Welcome to Hisamatsu. This Gassho-Zukuri was built during the Edo Period (1600-1868) and is perfect for guests looking to experience Japan in a very traditional way. It has 4 Japanese-style guest rooms. At the Hisamatsu none of the guest rooms have a private bath or toilet. From their room guest can enjoy the view on the mountain and on the Shirakawa-go village. Homemade Japanese-style cuisine is served to the guests at Hisamatsu. Warning: There is a lot of snow in Shirakawa-go in January and February so please bring a pair of boots. Shirakawa-go can get up to 2 meters (over 6 feet) of snow in February.

Facilities

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Ryokan Reviews:

• Not so good experience at night

  Yohan tosadu

  Month of Visit: February

  Country Of Reviewer: Indonesia

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 3

  Love the place over all. facility, the host and the food, also beautiful village with snow when we stay here. But there is one disturbing thing about the room. There are 3 rooms there and we got the middle. The partition between our room and first room are not soundproof so we can hear conversation or sound of phone from our neighbours clearly. It's really really disturbing. Hope Will be better soon. So people can enjoy all of things there.

• Hisamatsu is a very nice traditional japanese gassho zukuri

  Xuan you

  Date of Review: January, 2020

  Month of Visit: January

  Country Of Reviewer:

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  Hisamatsu house is a very nice house to stay in shirakawago , is it a bit inside the village from bus station but everything is good. The host of the house is good she knows how to speak english so its okay in communicating. The food is super goood .

• Great Experience!

  Jhean ann

  Date of Review: January, 2020

  Month of Visit: January

  Country Of Reviewer: Philippines

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  My friends and I enjoyed our stay in Hisamatsu. We actually almost had our reservation cancelled because we could not make it on time on the day of our reservation due to a delay in our flight. But the owner has been kind enough to just reschedule it for the next day. Satoko-san, or as I remember it, was very welcoming when we arrived and prepared us some tea. The meal was delicious and we loved how it was served traditionally. The beds were comfortable and we had no problems with the restrooms and shower. It was perfect and we were kind of sad to leave so early the next morning. We also appreciate Japanese Guest Houses for being accommodating to the reservation changes that we requested.

• Bit of a walk but worth it

  Justin

  Date of Review: January, 2020

  Month of Visit: January

  Country Of Reviewer:

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  The dinner and breakfast were almost more than we could eat and the heated mat was especially welcome after a day in the snow/rain. Staying the night at Shirakawa-go is definitely recommended if you want to experience the village without the throng of day-trippers.

• Lovely Stay at Hisamatsu

  Dar

  Month of Visit: December

  Country Of Reviewer:

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 4

  Room Rating - 5

  My fiance and me stayed at Hisamatsu on the 26 to 27 Dec in 2019. The place was lovely and the food prepared for us was delectable. Recommended for those who want to experience a local way of living :)

• Good experience

  Jackie

  Date of Review: November, 2019

  Month of Visit: November

  Country Of Reviewer: UK

  Atmosphere Rating - 3

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 4

  Nice experience in a beautiful village. We arrived early and were allowed to store our suitcases before check in so we could explore the area. The host was very welcoming and spoke some English. Very clean place! Dinner and breakfast were tasty and lots of things to try. It gets quite smokey from the charcoal burner though, our eyes stung from the smoke towards the end of each meal but maybe that was all part of the experience. Note that the rooms are not soundproof and you will be able to hear your neighbours clearly. Not everyone had their phones on silent and my feedback for the ryokan is to enforce this rule at nighttime. I’m a light sleeper and unfortunately had a very bad nights sleep from other people’s snoring and phones - would highly recommend ear plugs!

• Excellent!

  Eric

  Date of Review: November, 2019

  Month of Visit: November

  Country Of Reviewer:

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  Had a wonderful evening at Hisamatsu. The owner was very welcoming and spoke a little bit of English. The meals for dinner and breakfast were delicious and filling. The rooms are minimal and they prepare tatami mats and heaters for you. There is an onsen down the road that you can go to that's not expensive.

• Enjoyed every moment of our stay

  Annlouise

  Date of Review: November, 2019

  Month of Visit: November

  Country Of Reviewer: Philippines

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  We stayed for two nights, and my parents and I loved it. I wanted my parents to have a feel of a traditional Japanese home, and that was exactly what we got. I'm especially happy that we got Hisamatsu, as is one of only three houses in the village left with a traditional fire place. And we dined by the fireplace at night, which kept us warm especially when the temperature dropped. Breakfast was also served there :) Since the house is tucked in a little corner of the village, we did have a little more peace and quiet, as we were a street away from the main foot traffic, which I loved as well. The food was great-breakfast and dinner was fully loaded, and so we opted for light lunch while going around the village. And don't worry about the bathrooms, showers, etc.-they are as modern as anywhere in Japan. Because I was with two senior citizens, the lady running the in was very kind to offer to bring us to the Nohi bus station. And she was very helpful, and had a lot to share (we were lucky there were other Japanese guests, as they were able to translate her stories). She can communicate a bit in English, which was most helpful. This being a traditional Japanese home, ofcourse it costs a bit more. But it was worth every Yen. Oh, and big, big thank you to Japanese Guest Houses, for arranging the fuss-free booking for us!

• Great experience

  Paolo

  Date of Review: October, 2019

  Month of Visit: October

  Country Of Reviewer: Italy

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  Our stay has been amazing! Everything was perfect. The Host is a beautiful person. Donne and breakfast eccellente!!! We highly reccommend this place

• Great food

  Maria

  Date of Review: September, 2019

  Month of Visit: September

  Country Of Reviewer:

  Atmosphere Rating - 4

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 4

  The ryokan is small but clean. We shared our stay with 3 other couples. The toilet and bathing area were appropiate, but we decided to visit a nearby public bath instead, which was amazing. The owner gave us discount tickets for the onsen. The dinner and breakfast, definitely, were the highlights of the stay. I\'d recommend spending a full day in Shirakawa-go, it's a charming little town.

• You must try!!!

  Tsang

  Month of Visit: August

  Country Of Reviewer: The Netherlands

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 4

  Shirakawa-go is such a beautiful village that you have to visit once in your life. Stay in Hisamatsu was also an unique great experience. The room has no locks inside or outside, I felt not unsave but some people should feel unsave. Food is not luxurious, but it was fresh and tasted very good

• Correct experience

  Ramon

  Month of Visit: July

  Country Of Reviewer:

  Atmosphere Rating - 4

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 4

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 2

  The ryokan is beautyful and authentic. It's situated at 10 minutes walk from bus station but in a good area of the town. However is only good value for the food and situation, we have been in much better and more comfortable japanese houses. The rooms are only separated by paper walls that don't reach the roof, so if someone snorts you won't have a good night sleep.

• Great experience

  Emma

  Date of Review: July, 2019

  Month of Visit: July

  Country Of Reviewer: Australia

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 4

  We had a lovely stay at Hisamatsu. The host was very accommodating and communication was fine despite our lack of Japanese. The dinner and breakfast were awesome, we really enjoyed the atmosphere and the home cooked feast. It was so nice to spend time in the village in the late afternoon and early morning while it was quiet and Hisamatsu is one of the prettiest houses in town!! Be prepared for a 10min walk from the bus carrying bags as the luggage storage at the bus station doesn’t allow you to leave bags overnight (not a fault of the ryokan, just something to be aware of).

• Once in your life time

  Panat

  Month of Visit: May

  Country Of Reviewer: Thai

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  If you love Japan, pls try to visit and stay at this village. Booking is not easy but it worth to try.

• Agreable

  Eugenia

  Month of Visit: April

  Country Of Reviewer: Italia

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 3

  The owner of Hisamatsu is a really nice lady. The food was excellent. Toilets are new and clean but the shower is less comfortable. The heaters in the room and bed were good but, unfortunately, the frames of the door/windows are not modern enough to stop the air flow. Maybe the breakfast should be around 8:00 a.m. rather than at 7:30 a.m. In the whole, the atmosphere was pleasant. An experience recommended.

• Couple travel

  Liew kee

  Date of Review: March, 2019

  Month of Visit: March

  Country Of Reviewer: Singapore

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 2

  The Ryokan has good location. Owner is friendly and cooked very nice Japanese breakfast and dinner. Room and shared toilet are very clean. Two major issues, one the room has sliding doors at entrance to our room as well as to the room next door, with no lock.Two, the open fire at dinning area is very smokey.

• Excellent

  Cy

  Month of Visit: March

  Country Of Reviewer: malaysia

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  excellent experience staying in Hisamatsu!

• Memorable

  Pek yong

  Month of Visit: December

  Country Of Reviewer: Malaysia

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  Very lucky that we manage to book a room in Hisamatsu. It is an unforgettable experience staying in this ryokan. The owner is a very friendly and cheerful person. Dinner and breakfast is extremely tasty, but portion is quite big for lady. It snowed after we left Shirakawago, should go in January instead.

• Fantastic Experience!

  Raweewan

  Date of Review: December, 2018

  Month of Visit: December

  Country Of Reviewer: Thailand

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  I and my family almost missed to stay here because rooms are fully booked for first 3 nights of our trip. Then finally we got room on last night before leaving Japan and it made us very happy to stay here, feeling like authentic Japanese style. Comfortable facilities and cozy with friendly hostess.

• Nice & Cozy!

  Phang

  Date of Review: December, 2018

  Month of Visit: December

  Country Of Reviewer:

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  We had a nice stay at this Ryokan. It is better than I expected, the place is cozy and the food is very delicious. The futon is one of the nicest (thick and warm) I have used. Highly recommended this place!

• Excellent one of a kind experience

  Carmella

  Date of Review: December, 2018

  Month of Visit: December

  Country Of Reviewer: Malaysia

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  Privileged to have experienced a night stay in the Gassho style farm houses. Room was bigger than expected to our pleasant surprise. Loved the futon experience and they even provided electronic heated pads between the sheets! Delicious dinner prepared by the host. Highlight of my 16 days trip in Japan.

• Beautiful experience

  Elisa

  Date of Review: November, 2018

  Month of Visit: October

  Country Of Reviewer: Italy

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  We have been very glad to stay in this gassu. Clean and useful rooms ad very good food. The owner has been really kind to us and we felt like home. I suggest this kind of accomodation to feel the real Japanese tradition

• Wonderful and will come back again !!

  Azizah

  Month of Visit: October

  Country Of Reviewer: Australia

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 4

  Room Rating - 4

  I fell in love with Shirakawago in 2012 with a group of Dragon Boat Team from Sydney Australia to stay overnight. This time I came back with my son to show this place and the Ryokan accomodation and my son love it too. Quality food and accomodation with great hospitality. It made my overnight stayed relaxing and enjoyable. It is definitely worth it and will definitely coming back as long as you keep providing quality and affordable package. Thank you very much for organising my memorable time in Hisamatsu Ryokan especially the lovely friendly hostess. Arigato Mrs Azizah Verrell and Son.

• Très belle expérience

  Month of Visit: August

  Country Of Reviewer: France

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  Cet endroit est très agréable pour se reposer. Le village est magnifique, et calme une fois que les bus sont partis. L'accueil a été parfait, les chambres suffisamment grandes pour être 3, maison bien entretenue. Notre hôtesse, très gentille, parlait un peu l'anglais et nous a servi un délicieux repas et petit déjeuner. Nous avons passé un très bon moment en découvrant la vie de cette maison traditionnelle avec d'autres touristes canadiens et italiens très sympas.

• Peaceful stay & highlight of our trip

  Felicity

  Date of Review: September, 2018

  Month of Visit: August

  Country Of Reviewer: United Kingdom

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  Our stay at Hisamatsu was peaceful and relaxing. Despite the hot weather, the rooms were cool and comfortable. Upon arrival we were given tea and a sweet, as well as our Yukatas which we enjoyed wearing for the entirety of the stay. I recommend checking in as soon as possible so that you have time to enjoy the tranquility and read. The lady hosting the Ryokan was lovely and cooked us a fenomenal dinner and breakfast. We certainly did not go hungry, and the food was really delicious. A lovely experience and good value for money when you consider the quality of food and hospitality.

• Magical Stay in Shirakawa-go

  Kimiko

  Month of Visit: July

  Country Of Reviewer: United States

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  We stayed for two nights in July. Our host was welcoming and friendly. We arrived before check-in and were able to store our luggage, so we could explore the village. It is very hot in Japan in the summer, but we were completely comfortable in our room with a fan and open window. I believe it was due to the design of the house, which makes sense. The room is traditional--when you arrive it will be arranged for sitting at the table, drinking tea, and enjoying a little sweet that's waiting for you. Before bedtime, the table will be moved to the side and the futon will be set up for the night. Dinner was truly amazing. It was one of my favorite meals I've ever eaten. There are a variety of dishes--beef that cooks on a leaf on a little stone pot in a delicious sauce, grilled sweet fish, soup, rice, veggies, tofu, tempura, pickles, and salad. Everyone staying in the hotel eats together in the dining room, and we enjoyed the company of the other guests for dinner and breakfast. Breakfast is smaller, but delicious as well. I honestly don't know how the host does it all, but she does and is still cheerful and welcoming. It was magical staying in the village, and the experience is definitely worth the price, which I think is quite reasonable, given the two meals that are included. Another perk of staying in the village is that you'll be there after the tour buses leave for the day and before they arrive in the morning. We also received discount ticket for the public bath in town. We were able to walk there in our yukata, and it was very peaceful and relaxing.

• Homely stay

  Gerald

  Month of Visit: August

  Country Of Reviewer: Singapore

  Atmosphere Rating - 4

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 4

  Room Rating - 4

  We had a lovely stay in Hisamatsu. There's not much that hasnt been said. Authentic and traditional hut - check. Amazing dinner/breakfast feast - check. Onsen discount coupon - check. I thought i wouldnt go to the Onsen as it was in the middle of summer, but it was much needed! The host was really friendly, her english is a little limited but good enough to communicate the necessary. Though it was in summer and only had 1 fan in the room for 3 of us but it was surprisingly not stuffy or too hot. In face, we were more concerned about the flies. The trick is not to close the partition/windows. If you want to open, make sure your lights are off so it doesnt attract the bugs. Note that food starts on time as the host mentioned as she is the one person doing everything. Do make sure to be present on time. Shirakawa-go itself is super pretty. Im already planning a visit in winter. =) i think of all my stays in Japan, this is one of my favourite in general.

• super stay

  Claire

  Month of Visit: August

  Country Of Reviewer: france

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  very authentic house. Friendly host keen to talk, and excellent traditional food. Warm welcome, futtons bed installed while you are dining, yukatas provided. The house has a limited number of rooms so you really feel at home and guests tend to keep quite, but of course you should not expect a lot of privacy (shared bathrooms). Located just away fom the main street, easy to reach and quiet. The night we spent was definitely a highlight in our japanese trip.

• Authentic

  Lawrence

  Date of Review: August, 2018

  Month of Visit: August

  Country Of Reviewer: Australia

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 4

  Lovely, authentic farmhouse with great food and atmosphere. Really enjoyed staying there even if the bedding was a bit hard for our bones. Would highly recommend staying here.

• Authentic Gassho hut for a great experience

  Date of Review: August, 2018

  Month of Visit: August

  Country Of Reviewer:

  Atmosphere Rating - 4

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 4

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  Authentic Gassho hut set in a pretty part of the village close to the car park and there is free parking right outside the house. The houses close by are also in Gassho style and it's right by a pretty temple and field so lots of people were taking pictures of these few buildings. The owner was lovely and welcoming and made us a delicious generous dinner and breakfast (there's something for everyone so three of my picky children were full and happy). Everything was on time. Yukatas were provided for dinner/breakfast. Fans were provided for summer. Rooms were separated with paper partitioned doors, but it was quiet enough. I would suggest eye masks and ear plugs if you're particularly sensitive, but you might not want to miss being woken up by the alarm/announcement for breakfast. The owner provided us with coupons to the onset (highly recommended as the only one in a heritage site and the milk and milky coffee after the onset is really good) and geta for my kids to run around the village in! The outdoor village museum is a must. We all had a great time. .Would love to be back in winter.

• 'Japanese' experience

  Carrie

  Month of Visit: May

  Country Of Reviewer: Malaysia

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 4

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 4

  Exceeded our expectations. Very homely and comfortable. Dinner and breakfast were great. Host was very friendly and took photos with us.

• Excellent and will be back one more time

  Benjawan

  Date of Review: May, 2018

  Month of Visit: May

  Country Of Reviewer: Thailand

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  My family stayed a night, it was so nice Gassho house style even though Tami bed style , Dinner, Breakfast and especially the hostess, she is so warmness welcome and a good take care. A little bit speak English but it is not a big problem, she is well-know what do you need!!

• excellent

  Hermawan

  Date of Review: May, 2018

  Month of Visit: May

  Country Of Reviewer: indonesia

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  nice room and very delicious food. must visit once more.

• Authentic Ryokan Feel

  Felix

  Month of Visit: April

  Country Of Reviewer: Indonesia

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 4

  Location Rating - 4

  Room Rating - 5

  The place does have an authentic feel. Staff can speak English, even though quite limited. It provided discount coupon for Onsen. Toilet and bathroom very clean. The dinner and breakfast really wonderful and tasty, full course meal. Staff very friendly, but doesn't explain on how to wear the given Yukata, or any other amenities provided in the room. Guide for the village also provided. Need to walk a bit from the bus stop near the Onsen, but easy to find.

• Beautiful house, wonderful hospitality

  Isabelle

  Month of Visit: March

  Country Of Reviewer: Singapore

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 4

  Room Rating - 5

  My travelling partner and I stayed in Hisamatsu for one night in March; the weather was unexpectedly cold and rainy but it was a wonderful experience nevertheless. The room was clean and warm: the heated blankets provided kept us snug and warm all night. Bathing facilities, though communal, were clean, and the bath was comfortable and relaxing. Dinner was delicious, if a little smoky (we had dinner around a wood stove on which our hostess was boiling water, and after an hour or so the smoke and ash had accumulated, but it was an interesting experience nevertheless) Our hostess was friendly and made an effort to include us in the dinner conversation though we were the only guests who did not speak Japanese. All in all, a wonderful and authentic experience!

• Little taste of rural Japan

  Jessica

  Date of Review: March, 2018

  Month of Visit: March

  Country Of Reviewer:

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  Hisamatsu was a beautiful place to stay in. With a wonderful host and a beautiful building my friends and I absolutely loved our time spent here. The dinner and breakfast included wa6 an amazing experience and it was so much fun! I highly recommend this place for anyone who wants a gassho zukuri experience!

• Quiet and relaxing stay

  Cheng loon

  Month of Visit: February

  Country Of Reviewer: Australia

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  Traditional house with literally paper thin walls as expected. Guests we stayed with were very mindful of making too much noise so it wasn't a problem for us. Dinner and breakfast were delicious! No problem with the cold either as warmth was provided by a heater, kotatsu table (when futons are put away), and very cosy futons. Toilets and bath are modern with heated toilet seats. Yukata for sleeping also provided. Highly recommended if you want to experience a quiet village at night or early morning. Keep in mind that it is roughly 10 minutes walk from where the highway buses currently stop at. Shouldn't be a problem for most people with rolling luggage, but mind was busted before getting to Shirakawago so I had to carry it.

• Breathtaking views

  Arminda

  Month of Visit: December

  Country Of Reviewer: Philippines

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 4

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 4

  Far from the neon-bright lights and bustling streets of Tokyo is a cultural haven for those seeking a unique and less spotlighted destination of Japan. And indeed, a singularly historical and one-of-a-kind experience it is, too. In stepping into the wooden steps of the Ryokkan, you are transported instantly into a slice of the country’s cultural history. Complete with wooden walls, paper-thin (literally) doors, and a traditional Japanese cuisine served every morning and evening, experiencing a stay at a Ryokkan is, indeed, experiencing an essential and remarkable inkling of Japan’s history. Our own stay was in December, and we were greeted with piles of snow covering the streets and cold air in our room. There were, however, heaters provided. Other seasons may permit greener lands and warmer climates. In all, if what you are seeking is a more toned down, yet just as culturally rich experience of Japan, then booking a stay at a Ryokkan is the best way to go. You will check out with a historical and cultural satisfaction not found in many other places.

• Nice

  Adrian

  Month of Visit: December

  Country Of Reviewer: Indonesian

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  very enjoyable stay in a ryokan. the food menu is very tasty. i will go back again to shirakawa go. Thx u

• Awesome experience. Highly Recommend

  Marcin

  Month of Visit: November

  Country Of Reviewer: Canada

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  We visited on Nov 27 and it was magical. The whole village was busy during the day with all the tourist buses but by about 4 pm, they all leave and you're left with a very quiet and peaceful village to roam the streets through. Most businesses shut down but its a nice walk in silence. Also, the bathhouse was excellent. As for Hisamatsu, it's exactly what you wanted it to be. A charming old farmhouse where you ate dinner and breakfast around the central hearth and stayed in your room at all other times. Though the night was cold, the room with the tatami mat, heater, and hot water bottle under your comforter were more than enough to keep you warm. One of the highlights of our trip! Highly recommend!!

• Great experience

  Alexa

  Date of Review: November, 2017

  Month of Visit: October

  Country Of Reviewer: Canada

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 3

  Very nice to experience a stay in a traditional home. A friend and I stayed in a small 2 person room for 1 night. The room was chilly at first, but once the heater was turned on we were quite comfortable. The room is as you'd expect - somewhat small and bare-bones. The toilets were surprisingly the most high-end I saw during my whole visit to Japan. The highlight was definitely the food. Breakfast and dinner are included in the stay. They are sizable meals, and delicious. The host speaks a bit of English (enough to have small conversations) and is very kind. Although we did not use this benefit, the host does offer discount coupons to nearby onsens. If you are looking to stay in Shirakawa-go, I would definitely recommend this ryokan.

• Memorable and Friendy

  Rachel

  Month of Visit: October

  Country Of Reviewer: Hong Kong

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 4

  The surrourning of the house is very nice and quiet as it does not located in the main street. You will not have a lot of tourists walking around. The host is very friendly and welcoming. The food is excellent. Staying in the traditional house may not very comfirtable but is a good experience.

• Excellent Stay, friendly host with delicious food

  Michael

  Date of Review: October, 2017

  Month of Visit: October

  Country Of Reviewer: Canada

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  We stayed for one night and the host was very friendly with limited English. As this is a traditional house, the facilities were basic, but I recommend this experience. The rooms do not have great soundproofing, but it is manageable. The house has upgraded to modern facilities and amenities; toilets/showers/bath were all very clean. Dinner and breakfast were delicious and filling; you eat the meals with other house guests. Shirakawa-go gets very busy during "tourist" hours, but once it dies down, post-dinner strolls are very relaxing. I would most definitely come back during another season to experience the difference (possibly when there's snow around Jan/Feb).

• Excellent Village

  Pailin

  Date of Review: October, 2017

  Month of Visit: October

  Country Of Reviewer: Thailand

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  The ryokan host was very friendly. Nice and clean accomodation, food was delicious, the village is stunning. Great experience!

• Very yummy food!

  Yun jin

  Date of Review: September, 2017

  Month of Visit: September

  Country Of Reviewer: Japan

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  We had an excellent experience staying in Hisamatsu! Very cosy room, clean toilets and bathroom, and wonderfully accommodating and friendly host. The best part is the food. The food in Hisamatsu is easily one of the best (not to mention extremely generous proportions!) that I've had in all the ryokan and minshuku that I've stayed in while traveling around several prefectures in Japan. I hope to return to Shirakawago during a different season and will be very happy to stay in Hisamatsu again!

• Absolutely magical

  Minami

  Date of Review: August, 2017

  Month of Visit: July

  Country Of Reviewer: Australia

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  An incredibly beautiful house that is old but has been well cared for and loved. I stayed in a small, but cosy and clean room for 2 (the size is sufficient - all you do is sleep and have a cup of tea in there anyway). Fall asleep listening to the insects gently singing at night. The host was reserved but charming, providing excellent service (like most Japanese people). And boy can she cook - delicious and beautifully presented food. Great location. Highly recommend.

• Nice ^^

  Surasri

  Date of Review: July, 2017

  Month of Visit: July

  Country Of Reviewer: Thailand

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  The ryokan owner is very nice.The food is very yummy. The room is very clean.The traditional bed is very comfortable.We had the best time here.

• Warm Experience

  Kristin

  Month of Visit: April

  Country Of Reviewer: USA

  Atmosphere Rating - 4

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 4

  Lovely host who makes delicious meals. One of my favorite memories of my 10-day trip to Japan was waking up early to walk around the village then coming back to an amazing homemade breakfast around a fire.

• Great food

  Nicola

  Date of Review: June, 2017

  Month of Visit: May

  Country Of Reviewer: UK

  Atmosphere Rating - 4

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 3

  Hisamatsu was a great place to stay while in Shirakawa-go, and the food we ate together was completely delicious. The only downside to staying here is that our room was only divided by a partition from the next room, so make sure you take earplugs so you're not disturbed by neighbouring snores. It was right in the middle of the village, you can park your car right outside the house and our hostess was friendly and happy to talk with us.

• comfortable one night stay i shirakawago

  Yinmeng

  Month of Visit: May

  Country Of Reviewer:

  Atmosphere Rating - 4

  Food Rating - 4

  Staff Rating - 4

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 3

  friendly host, clean & comfortable room, plentiful and tasty food. room furnishings are a tad worn out but functional. reminds me of staying with my aunt, warm and comfy.

• My vacation in Shirakawa-go

  LADLITTA

  Date of Review: March, 2017

  Month of Visit: March

  Country Of Reviewer: Thailand

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 3

  Room Rating - 4

  My family and I stayed at Hisamatsu only 1 night. The hostess is very friendly. Her cooking was very delicious. I am impressed with the cleanliness of the room and bathroom. I hope I will be back next time.

• PERFECT

  Month of Visit: October

  Country Of Reviewer: Argentina

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  The house is excellent. The lady of the house is wonderful. The food was amazing. We really recommend this place if you are going to Shirakawa-go. ;)

• Relaxing stay at a beautiful traditional house

  Month of Visit: September

  Country Of Reviewer: Singapore

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 4

  My husband and I were looking for a getaway from the hustle and bustle of the city, and Shirakawa-go is just the right place for it. We stayed at Hisamatsu for 1 night during our visit to Shirakawa-go. Hisamatsu is a lovely old (more than 100 years old) house, complete with a fire hearth and cypress wood bath tub. The landlady is very friendly and spoke some English so communication wasn't a problem. The food was great, and eating around the hearth gave just the right mood to the whole dining experience. Our room was simple but comfortable. We slept on futons on the floor like how it was done traditionally. Overall, we enjoyed our stay in Hisamatsu very much.

• A Truly Amazing Experience

  Month of Visit: October

  Country Of Reviewer: Australia

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 4

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 4

  My October trip to Japan was the product of over ten years of planning, influenced by a myriad of sources. My wish to go to Shirakawa was due to my love of the horror series 'Higurashi no Naku Koro ni', which Shirakawa-go was the inspiration for, as well as the serenity and history I felt from photographs of the town. Upon my arrival at Hisamatsu, I was greeted by the landlady who speaks quite good English. She helped my travelling companions and I settle in with a tea, while we planned our exploration of the town. My visit to Shirakawa-go is an experience that I hold dear to my heart, and my stay in Hisamatsu was a great part of it. One of the few authentic gassho-zukuri houses that is still allowed to use its irori hearth for cooking full meals, it was humbling to sleep in a building that is older than the founding of my country. The futon beds, shoji-screens and tatami floors were precisely what I had wanted to experience, while the place had the modern comforts of electricity to charge camera batteries, kerosene heaters and a modern western bathroom and toilet. Our landlady also was able to secure discount tickets to the town's onsen, which was a true indulgence. Included in the price is a traditional cooked breakfast and dinner. The landlady cooks it all herself, and guests eat in the communal dining room around the irori hearth. The night we stayed saw the first snow of the year fall on the mountains, and it was nice to heat ourselves around the hearth as we ate like royalty. I cannot recommend Hisamatsu enough. The landlady reliably speaks English and is happy to help with any and all inquiries, the rooms are traditional and immaculate and it is situated right in the heart of the historic village of Shirakawa. Do yourself a solid favour and stay here.

• Fabulous stay!

  Month of Visit: November

  Country Of Reviewer: USA

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  I loved loved loved the Gassho Zukuri experience and staying at Hisamatsu was wonderful! We arrived at the house a little early than most would (around 2 PM) as we were trying to make sure there were no problems during transit which would cause us to miss dinner (I read on some blogs you need to plan for these things). Got off the bus and walked per the direction across the bridge, to the main road, then on to the street where the house was. It was rather difficult finding it relying on house names alone, as neither my husband nor I speak/read Japanese, but the Hisamatsu house picture is so unique that upon noticing a house like that I was able to confirm that it was indeed our place of stay for the next 2 days. Greeted by an older lady who was walking out at the time; was then shown in the house and was greeted by another lady that was very nice, polite, and friendly. We then got ushered into the room, which was neat and there was even a heater in the room! Perfect for us Californians experiencing early November winter in Japan. There was Kotatsu in the middle of the room and they even provided us a cute Gassho-style snack and green tea to warm us up. Perfect first impression and experience. Dinner was out-of-this-world good and matched the experience overall. It was simple and homey cooking, yet delicious! Overnight stay was also comfortable, and breakfast the next morning was equally delicious. Oh, and they oven provided us some Kimonos in the room to change into, and that helped to make the experience even more authentic. Overall I truly enjoyed staying here and would recommend it to anyone wanting to experience a slice of 'real' Japan.

• Like in a fairy tale

  Month of Visit: December

  Country Of Reviewer: Italy

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 4

  I really wanted to include Shirakawa-go in my 2 week tour of Japan and I'm so glad I did as it was the highlight of my whole trip! Hisamatsu made this stop unique. It's such a homey place where you have the feeling you can get in direct touch with the locals and their traditions, something not so easy to find while travelling. I'll never forget my encounter with the grandma of the house, who could not speak English. When I met her at the sink in the common bathroom of the house in the morning, she just smiled at me and opened the window to show me that it had snowed overnight and everything was covered in a thick 50 cm layer of white flakes. This is the best example to me of what you can find at Hisamatsu: simplicity and authenticity that go beyond words... and stay.

• Winter Wonderland

  Month of Visit: December

  Country Of Reviewer: Indoneisa

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 4

  It was snowing when we went there and I'm so glad we made it there during that period. Hisamatsu is an excellent ryokan - modest rooms equipped with heaters and clean bathroom i really can't complain. Breakfast and dinner are definitely a plus point. Really yummy. I wish I could go back there during other seasons. =)

• Fantastic experience

  Month of Visit: March

  Country Of Reviewer: Australia

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  Visiting Shirakawa-go was definitely the highlight of our family holiday. The hostess was so accommodating, going out of her way to make it easy to not only get to the Ryokan (we arrived quite late at night) but to make our little kids comfortable. It was cold, but the beds were warm and it was so nice waking up and walking around the village. Just magical! thank you! Also thanks to the staff at Japanese Guest Houses who were very helpful in getting us to and from Shirakawa-go. Thanks!

• We are back...

  Month of Visit: May

  Country Of Reviewer: Malaysia

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  This is my second time staying in this ryokan. We were here in 2012 and been so keen to return to the place, hence, planned it this year. Everything stays the same, the place, the ryokan owner, the room...i had the best time here.

• Must stay

  Month of Visit: May

  Country Of Reviewer: Thailand

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 4

  Staff Rating - 4

  Location Rating - 4

  Room Rating - 3

  Excellent atmostphere at Shirakawa-go.I received warm welcome by the host of Hesamatsu, Satojung.Dinner and breakfast was excellent.I plan to go again in winter.

• Perfect for our stay in Shirakawa-go

  Month of Visit: July

  Country Of Reviewer: USA

  Atmosphere Rating - 4

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 4

  Room Rating - 4

  We had a wonderful stay at Hisamatsu. We arrived the day that Hurricane Neoguri was moving up the southern coast of Japan. Shirakawa-go got the outer bands of the storm so it was blustery and wet. Yet the inn was very comfortable for our family of four. We watched the rain pour down outside as we enjoyed delicious food and the warm hospitality of our hostess. Shirakawa-go is magical after all of the tourists go home. We wandered around the quiet streets in the rain and enjoyed the many beautiful views through out the village. I would highly recommend a visit to this stunning place and a stay at Hisamatsu!

• Very Nice

  Month of Visit: September

  Country Of Reviewer: Australia

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 4

  Very nice and tranquil, and great to visit the area once the tourists have had to leave. The food is impressive!

• September 2014 stay

  Month of Visit: September

  Country Of Reviewer:

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 4

  The stay at Shirakawa-go was one of the highlights of our trip, and we highly enjoyed our experience at Hisamatsu. The dinner was fabulous, and one of the best meals we had in Japan. The only drawback was that there was no shower / bath at the house (or at least it wasn't made available to us during our stay, as the owner said that we should use the public bath - a 10 min walk from the house. But I see that other reviewers say that there is a bath there, so I don't know). The village is beautiful and peaceful in the early morning, before it becomes crowded with day-trippers, so we highly recommend staying in Shirakawa-go if your schedule permits.

• A beautiful retreat in a calm friendly and relaxed environment

  Month of Visit: September

  Country Of Reviewer: United Kingdom

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  From our warm greeting upon arrival (the owner speak good enough English and is very patient if your Japanese is basic/non-existant) to the last moment of our stay it was a pleasure to stay at Hisamatsu. As many people have mentioned the food is great- really great and also copious. We have a double room for 4 people and found the bedding comfortable and warm. Hisamatsu, it must be said, is not the prettiest house in the village (it is still stunning!) and is also a bit tucked away but this turned out to be ideal during the day when shirakawago heaves with tourists and the ghasso house is then a calm retreat. When i next visit Japan i would certainly revisit Shirakawa-go and i know that i would book to stay at Hisamatsu again. It is a home from home in how welcome you are made to feel.

• prefect

  Month of Visit: October

  Country Of Reviewer: Hong Kong

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 4

  The best guesthouse experience ever. The ryokan owner is very nice and polite. The service and food are very good. It is an unforgettable experience staying in a UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE. Don't miss it.

• Don't miss it!

  Month of Visit: October

  Country Of Reviewer: HONG KONG

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 4

  An unforgettable Gassho experience at an UNESCO SITE. Don't miss it. We have a wonderful stay at Hisamatsu (Oct 2014). The Gassho owner is very nice and the food are excellent. Hisamatsu is not very close to the main street (which might be a little noisy during the day). It's like we are staying in our own corner/ area. I love its location. Our room is simple. You might hear the people talking in the next room. There is one public bath in the house when we visited. The toilet area in the house is just remodelled. It is very nice and tidy.

• Feel like home

  Month of Visit: October

  Country Of Reviewer: Thailand

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 4

  Room Rating - 4

  Staff was so nice and hospitality. She can speak many language. The food was superp (better than some ryokans in my previous visit in other part of japan) The house was clean. The heater was warm enough. This house has only 4 rooms so you better hurry book in advance. At night the village was completely difference from the afternoon which was quite crowded and noisy from many tourist. If you want to experience the real shirakawago. I recommended you to spend 1 night here. (Sorry for my poor english)

• Cosy accommodation

  Month of Visit: November

  Country Of Reviewer: Singapore

  Atmosphere Rating - 4

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 4

  Room Rating - 3

  The owner of Hisamatsu is a really nice lady. Loved the food (both dinner and breakfast) which is really a lot.So my advice is either have early lunch or light lunch as the dinner starts early at 6pm. Toilets are new and clean but I couldn't say the same for the rooms. However, the heaters in the room and bed are good enough for us. The only downside is that we have to check out by 9am in the morning which is really early for family with children.

• Extremely Well Experience!

  Month of Visit: November

  Country Of Reviewer: HONG KONG

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  We just stay one night in Shirakawa-go, we would like to experience in a Janpanese old style house. Hisamatsu is a nice place for travellers because we can communicate with a the lady of the house. She is so kind. The meal is extremely tasty. We strongly recommend this house if you are scanning the house of Shirakawa-go~!

• Fully delicious

  Month of Visit: November

  Country Of Reviewer: Thailand

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 4

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 4

  The dinner in a paper bowl Shabu with the sauce was really great. Excess of Japanese rice for both dinner and breakfast suit for those big guy visitors. Traditional beding and room makes me feel the touch of Japan.

• firendliness

  Month of Visit: December

  Country Of Reviewer: MY

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 3

  Staff Rating - 2

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 3

  The house and the environment is nice especially in the dawn, however the people in this town is very rude, be it the shop owner, the Jap that lives there, they are not friendly at all compare to what we met in nagoya, Kanazawa or Takayama. My advice is, lower down your expectation . Nevertheless , it is a beautiful village

• awesome!

  Month of Visit: November

  Country Of Reviewer: MY

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 4

  Friendly and helpful hostess. Dinner and breakfast were amazing yummy, the best (save for the kobe beef i had in Kobe) meals i've ever had during my 10 days trip. Earlier I was under the impression that the ryokan does not have any WC. I misunderstood the earlier comments i read here. There are 3 WCs and a bathroom in the Ryokan. It snowed a week after i left Shirakawago. Should have gone there in December.

• Memorable

  Month of Visit: January

  Country Of Reviewer: Hong Kong

  Atmosphere Rating - 4

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 3

  The place is located quite close to the bus station, with the map provided we have no trouble finding it. The house itself is quite old so do not have too much expectation. The room is no-frills and there is not much sound proof. The host was very friendly and speaks a little bit English. The food however was amazing! Two of the best meals we had in our whole trip.

• Excellent

  Month of Visit: January

  Country Of Reviewer: Australia

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  My partner and I stayed for a night and absolutely loved the experience. While the place is quite basic, staying in one of the traditional houses is such a unique thing to do. The food was excellent and the village is stunning. Highly recommend.