The family that runs the place is the most amazing little local family. They forage/hunt for the meals themselves, they do everything for the guests. It is also their family home. I am an architect, and what the family did with the design of the place exceeded expectations! The rooms are all top quality, overlooking the river or the gardens. The bath (onsen) is private and perfect for families/couples/small groups! Again, absolutely beautiful. They care so much, and you can tell.

The only thing was the drinks at dinner were not included and they were quite expensive. Too bad a minimum standard wasn’t included in the high cost of the room.

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.

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!

The property is a decade old but lovingly cared for. Staying there felt like taking a step back in history. A very authentic experience and one that was welcome after spending time in Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto. The hosts were also exceptionally gracious and made us feel very welcome. Their farm to table dinner was delicious and so beautifully prepared. We unfortunately had only one night to spend there, but wish we could have enjoyed the peace and hospitality for a few more nights. In fact, my thirteen year old son loved it so much that he says he will be returning for a week when he starts traveling on his own!

From the moment we arrived we felt wonderfully welcomed and at home. Shiroyamakan is a family run guesthouse with deep connections to the local area and they make you feel like part of the family. On arrival we were given a short minibus tour of the village which helped us get our bearings. The setting is absolutely stunning and the private onsen has magical views over the mountain stream. The dinner and breakfast were wonderfully delicious and varied making great use of locally sourced ingredients (including wild venison hunted by a relative). I particularly enjoyed the homemade yuzu wine. Best of all was the understanding the family gave to our slightly noisy 1 year old, with the 9 year old son of the couple looking after us playing with our toddler and keeping him occupied which meant that we could thoroughly enjoy our dinner in peace! A truly fabulous stay and top marks all round.

I don’t have the words for how absolutely lovely this stay was. This is a family-run ryokan and the family is such a wonderful group of people. They are all so kind and provide wonderful hospitality. They also all speak some English which was helpful for us Canadians. The tour around Shirakawago with the father/owner of the property was so enjoyable. He is such a nice man and I really appreciate his values. He really believes in treating everyone with kindness no matter nationality, ethnicity or beliefs. The breakfast was a classic kaiseki meal (the fish was delicious). Dinner was a wonderful spin on a kaiseki dinner. Everything is locally foraged for or caught or hunted. The youngest son is a hunter. We ate bear and deer tongue. The veggies were locally foraged for in the mountains. The squid we had was caught in the ocean by the father. This was such a once in a lifetime experience. The hot spring bath is really lovely and the futons are really comfortable. I highly, highly recommend this stay. It was a highlight of our trip.

I loved every part, however I will say if you are used to western food and/or are not an adventurous eater, you may not enjoy the meals as much as I did.

Our room were upgraded to the biggest room with its own private toilet at the 2nd floor due to some technical issue, which was GREAT. It has a clear view to the mountains and river near by. It is perfect for people who likes to chill out in their room for a whole day. The dinner and breakfast they served boast many local delicacies, including roasted deer (!), which was acquired by the owner's younger brother (a professional hunter). They also provided wine-pairing option for their dinner, which includes both local sake/umeshu and imported wine. Since cuisine has traditionally been an important part of the Japanese ryokan exerience, I recommend booking the plan with both meals when visiting here. The interior design, especially the floral design, is beautifully done. They also have a very well-maintained garden, which you can enjoy its view while having the meals. Great location, located at the entrance of the world heritage site. It is literally just across the street. Has a shared bath with hot spring and a nice view to the river. Has free parking space. Somehow all the staffs are good looking.

We loved how the owners have designed this space and the story behind this ryokan. Every single person working here is a part of the family and the current owners are the 5th-generation. Highlight of our stay was definitely the onsen (you’d just have to time it such that it doesn’t clash with another group) and view from the onsen. The dinner was just amazing- so much thought put to the whole flow, it almost felt as if we were having a fine dining experience. The ingredients were handpicked, hunted, prepared by the family themselves. Also, we chose the alcohol pairing and it is definitely highly recommended. The room was spacious and came with a standalone heater which was helpful as we visited right in the middle of winter. Appreciated the quick tour of shirakawa-go and also a stop at the top for a quick photo! Nonetheless, it’s also just a 15-min walk to the top. Location of the ryokan is right opposite the bus terminal which is useful, as you don’t have to be lugging your luggage for too far while it’s snowing. It’s situated right at the tip of the town too. We liked how the snow boots were provided- especially handy since there were some crazy snowfall when we were there! Overall, a great experience though just one night, and the friendliness + service of the entire family made it a memorable one!

Would have preferred if there was a heater in the bathroom so it wouldn’t be that cold, but you can also take a shower at the onsen area too, which was warm.

Shiroyamakan is a one of a kind, irreplaceable experience. My husband and I cannot put into words what a wonderful experience we had at this property and have recommended it to everyone we know planning a trip to Japan. First and foremost, the family who operated the inn is incredibly kind. It really felt like staying with family friends. The inn owner gave us a tour of the village and took amazing pictures of us (which was great because on our honeymoon we did not get a lot of pictures together) and the manager (who also spoke English very well, which was a perk for us considering our Japanese is extremely poor) was very kind for accommodating our dietary restrictions. Which brings me to the food, dinner and breakfast here were hands down the BEST meals we had in our entire three-week trip around Japan. Every dish was incredible and you could feel the care and attention to detail they have for their guests. I honestly felt like I was in an episode of chef’s table. The property also has a wonderful bathing area with a giant wooden tub that overlooks the mountain. Our room was a traditional Japanese style room and it was very comfortable, we particularly enjoyed the sitting area that looked out over the mountain. I could say a hundred nice things about this stay and it still wouldn’t be enough. When we go back to Japan again, it will definitely be at the top of our list.

The staff, food, and overall experience of staying at Shiroyamakan were absolutely wonderful. We arrived at Shirakawa-go Bus Terminal at around 11AM. The staff allowed us to check-in around 6 hours early despite being in the process of cleaning. It was snowing that day creating a magical experience. Around 3PM, the 4th generation owner provided us with a tour of the town (with English) as well as a trip to the observation deck (saving us the hike or wait for the shuttle). This family-owned and exclusively family-run business served up the best and freshest ingredients. The welcoming atmosphere, attention to detail, and the overall vibe of the Ryokan allowed for this to be an unforgettable experience. This was certainly the highlight of my trip to Japan.

There is no process to reserve one of the two onsets, which didn’t turn out to be a problem, but perhaps a sign up process could allow everyone to have the best experience.