Welcome to Magoemon. This is one of the larger Gassho Zukuri style of accommodations in Shirakawa-go with six guest rooms accommodating up to 12 guests. There is a Japanese-style open hearth, and from Magoemon guests can even see an old fashioned wooden suspension bridge over the famous Shirokawa river. Magoemon serves fresh, seasonal vegetables throughout the year. Check-in is after 15:00 and check-out is before 10:00 am. Snow Warning: There is a lot of snow in Shirakawa-go in January and February so please bring a pair of snow boots. Shirakawa-go can get up to 2 meters (over 6 feet) of snow in February.

Facilities

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Ryokan Reviews:

• Best experience we've ever had!

  Putri

  Date of Review: December, 2021

  Month of Visit: December

  Country Of Reviewer:

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  We went to Magoemon for Christmas day and the day after. The price is worth the experience we had at the Ryokan, and the building is reserved only for us on that day! (Max. 8 guests). The building is the largest compares other ryokan, so it doesn't feel narrow at all. And eventhough it's a 200 years old building, the bathroom, toilet, and appliances are more modern and clean, so it's very comfortable to use! The snow falling was quite hard, yet it's warm inside. About the food, it was awesome! The dinner has 5-stars quality of Japanese Teishoku style. The ingredients are fresh, especially the beef and vegetables. The lady staff can speak a little bit of English, but she explained everything with patience and kind! I really recommend to try staying at Magoemon for the best experience at the magical village, Shirakawa-go!

• Magoemon in the snow

  Henry

  Date of Review: March, 2020

  Month of Visit: March

  Country Of Reviewer: United States

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  My brothers and I visited Magoemon in March 2020. We arrived when the weather was not particularly nice. It was grey and a bit rainy. We walked around town, which was nevertheless beautiful, and enjoyed the wonderful dinner: beef we grilled individually, hearth grilled salted fish, and many more items. All were amazing, especially the fish! We were exhausted and fell asleep soon after dinner, forgetting to take a bath entirely. (Sigh, jet lag.) The next morning we awoke to a winter wonderland. About three inches of snow had fallen all over the town. We could not stop taking pictures until the bus whisked us away. And the breakfast was almost as wonderful as dinner. I cannot wait to come back again with my wife!

• Awesome Stay

  Sonya

  Date of Review: February, 2020

  Month of Visit: February

  Country Of Reviewer:

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  We spent one night at Magoemon. It was awesome. Arrived early and left our bags there while we explored the area. The room had some lovely tea and sweets waiting for us. We asked for a room with a river view. The view was lovely but we had to close the window as it was freezing outside. The younger lady had quite good English and was lovely. The older lady has limited English. Dinner was awesome. We are vegetarian and that was catered for. Our bed was set up while we ate dinner. There is an airconditioner in the room was there is no worry about being cold. There is a shared bathroom/toilet. But my husband and I used the bath at the same time. That is acceptable. There were about 8 people staying the night we stayed. Our neighbours took a little time to settle. But it was not a worry. Breakfast was also very traditional. We left our bags there the next day whilst we enjoyed more time wandering around the village. There are waterproof boots for walking in the snow if you don;t have your own. We had our own. I would definitely recommend staying here. We could not fault anything. You do have to take your shoes off and wear slippers. Yukata are provided and some people wore these to dinner. One of the reasons I also chose this place was it's closeness to the bus stop as we had quite heavy luggage.

• Lovely historic home

  Sakura

  Date of Review: February, 2020

  Month of Visit: February

  Country Of Reviewer: United States

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  We were looking for an old inn where we can experience a historic location in an old Japanese home and we found it. The inn is in a very nice location in Shirakawago, next to a river. We got to also enjoy the scenery with snow on the ground and on the rooftops of the straw-grass homes. The room was clean and comfortable. We could really spread out. We slept well on the tatami mats and futons. The dinner and breakfast was fabulous. The innkeepers really outdid themselves when it came to the meals. There is a shared bathroom for washing, however, my daughter and I tagged along with another college age female guests to the local onsen bathhouse. It turned out really well. I think it was about 500 yen per person to enjoy the public bath. Overall, we had a really nice time in an old historic village.

• Great place to stay

  Urairat

  Month of Visit: January

  Country Of Reviewer: Thailand

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  Magoemon is the best stay of my Chubu trip. It was amazing experience of Japanese homestay. Dinner and breakfast were big and delicious. The house is clean and warm in winter.

• Cultural delight!

  Katie

  Date of Review: January, 2020

  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 one night in Shirakawago in Magoemon Gassho and we had a wonderful stay. We had a room that overlooked the river, which provided very peaceful background music to our sleep. The room also had an air conditioner, powerpoints and WiFi, which we weren't expecting from a traditional gassho! We arrived a bit before 4pm and were able to use the private family onsen before anyone else arrived, which was a nice luxury (photos attached of the sit down shower and the onsen covered with cedar). There were also separate female and male toilets. The dinner and breakfast were very tasty with generous serving portions. One thing to note is that you sleep on a futon, which is quite thin, and the walls are also thin, which means you can hear your neighbours even when they're talking quietly. Luckily we had very respectful Japanese neighbours in the room next to us, so no issues getting to sleep. A once in a lifetime experience!

• Lovely stay on Christmas Eve

  Nigel

  Month of Visit: December

  Country Of Reviewer: Malaysia

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  A very lovely gassho, the seven of us were accommodated in two adjoining rooms. The futons were very comfortable and the toilet/shower facilities are immaculate. A warm welcome provided by the host, dinner and breakfast were exquisitely served and a very high standard of food: a very Japanese ryokan experience. No hesitations in recommending this beautiful property.

• Perfect stay

  Yanzhuo

  Month of Visit: September

  Country Of Reviewer: United States

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  We stayed here for 1 night. The host was very kind and friendly, the food was delicious, bathroom was clean and nice. The place was closed to the river and located in the center of the town. No complains.

• Must do experience

  Calvin

  Date of Review: August, 2019

  Month of Visit: August

  Country Of Reviewer: Australia

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  This was our first time with this type of accommodation and the whole experience was amazing. Even in the height of summer, the room was pleasant to sleep in. The highlight of the experience was by far the food. Everything was presented very well and tasted homemade and very fresh. You only need a day or so to explore the rest of the town and to try everything else that it has to offer. Best experience of our trip to Japan.

• Holidays in Japan

  Eugenia

  Date of Review: July, 2019

  Month of Visit: July

  Country Of Reviewer:

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  We stayed at Magoemon with my husband, our first experience in a Ryokan. We simply loved it. Everything was beyond our expectation. The people at the ryokan are so friendly and kind. The food was outstanding. I would totally recommend to stay here. Plus we slept in this beautiful room with the sound of the river.

• Perfect traditional experience

  Alessandro

  Date of Review: July, 2019

  Month of Visit: July

  Country Of Reviewer: Italy

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  This place is amazing, it seems to be in the japanese country two hundred years ago. The owners of the house are nice and polite, everything is clean and meals were great.

• Exactly what we expected

  Paige

  Month of Visit: April

  Country Of Reviewer: USA/Germany

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  Aligned with other reviews, there isn't much English spoken here, but I speak a little Japanese, and with body language and signs posted in both languages, we managed. Also, the booking process via Japanese Guesthouses was easy -- far more so than sending a fax or a letter via the post. We were excited but also a little nervous that snow was predicted the night of our visit, but we were nice and toasty in our futons, especially after having visited the onsen down the road (about 5 mins away on foot). My boyfriend and I agreed that while the bathing facilities in Magoemen were certainly fine, the onsen is a much nicer option, and is reasonably priced. Also, it was warmer, so more bearable to get undressed at the onsen rather than the in-house shower room (no bath available). Oh, and the food at Magoemon was spectacular! I'd love to go back one day...

• Great stay

  Jose

  Month of Visit: April

  Country Of Reviewer: Portugal

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 4

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  Wonderful place! Early check out (9h00).

• Superb experience

  Xiak hwei

  Date of Review: April, 2019

  Month of Visit: March

  Country Of Reviewer: Malaysia

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  We had our one night stay on 16/3 with total of 10 pax, the host is friendly and the food is delicious. The toilet is clean & the room is spacious. Shirakawago is a very beautiful place to visit & we had a very good memories here. Pleasant stay

• A traditional Gassho-style house nestled in the village of Shirakawago

  Wei lynn

  Date of Review: April, 2019

  Month of Visit: April

  Country Of Reviewer:

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  We were a group of 6 travelers who had the wonderful opportunity of lodging at Magoemon, in the picturesque Ogimachi village of Shirakawago. Upon arrival, we were given a warm welcome by our host, a sweet and kindly old lady, who took us on a quick tour of the house and pointed out a notice in English at the reception counter, indicating meal times (dinner at 6pm, breakfast at 7.30am) and bath times (6-7.30am, 4-5.30pm, after dinner-9pm). With some hand gesturing by our friendly host, coupled with an audible English word or two within a string of Japanese words, I think we managed to grasp the key message conveyed to us. We cherished the experience of staying in a Gassho-style thatched house - practically-architected and aesthetically-pleasing! Furnishing and deco was simple and minimal, hence allowing the architecture of the building – with its solid timber beams and wooden walls and delicate sliding doors – to be the focal point (note: walls are thin and you will be able to hear your neighbors, despite them speaking in low decibels). Bedrooms were cozy with sufficient heating. In the day, the furnishing consisted of a low Japanese table with some cushions on a tatami mat. By night time, the table had been replaced by comfortable futons that were discreetly brought in and set up in the room, while we had dinner. The 6 of us were housed in 3 rooms on the ground floor, separated by sliding panels i.e. we had the option of opening the panels to form a rather large space. Sliding panels also opened up to a picturesque view overlooking a street with neighboring Gassho houses, framed by misty snow-capped hills. As for the bathrooms, there were separate toilets for ladies and gents and 1 common bathroom with 2 showers and a wooden Japanese hot tub within a shared space (two in the family would be able to shower at the same time). The lovely traditional-looking bathroom with modern amenities and hot water was spotlessly clean. Meal times were something we looked forward to, where we attempted to dress-Japanese by donning yukatas provided by the ryokan and sit-Japanese on tatami mats at our little individual tables neatly positioned around a traditional Irori hearth in the atmospheric dining area. Dinner was multi-course – the main course of rice with grilled miso beef, fish, mountain vegetables and pickles was served first, followed by a bowl of miso soup, tofu (resembling an ice-cream on a stick), tempura and fruits. So try not to over-load on rice too early in the meal! Our main consideration for spending a night in Shirakawago, apart from enjoying the experience of staying in a traditional house, was to avoid the day-trippers… and there were plenty of them, given how accessible the village was to the nearby town of Takayama, only a 50-minute bus ride away. We woke up early to explore the small village (6.30-7.30am) and what a marked difference it was from the bustle of the previous afternoon! It was quiet and peaceful without the crowds, more befitting of a picturesque countryside village. I dare say that the only grouse we had was the dilemma of choosing between spending more time outdoors exploring the pretty as a picture village or lounging indoors soaking up the simple comforts of the ryokan! On hindsight, perhaps an extra night may have been the solution :-) Arigatou Gozaimasu to our hosts for their hospitality and for opening up their home to us!

• Great experience

  Yin yien

  Date of Review: February, 2019

  Month of Visit: February

  Country Of Reviewer: Malaysia

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  I had an awesome stay at Shirakawa-go with my family. We are really glad that we opted for a ryokan stay at Shirakawa-go as the place is much less crowded in the evening and early morning before the crowd comes in. The host was very friendly and the food was superb. Helped ourselves to second and third servings of rice as the food is too good. The rooms are clean and beautiful, we could even see the beautiful scenery from our room. The rooms are heated so you won't feel cold even during winter. There is a hot bathtub in the ryokan, it can warm you up with just a 5-10 min soak. There are snow boots available to borrow from the host. Look forward to visit again when we have the chance.

• Awesome stay

  Kieu trang

  Month of Visit: February

  Country Of Reviewer: Vietnam

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  Magoemon is quite near the bus station, about 5 minutes of walking. Love the hosts and the food. No aircon but the heater and heating cushion and futons are sufficient. Also there were snow boots available to borrow.

• Most certainly Worth It

  Kam

  Month of Visit: January

  Country Of Reviewer: Malaysia

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  One of the best stays in Japan for sure! Shirakawago is a pretty touristy place, so being able to be in the village after all the tourists left in the evening, and before they arrive in the morning after is the most amazing and peaceful times ever to explore the village. Magoemon is situated right smack in the center of everything, so it is pretty convenient to walk around. The host is very friendly and helpful, they understand and can communicate in a little bit of english, so it is very easy to settle down. The rooms are clean and there are light snacks which were yummy, I think some of us bought the same senbei in the village after. There are free parking available as well which is great, and the staff helped us clean the cars after a fresh layer of snow overnight. Very friendly! And of course, the food is fantastic!! I'm not a vege eating type of person but I enjoyed their vegetable dishes. The only thing I can nitpick about is that the dining area's heating is turned off when it is not in used, and you have to pass by it to get to the bathroom area from the rooms. So it gets really cold and I have to run pass it very fast!!

• Can I give 10-stars?

  David

  Month of Visit: December

  Country Of Reviewer: Malaysia

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  5-star experience. Sparkling clean room, common toilets, shared bathroom. Room with nice view. 10 minutes relaxing stroll from bus station. 15-20 minutes stroll from the observation deck. Nice wooden tub - private bath. Heating is good. Host is good and nice. Cannot think of any flaw, except for you share the only shower room with others, hence you can\'t really enjoy the wooden tub \'onsen\' for a very long time, unless you wake up early in the morning at 6am before breakfast. The food is heaven. My records, 3 bowls of rice for dinner. 4 bowls for breakfast! Only some simple vegetables, pickles, miso soup, grilled fish. hoba miso, hida beef, but don\'t underestimate it. The best meal I had in Japan. Better than any 5-star hotel. :) Will definitely come back. Booking with Japanese Guest House is very smooth and easy.

• unique experience and nice place to stay

  Sze men

  Month of Visit: November

  Country Of Reviewer: Belgium

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  We spent one night at Magoemon. The host family was very friendly and explained us everything with limited knowledge of English. Toilet and bathroom were clean. We got a room with a nice view. Very quite and we could hear the river. The dinner was very delicious, we didn't expect that we got so many dishes. And breakfast was also good. We also enjoyed the bath. It will be better if the using time can extend a bit longer (especially with a lot of guests). On the other day, after breakfast, we could walk around in the neighbourhood without too many tourists. It was really a nice unique experience.

• Recommended stay

  Shi ming june

  Month of Visit: October

  Country Of Reviewer: Singapore

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  Exactly as what the other reviews mentioned.. stay was fantastic.. hospitality superb.. food, bothe breakfast and dinner... best.. room was good.. shared bathroom with onsen and shared toilet too.. really a great experience.. recommended to stay at least once here.. after 5 when all the tourist left.. it feels so wow n beautiful.. early morning after breakfast we even get to experience their event.. and before crowd comes in, we quickly went to the top for some shots of the place.. nice..im looking forward to seeing the light up event if possible.. highly recommended...

• Great experience

  Elisa

  Date of Review: September, 2018

  Month of Visit: August

  Country Of Reviewer: Italy

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  My partner and I stayed at the Magoemon for 1 night, and it was one of the best stay of our trip! We slept in room with a beautiful view on the river. We had dinner and breakfast in a large room with other guests ant everything was delicious! The staff was really kind. The village had something magic, expecially in the evening when it was very quiet. I definetly recommend to stay one night here.

• Esperienza indimenticabile

  Maurizio

  Date of Review: August, 2018

  Month of Visit: August

  Country Of Reviewer: Italia

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  La struttura e' molto semplice e curata. Gestori estremamente gentili, poco inglese ma ci si capisce benissimo. Buone le pulizie ed ottimi i pasti. Comodo parchegguio se si usa l'auto, posizione molto tranquilla. Totale corrispondenza alle foto pubblicate.

• Extraordinary!

  Alessandra

  Month of Visit: July

  Country Of Reviewer: Germany

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  Me and my family had a wonderful stay! The hospitality, food, location were extraordinary. Would come back anytime!

• A wonderful stay in the midst of our honeymoon

  Cheng hong

  Month of Visit: June

  Country Of Reviewer: Singapore

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  Magoemon is a nice cosy place in the middle of Shiragawago. My wife and I arrived at this small town in the middle of this summer period. It is still not that hot but the sunshine has been a bit glaring. When we reached Magoemon, we were greeted by very polite and kind hosts whom introduced us to everything inside the hostel as well as the town. In this town we don't get to hear any noise pollution. We had a very peaceful stay here. The food served is very traditional Japanese cuisine which is very fresh and healthy. Even though the hostel looked traditional from it's exterior, the interior is very well decorated. The rooms, especially the washrooms, are super clean. The hosts has also kindly helped us to lay out the Futon and pack it back during our meals. They did it during the short interval when we had our meals. Even though the dining hall oversees all the entrance of the rooms, we don't even know when they entered and left! They are some fast and efficient. The visitor center is another place that all tourists should visit. It costs us about 300 yen per person if I remember correctly. There is a very nice short video about the culture within the town. There is a small exhibition center where we get to have a look at different artifacts. We were also treated with their traditional rice wine. If given a chance we will like to come back in the winter. The view of the whole town looks fantastic from the hill and from what I understood, they will have a common gathering area where everyone cooks food using the traditional Japanese barbeque method. Overall my wife and I had a very memorable and wonderful stay.

• One of my favourite nights in Japan

  Fiona

  Month of Visit: June

  Country Of Reviewer: UK

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  We had the most wonderful time at Magoemln. The village itself was idyllic, particularly in the evening sun when there was no one else around. We had gorgeous weather so had the doors to our room open overlooking the rover. The hostess was extremely friendly and helpful. Food was OUTSTANDING- dinner was the best meal I had in Japan. There was a family from Singapore staying at the same time as us and it was lovely chatting to them over dinner and breakfast. I didn’t stop smiling during my entire stay.

• unforgettable experience

  Mindy

  Month of Visit: June

  Country Of Reviewer: Malaysia

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  We enjoyed our stay in Magoemon.We got to know a group of friendly guest from Okinawa during our stay.The host were very friendly and the food was outstanding.We had a great time in the evening and early morning without other tourist around.My kids love Shirakawa-go so much and here is our most favorite. We highly recommend this place to our friends.

• Experiencia japonesa

  Manuel

  Date of Review: June, 2018

  Month of Visit: June

  Country Of Reviewer: Spain

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 3

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 4

  Fue una experiencia muy agradable en todos los sentidos. Destacar tanto la cena como el desayuno, comimos cosas que de otra forma hubiera sido difícil de probar. El pueblo al atardecer es muy tranquilo y duermes con el croar de miles de ranas que traspasan las paredes de papel de tu habitación. Tal vez me hubiera gustado alguna explicación más tanto de la casa, constumbres e incluso de las comidas; pero no por ello fue una estancia placentera. Gracias a Japanese Guest houses por las gestiones e informaciones previas.

• Atmospheric

  Kim

  Date of Review: June, 2018

  Month of Visit: May

  Country Of Reviewer: New Zealand

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  We stayed for one night and loved it. It has a quiet location next to the river. The house is lovely - full of character and history, very clean, great food and friendly hosts (we had the grandma hosting and though she spoke very little English, it wasn't a problem, there are signs in English for the critical matters such as hours for using the bathroom, dinner time etc). We found the house to be very quiet.

• Experiencia única en la vida japonesa

  Maria jose

  Month of Visit: April

  Country Of Reviewer: Catalonia

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  Haber estado en Magoemon ha sido vivir una experiencia única, singular, entrañable y muy agradable conociendo de cerca este pequeño pueblo japonés. La cena fue una delicia. Inolvidable. El ambiente del pueblo al caer la tarde especialmente cuando los turistas ya no están, el silencio, el inmenso paisaje, la esencia rural, son únicos. El alojamiento es muy especial.

• Great Experience!

  Natascha

  Month of Visit: May

  Country Of Reviewer: Switzerland

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 4

  We stayed at Magoemon for one night. It was a beautiful house, the food was brilliant and still makes my mouth water. The hosts were very nice and welcoming. We would definitely go back there again!

• Great experience

  Ferran

  Date of Review: May, 2018

  Month of Visit: April

  Country Of Reviewer:

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  It was a great experience staying at the house and having dinner together with the other guests. The food was really good and bathroom was shared but absolutely clean. The place is worth the visit to disconnect from the city. The museum of the village is almost everything in Japanese but if you are interested by the architecture and want a to see a quiet and nice is worth the visit anyway.

• Amazing and authentic

  Adam

  Month of Visit: April

  Country Of Reviewer: United States

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  Magoemon was exactly what we were hoping for, a traditional minshuku which was small and authentic. After a excellent day exploring Ogimachi, we headed back to Magoemon. The building itself is quite wonderful, and the hostess was so helpful and hospitable. The dinner and breakfast were fantastic, and we really enjoyed the communal dinner, where we had an opportunity to talk with other travelers from different parts of the world and share stories. If you have time, heading to the onsen down next to the river is a must do. It was so good.

• Spacious, good food and nice location

  Yosua

  Month of Visit: April

  Country Of Reviewer:

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 4

  Staff Rating - 4

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 4

  • Can put bags prior to check in time. • Location is quite close to public bus stop, away from the tourist concentration, just behind can view the river. But some gravels just before the house so if carrying stroller is slightly troublesome and during rain can find puddles. • Younger lady host can speak a bit of english but not the older lady who seems to be at the guesthouse most of the time. • Breakfast and dinner were nice, felt local with hida beef with sweet miso, ayu fish, traditional pickles, miso, etc. • Room was spacious, tatami quite big (2 tatami enough for me, wife and a 2-year old), very cosy as well. • Heater was all in japanese so difficult to set up. • Only 1 private bath to share with all guests, with traditional big hot tub made of wood. • All in all it was a memorable experience with the major upset was only the heater.

• Wonderful Stay

  Sherry

  Month of Visit: April

  Country Of Reviewer:

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  This place made our visit to Shirakawa-go very unique and pleasant! The food was delicious and the service was wonderful. We highly recommend staying here and would definitely come again in the future.

• Atención excepcional

  Karen

  Month of Visit: March

  Country Of Reviewer: Mexico

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  Excelente servicio y atención, las instalaciones muy cómodas y cálidas, la comida deliciosa.

• Unique and Great Stay!

  Yun han

  Month of Visit: March

  Country Of Reviewer: Canada

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  Magoemon was such a great stay! The food was delicious and great hospitality. Would definitely stay again.

• Pleasant experience!

  Wendy

  Month of Visit: March

  Country Of Reviewer:

  Atmosphere Rating - 4

  Food Rating - 4

  Staff Rating - 4

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 4

  was a little concerned prior to arrival because an introductory email advised that this being a heritage site, the building may not be as well heated or equipped as other places. very relieved and pleasantly surprised that the portable heater kept the room sufficiently warm and the bedding was very comfortable. meals were good and the elderly lady we met was always smiling. would definitely recommend spending a night here in shirakawago to experience this beautiful heritage site.

• Good experience

  Chee ing

  Month of Visit: February

  Country Of Reviewer: Malaysia

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  Shirakawa-go is a beautiful place. we stayed 1 night at Magoemon, it was a good experience staying in a traditional guest house with traditional dinner and breakfast, bathroom with onsen.

• Great Experience! Great Food!

  Joseph ryan

  Month of Visit: February

  Country Of Reviewer: Philippines

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 4

  Me and my friend stayed for a night. The food was a lot and very delicious especially the beef! Place was very clean and peaceful. The old woman was very friendly and accommodating. Overall, the experience was extraordinary! Hopefully can come back someday.

• One of a Kind Experience

  Yulius andri

  Month of Visit: February

  Country Of Reviewer: Indonesia

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  Shirakawago has its magical scenery in winter. When I decided to stay there (thanks to Japanese Guest Houses help) especially in Magoemon, I've done the right decision. I was pleased with warm welcome from the hosts (granny and her daughter, I assume). I can borrow boots and umbrella and explore the village. The dinner and the breakfast are satisfying. Very delicious. The place is authentic. You can feel the traditional ambience inside. Definitely will come here again.

• Amazing!

  Fretty

  Date of Review: February, 2018

  Month of Visit: February

  Country Of Reviewer: Indonesia

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  I love the most is the authenticity, the hospitality, and to add that the location is at the center of everything! I don't need to question of the cleanliness of the place, most Japanese places I have seen and been into are spotless! The food was very authentic, I can feel the warmth of the Granny who cooked it. I would definitely come back to Magoemon!

• The Best Experience

  Roziah

  Date of Review: February, 2018

  Month of Visit: February

  Country Of Reviewer: Malaysia

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  We visited and stayed at Magoemon 1-2Feb. My sons love it. We family of 5 had a great experienced with an awesome view of ShirakawaGo. Dinner and breakfast was great with other guests. Bathroom facilities also very clean and modern. Ryokan closed to bus station. Map given; direction how to get there, very useful. Thank you to Japaneseguesthouses.com for arranging our stay in Magoemon Ryokan.

• Most memorable experience of our Japan trip

  Shawn

  Date of Review: January, 2018

  Month of Visit: January

  Country Of Reviewer: New Zealand

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  We visited Shirakawa-go early January and had an absolute blast. It's a beautiful place, made more special by not having to rush off the same day. We dropped our bags off at Magoemon in the morning, and they even had Wellington boots (wellies) we could borrow. It was easier to walk in the snow so that was good. The accommodation itself is basic but comfortable. Powerful gas heaters kept the room warm, and it was fairly easy to work around the shared bathroom schedule. Food was good and we covered a lot of the highlights including Hida beef and local mushrooms in miso. I will remember my stay for a long, long time!

• Excellent Stay

  Zubir

  Month of Visit: December

  Country Of Reviewer: United States

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 4

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 4

  Host was hospitable. It was a neat experience staying in Gassho-zuruki farmhouse. I was worried about visiting during December because of the thin walls. There was proper heating, so being cold at night was not a concern. The food was good quality and very tasty. Shirakawago is VERY crowded. You can only get the tranquility and peace after the tourists are gone. Staying overnight definitely was worth the trouble.

• Cool experience

  Phatrapol

  Date of Review: December, 2017

  Month of Visit: December

  Country Of Reviewer: Thailand

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  I stayed at Magoemon with my mom and friend You have to book around three, four months in advance. We went in winter. It was excellent. This is one of the bigger inns, so they can accommodate a large group with many rooms. The snow was several meters deep. When we arrived it was snowing so hard we could barely walk. The older woman who runs the inn can not communicate in English at all. There is another young woman who helped served meals, but she couldn't speak English either. They were able to call us to meals. They explained the sleeping arrangement by pointing. It was never a problem. The rooms all have individual kerosene heaters. We were extremely comfortable the whole time. Meals were served in a large communal tatami room. You sit on the floor. We aren't in great shape for that, but we managed, having to move our legs around sometimes to help circulation. It was not a problem. Dinner was excellent, Hida beef, lots of Japanese specialties like grilled tofu. A wonderful, filling meal. Breakfast was also very good, but we like Japanese breakfasts. Rice, grilled fish, seaweed. Very filling. The inn is beautiful. We saw the tourists who arrived for day trips by bus and leave after a few hours. It is so much better to spend a night in one of these inns. Around 4 o'clock they have all left and you have the whole village to yourself, covered in snow. It is really, really nice to see the sights under the stars or with snow falling. Check-out is early, so you have time to explore the other inns. There is a nice museum where you can go and see old pictures and go up to see the underside of the steep roof. Worth it. There is also a nice hot spring in the village where you can relax. It's clean and modern. We had soba noodles at a restaurant before we left, there aren't many cafes or restaurants around. Overall, it was a great visit because of this amazing traditional inn.

• It's a Privilege Stay!

  Lorraine

  Month of Visit: November

  Country Of Reviewer: Singapore

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  It is really a privilege to hv the opportunity to stay in a 290yr old Gassho. I hv stayed in many rokyan but not gassho n it is a magical experience that i feel it is a privilege that u cant get it else whr. Host was so thoughtful that language has no barrier. Location is so convenient, short walk fr terminal. Dinner n bfast were yummy n a diff style of cuisine that i cant get elsewhr in Jpn. The Architecture of the house is like a great piece of art for my imagination of how the villagers live many many years ago. The View was magical as it snowed the night before! Shared bathroom w pte bath facilities n my family had a great bonding time taking shower together! Everythg was perfect! Highly recommended experience if u r visiting Shirakawa-go. Its my 2nd visit but didnt stay in Gassho previously. Visit to Shirakawa-go is not complete without the stay.

• Magoemon

  Praditya louis

  Month of Visit: December

  Country Of Reviewer: Indonesia

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  Magoemon The host family so kind and patient, When winter they provide a boot for explore shirakawago, The room so big,complete with the heater and some green tea The breakfast & dinner so nice,they provide yukata,so we can eat during wear Yukata, Bathroom so clean with onsen hottub, Separate restroom for woman and man, They provide hair dryer too From bus station shirakawago so near abive 5 minutes Thank you for humble hospitality Best regarda. Louis Indonesia

• Lovely farm house by the river

  Orawan

  Month of Visit: November

  Country Of Reviewer: Thailand

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 4

  We had a great time staying in this old minshuku. The location is strategic, quiet but convenient to walk atound. The home-made style food was splendid and the rooms are clean with nice river view. We had 7 people and originally booked 3 rooms. With our big stuffs lying on the floor, the hosts were so thoughtful providing us an extra room preparing futons for us without any extra charge. After the check-out, we were allowed to leave our stuffs at the house while further exploring the village. All of our friends love this minshuku and hosts. We also had a wonderful time at the onsen nearby at night and walking in the moonlight which was such a memorable experience.

• An unique experience

  Yee shang

  Date of Review: November, 2017

  Month of Visit: November

  Country Of Reviewer: Malaysia

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  Ryokan is very clean and tidy. Although bathrooms to be shared with others, everything is well set up and hassle free. Ryokan is very near to terminal, easy to be found (just beside the river). You can even admire the breathtaking scenery of riverside. Host family is really helpful and polite. Food is scrumptious! Portion is huge, you will feel really satisfied. Recommend everyone to stay in this ryokan!

• Impressive and perfect

  Xin wen

  Month of Visit: October

  Country Of Reviewer: Singapore

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  Went to Shirakawago in end October. The weather was cooling and cloudy. I stayed here with my boyfriend, and both of us do not wish to leave on the next day. The dinner and breakfast was fantastic. The beef was so good! Although the house looks old, it is maintained well and clean. The toilet and shower facility is very new. The bed was so fluffy and warm. I would definitely come back again if there is a chance!

• Must see in central japan

  Michael

  Date of Review: October, 2017

  Month of Visit: October

  Country Of Reviewer: USA

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 4

  October was a fantastic time of year to see this lovely town. This inn only made it more special. Best food we had in japan and we got a great night sleep. Only downside to this place is that the walls are very thin. Our rude neighbors were talking full volume at 6 am and we could hear every word through the wall. However we knew this would likely be the case since we were staying at an old inn like this. So if you are okay with this, you will not b disappointed by this place. Money well spent.

• Interesting experience

  Daria

  Date of Review: October, 2017

  Month of Visit: October

  Country Of Reviewer:

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  We liked it. However, there is no soundproof in the room

• love it

  Melanie

  Month of Visit: May

  Country Of Reviewer: Indonesia

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  we are very enjoyed and happy stay here. Everything was great.

• A magical place!

  Elisabetta

  Date of Review: August, 2017

  Month of Visit: July

  Country Of Reviewer: Italy

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  Magoemon is a magical place. The house is beautiful, in the perfect gassho-zukuri style, facing the river, in a very impressive corner of the village of Ogimachi. The room is made of wood, with tatami on the ground, where futons are put to sleep. On a small coffee table are left a thermos of hot water for tea, biscuits and a fresh water jug. Dinner and breakfast (kaiseki) are served in a dining room, together with all the other guests. Bathrooms are shared, 2 wc for ladies and 2 for gentlemen, 3 shared washbasins along the corridor, a bathroom (beautiful, all wood !!!) which in turn can be used privately in pairs. The timetable is strict: check-in at 15:00 (coming first, leaving luggage), bathroom 16: 30-21: 30, check-in at 18:00, breakfast 7:30. The old owner speaks only Japanese, but she is kind and nice and you can understand very well.

• Wish we could have stayed longer

  Klaus

  Date of Review: August, 2017

  Month of Visit: August

  Country Of Reviewer: Singapore

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  Wonderful Experience and excellent food. Even my two daughters (1 and 4) enjoyed it.

• Fantastic food ! Highlight of my trip

  Jenny

  Date of Review: August, 2017

  Month of Visit: August

  Country Of Reviewer: New Zealand

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  Magoemon was the most highly anticipated part of my trip and I was not disappointed ! The trip to Shirakawago from Takayama or Kanazawa was approximately 1 hour easy bus ride. When we got there it was like being in a fairytale village. Magoemon is a handsomely appointed Gassho-zukuri near the river. The owner lady greeted us at the door to drop our bag off and went to explore the village including the observation hill. When we checked in, the bath was available - it is shared with the other guests so you go in and shower then dip in the hot baths. Such a good way to relax after a day of exploring. We got dressed in our Yukata, ready for dinner. The food was amazing. Hands down the best food I had in Japan - and we didn't go to any places for food. Simple yet delicious. This goes for breakfast. For the price we paid - this was a total treat. Highly recommend !

• Wonderful experience

  Vicky

  Month of Visit: May

  Country Of Reviewer: South Africa

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  Staying at Shirakawa-go was an amazing experience. Only 1 couple with small very well-behaved child was there. We could leave our luggage until check-in. Very obliging and helpful lady at lodge. Unfortunately I am allergic to fish so they could not prepare a meal for me. My husband enjoyed his meal and the breakfast. A special bath was prepared for us. It was most enjoyable.

• beautiful experience

  Roberto ercole

  Date of Review: May, 2017

  Month of Visit: May

  Country Of Reviewer: italy

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  beatiful experience. not to be missed.

• A fun and enjoyable experience

  Michelle

  Date of Review: May, 2017

  Month of Visit: April

  Country Of Reviewer: Malaysia & Singapore

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  Stayed a night at Magoemon after driving from Hida Takayama. We arrived around 3-4pm to check in and had some time to walk around the village before dinner at 6pm. It was raining the day we arrived and it was difficult to get a good picture with the throngs of tourists walking around. The landlady was sweet and soft spoken. She explained that the bathtub was not working so the inn would let us have complimentary passes for the onsen which was about 5-6 minutes walk away. Dinner was served in the living room around a hearth with a pot of boiling water on top. We enjoyed our dinner of hida beef, grilled fish and tempura. After dinner, we went to the onsen to enjoy the facilities. The room was spacious and fitted the four of us nicely. The blankets were soft and kept us warm through the night. The next morning, we woke up early before breakfast to walk around he Village and take some pictures. It was peaceful and quiet as the tourist busses had not arrived. After that, we had breakfast (vegetables in miso, scrambled eggs and seaweed) back at the inn. We checked out and headed to the Tateyama Alpine Route. Overall a fun and enjoyable experience.

• The best of the best!

  Month of Visit: January

  Country Of Reviewer: Thailand

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  I spent one night at magoemon last January. Everything is splendid! The traditional guestroom and bathroom. Dinner with hida beef and grilled fish was wonderful! I'm planing to visit here again this winter!

• A very good place to stay

  Month of Visit: February

  Country Of Reviewer: Taiwan

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 4

  Room Rating - 4

  This 280-year-old house is quite good. The staffs are nice.

• Definitely a good choice!

  Month of Visit: February

  Country Of Reviewer: Malaysia

  Atmosphere Rating - 4

  Food Rating - 4

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 4

  Clean room, friendly staffs, good foods (Especially the fish), easy to access location! An unforgettable experience!

• A very nice stay

  Month of Visit: November

  Country Of Reviewer:

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 4

  Location Rating - 4

  Room Rating - 4

  We had a very nice stay here. The room was small but comfortable enough. It has nice view when we open the side-door. The heater was old and blew out oil smell when starting, but it's fine anyway and warm enough. The bathroom is clean and the meals are all very delicious. We love our stay and would like to come back one day.

• Unforgetable memory

  Month of Visit: February

  Country Of Reviewer: Thailand

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  We spent 1 night at Magoemon (one part of our Honeymoon trip in Japan Y2014), it's more than our expected. So lucky for us when we woke up - outside having snow!!!...so romantic when we had breakfast and looking outside when had snow. Bedroom style Ryokan is fantastic experienced. Good memory of hot tube and can see snow outside. Wanna come back again. So warm welcome as a family from the owners of this house (uncle & aunty). Wanna come back again :)

• I love the place

  Month of Visit: March

  Country Of Reviewer: Thailand

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 4

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  The house is very comfortable. The room is clean. Bathroom & toilet is perfect. The food is very nice. We had very good time in the house.

• Stay a Night in Gassho style

  Month of Visit: March

  Country Of Reviewer: Thailand

  Atmosphere Rating - 4

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 4

  I stayed a night here totally 4 guests. They prepared 2 connected room for us with the river view from our rooms. We really love their dinner. Enjoy hida beef with miso sauce and grilled fish. The bath room, we had to share but its clean and hot water are comfortably.

• Enjoying surrounded by snow

  Month of Visit: March

  Country Of Reviewer: Spain

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 4

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 4

  Snow everywhere! We spent a cold day in Shirakawa-Go, and, despite of that, the house was incredible. The room was directly in front of the river and quiet night: only the sound of water descending the valley could be heard. Great traditional dinner and breakfast, unique atmosphere and hot bath to relax. We will never forget this experience!

• worth it!

  Month of Visit: March

  Country Of Reviewer: Brazil

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  Stayed one night here and had the best night of sleep in onde Monty traveling through Asia.

• Totally worth the money

  Month of Visit: April

  Country Of Reviewer: Thailand

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  We spent only 1 nighht here but it really impress us all. Oba-chan is so kind. The atmosphere is great even without snow. The food is one of the best in our trip, the beef and fish are so delicious we can't stop eating it. The rice also very good that we have to fill up many times. The location is a bit difficult to find but very close to the entrance of the village. The room amy be a bit too small for 3 people so oba-chan give us 3 rooms for 6 people which is very impressive. We were very enjoy staying here. Only thing that disturb me is that we have 1 children (4 years olds) with us and in the web it said we don't have to pay, but actually she charged us for 1,000 yen for the kids. At least it shoukd be mentioned clearly in the epwebsite or since the check-in process.

• A truly wonderful experience that we will remember for a long time

  Month of Visit: April

  Country Of Reviewer: Singapore

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  Dinner and breakfast with the other guests from Japan, France and Australia was the most memorable experience to my family. Food was excellent. Hostesses always showed up at the right time, as if they could gauge exactly when we needed their service.

• Excellent place

  Month of Visit: April

  Country Of Reviewer: Argentina

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 4

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  Excellent place to stay, though so limited English is spoken. Anyway...you can easily and happily survive anyway ;-)

• A memorable experience

  Month of Visit: May

  Country Of Reviewer: Malaysia

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 4

  Room Rating - 5

  The four of us stayed here for 1 night, and it was a splendid stay! We had the front room, and it was large enough for the four of us. The futon is great, dinner and breakfast was exceptionally delicious, and the host was very kind. Definitely one of our more memorable experience for a more traditional Japanese feel.

• Beautiful experience

  Month of Visit: May

  Country Of Reviewer: The Netherlands

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  It was very enjoyable to stay here. Quiet, clean rooms, toilets and bathroom. The dinner and breakfst were very delicious more than enough

• Good experience, great food

  Month of Visit: June

  Country Of Reviewer: Singapore

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 4

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 4

  The breakfast and dinner were absolutely delightful. Room was comfortable. Since there is only one bathroom, it can get quite crowded at "peak hour". Overall, a must-do experience in Shirakawa-go.

• More than a guest house..

  Month of Visit: June

  Country Of Reviewer: Kuwait

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  I say this because the owner of this Gassho personally took us with her car to the buss station because it was raining.. She waited in the car with us and did not leave until we were up on the buss To me that was the highlight of my stay.. That kind of thoughtfulness Needless to say.. The rooms and the view.. The surroundings and the kind of guests staying there are all breathtaking Mr. Féssal Rajab voltafy@gmail.com

• Beautiful place, warm welcome

  Month of Visit: July

  Country Of Reviewer: USA

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 5

  My son and I stayed here for one night. It was a beautifully maintained home next to the river. The accommodations were very comfortable. Shared bathroom was not a problem - very clean and well kept. The meals were perfectly prepared and presented. Our visit to Shirakawa was the highlight of our 2 week trek across Japan. I highly recommend this peaceful retreat!

• Interesting experience

  Month of Visit: August

  Country Of Reviewer: Belgium

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 4

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 4

  Shirakawa-go is certainly a very interesting location. For the lovers of culture it is an excellent place to go. We spent one night there. The staff is very friendly. They don't speak English or have limit knowledge of it but with some effort you can understand everything. They are cordial and friendly. The rooms are large. It is a traditional ryokan. Don't expect luxury and comfortable chairs or bed. Mattresses are provided and you have to sit on the floor. The food was very good, a lot of variety and different tastes. Breakfast is warm traditional japanese style. They were friendly enough to cook our eggs (for the japanese tourists it was raw). You receive traditional clothes and had the change to walk with wooden slippers. Important: visit as much as you can during day light because in the evening is extremely dark outside and full of bugs.

• Wonderful stay

  Month of Visit: September

  Country Of Reviewer: USA

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 4

  My wife and I travel to Japan almost yearly and try to find unique and special places to visit between our stays in Tokyo and Kyoto. This year, we were fortunate to find the village of Shirakawa-go and their Gassho style homes and ryokans. Staying at the Megoemon ryokan was a wonderful experience taking us back to how it might have been in the "Old Days." The village is amazing, but staying overnight at the Megoemon after the tourist leave is unforgetable. You really get a sense of how it might have been in times past. The hospitality was great and the food outstanding. One can truly imagine how it must have been living in a Gassho stay home, especailly when they stoke the fire in the hearth and cook the sweet fish for the guests. I would recommend this adventure for anyone looking for a special treat.

• very unique and wonderful stay

  Month of Visit: December

  Country Of Reviewer: Singapore

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 4

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 4

  i spent one night at magoemon last dec and it must one of the best stay i had in a traditional guest house and dinner. The food was really good and feels really like home. The owners were very nice and the whole place was clean and tidy. there was even a hot traditional bath in the house and it was good relief from the cold and snow outside. would definitely stay in the house again when i m back !

• Perfect in every way!

  Month of Visit: January

  Country Of Reviewer: Philippines

  Atmosphere Rating - 5

  Food Rating - 5

  Staff Rating - 5

  Location Rating - 5

  Room Rating - 4

  I stayed at Magoemon with my mom and friend for a night. We arrived early so we just left our bags in the room and explored outside. It was really cold when we were in Shirakawa-go so it was a good thing that all the rooms had electric warmers inside. The food was delicious! We can't stop raving about it until now. Everything was so fresh. The host family was very friendly and helpful. Rooms were clean and quiet. Bathrooms were also spotless, just don't forget to bring a pair of fuzzy socks if you go during winter time. The hallways to the common toilets are not heated, so the floors are cold. Overall, the best experience I have had in Japan! I will definitely be back.