There was one thing I absolutely wanted to do when visiting Shirakawa-go in winter, a place I had long dreamed of seeing.
That was to stay in a traditional guesthouse with a thatched roof.
Although Shirakawa-go is registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, people still live in the village today. Because of this, the structures — especially the exterior appearance — cannot be altered, and they must be preserved in their original form indefinitely.
Thanks to the remarkable efforts of the local residents who continue to maintain these historic homes, it is actually possible to stay overnight in one of these traditional houses.
In most cases, however, reservations cannot be made through common booking platforms such as Rakuten Travel or Jalan. Therefore, I believe this guide — including how to make a reservation — will be helpful for anyone who hopes to stay in a guesthouse in the World Heritage village of Shirakawa-go.
How to Stay in a Traditional Thatched-Roof House in Shirakawa-go
Just like many other travelers, when I planned my trip to the UNESCO World Heritage village of Shirakawa-go, there was one thing I really wanted to do — stay overnight in a traditional thatched-roof guesthouse.
If you are going all the way to Shirakawa-go, staying in a gassho-zukuri house is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Naturally, I started searching for accommodation options.
However, it turned out to be more difficult than I expected.
Even when I found tour packages that included accommodation, the hotels arranged by tour companies were often located outside Shirakawa-go, sometimes quite far from the historic village itself.
I also checked major booking platforms such as Rakuten Travel, Jalan, and other travel websites, but most of the available accommodations were still located away from the main village area of Ogimachi, which is the heart of Shirakawa-go.
After doing some research, I finally discovered the reason.
In order to preserve the historic village and maintain proper coordination with local residents, traditional gassho-style guesthouses can only be reserved through the official website of the Shirakawa-go Tourist Association.
This means that you cannot usually book them through common travel websites.
If you would like to stay in one of these unique traditional houses, you need to make a reservation directly through the official website.
I have included the link below, so please visit the Shirakawa-go Tourist Association website and book your stay through the “Stay” section.
Gassho-style guesthouse”Furusato”
The hostess warmly welcomed us when we checked in.
Before the official check-in time, we actually stopped by the guesthouse to leave our luggage. It was snowing heavily that day, and the hostess kindly offered us towels to dry ourselves. Her thoughtful hospitality immediately stood out.
Her kindness reminded me of visiting my grandmother’s house when I was a child. Back then, my grandmother would always welcome me warmly and take care of me in the same gentle way. That moment in the guesthouse brought back those nostalgic memories.
After we officially checked in, the hostess first explained the room and how the guesthouse operates. She then showed us the photographs displayed along the hallway and shared the stories behind them.
To our surprise, this traditional guesthouse, Gassho Minshuku Furusato, has quite an impressive history. The guesthouse has hosted notable guests, including His Majesty the Emperor during his time as a student at Gakushuin University, as well as Prince Akishino of the Japanese Imperial Family.
Realizing that we were staying in such a historically significant gassho-style guesthouse made the experience feel even more special.
Guest room
Wi-Fi is available throughout the guesthouse. The password is provided on the table in the guest room, so guests can easily connect when they arrive.
The internet speed was perfectly fine during my stay, with no issues at all.
Another thoughtful touch was that the room had already been warmed up with a stove before check-in. Thanks to this, I didn’t have to step into a cold room after coming in from the snowy weather.
I stayed in an 8-tatami room for one night, and the price was 12,000 yen per night, including both dinner and breakfast. Considering the unique experience of staying in a traditional gassho-style guesthouse in Shirakawa-go, I found it to be incredibly reasonable.
Perhaps because many international travelers visit Shirakawa-go, the tourist map provided by the guesthouse was in English. It felt like a very welcoming and foreigner-friendly place to stay.
Dining
Dinner is served at 6:00 PM, but if you would like to change the time, you can consult with the hostess.
One of the highlights of dinner was the chance to enjoy Hida beef, a famous specialty from Gifu Prefecture.
The Hida beef served here was delicious and surprisingly not too fatty, making it very easy to enjoy.
The Hida beef grilled with miso was especially memorable — it was truly a wonderful dish.
The other side dishes were also very tasty. There was quite a generous amount of food, but it was so good that I somehow managed to finish everything.
Before dinner, I bought a local craft beer from the Hida region called Sarubobo Beer. When I mentioned it, the hostess kindly prepared a glass for me.
At the guesthouse, the only drink typically provided is hot tea, so if you would like to have other beverages, it’s a good idea to purchase them in advance.
As for the Sarubobo Beer, it had a pleasantly hoppy flavor. I don’t usually find many craft beers that I truly enjoy, but this one was surprisingly good and very easy to drink.
Breakfast is served from 7:30 AM. It may feel a little early, but considering that the hostess and staff also have their own breakfast and morning work to take care of, it’s completely understandable.
Maybe it’s just me, but I always feel that breakfast at traditional Japanese inns tends to be quite generous in portion size.
To the hostess, thank you very much for the wonderful homestyle Hida breakfast. Everything was delicious, and I truly enjoyed the meal.
Facilities
Although it is self-service, guests can freely enjoy tea, coffee, and other drinks in the hallway next to the dining area.
The toilet and bath are shared facilities, but the toilet is equipped with a washlet (bidet) function, which was convenient.
The bath itself had a stainless-steel bathtub, giving it a simple and traditional feel.
Towels and soap are provided by the guesthouse. Basic toiletries such as toothbrushes are also available, although they are a bit small, so you may want to bring your own if you prefer something larger.
During my stay, there was one other group of guests. Since the rooms are separated by sliding paper doors (fusuma), it is possible to hear voices or even snoring from the neighboring room.
また白川郷には日帰り温泉があります。天然温泉白川郷の湯です。もし行かれる場合には女将さんに一言いって割引券をもらいましょう。100円ですが、タオル1枚分タダになります。
Summary
If you are looking for an affordable way to stay in a traditional gassho-style guesthouse in the UNESCO World Heritage village of Shirakawa-go, I highly recommend Minshuku Furusato.
The warm hospitality of the hostess reminded me of visiting my grandmother’s house, and it created a very relaxing and comforting atmosphere throughout my stay.
The meals were also excellent, offering delicious homestyle Hida cuisine, making the experience both authentic and satisfying.
There are several other gassho-style guesthouses in Shirakawa-go besides Furusato, so I hope you can find one that suits your preferences and travel style.
I have also written a separate article about the World Heritage village of Shirakawa-go, where I explore the atmosphere of the village during heavy snowfall and introduce several of its main sightseeing spots.
I recently uploaded a YouTube video about Shirakawa-go, so please feel free to check it out if you’re interested.
My YouTube updates are a bit slower than my blog posts, but I’m gradually learning and improving as I continue uploading new videos.
If you enjoy the content, I would really appreciate it if you could subscribe to my channel.
Comments