tour of the village and takes guests to the observatory, whilst providing history and tips on the village. Overall, the stay felt special, a true experience rather than just an hotel, and we can only recommend this incredible establishment.

The place is truly wonderful. They are very kind, i dont speak japanese very well but the do speak english so don't worry to enjoy your stay here. The diner experience was very nice and the quality of the food was perfection. The onsen are both nice and you got plenty of time to enjoy them after visiting the old village. The room in old japanese style was very cosy ! As i wrote the review i haven't ate the breakfast yet but I'm convience it will be great. If i ever come back to Shirakawa-Go, I will take the Ryokan one more.