Minshuku Kanjiya

La cena fue excepcional. El servicio y amabilidad de la señora que nos atendió hizo que nuestra experiencia fuese memorable. Despertar en shirakawago fue mágico.

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Excellent food, amenities and comfort. Exceptional host, authentic experience.

It was a memorable stay at the minshuku. Excellent Japanese dinner and breakfast that were so carefully prepared. The innkeeper was friendly and polite, and she went an extra mile to help me purchase a surprise cake to celebrate my son’s birthday. The bedrooms were comfortable for 3 pax with aircon and fans. The Onsen was small but clean, and we took turns to use the Onsen. It is located within the Shirakawago UNESCO World Heritage Site (no. 28 on the map), and we were able to drive to the minshuku after informing the security guard. There was free car parking in front of the minshuku, and we could park after checkout and explore the UNESCO heritage site on foot the next morning, all within walking distance. You can take a shuttle bus or walk up/down the observatory on a hill. We decided to take the shuttle bus (next to no. 57 on the map; please take note of the bus schedule) and walked down the slope. We enjoyed the visit to the Heritage Museum, Wada House, shopping and eating custard pudding from Shirakawago Purin no le (Pudding House).

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You’re getting exactly what you expect — a truly authentic Japanese experience in a traditional house in this beautiful village. It’s small and intimate, with only five guests there when I went. We ate all our meals (full Japanese set made in-house with seasonal ingredients) together in the traditional dining room near the hearth, and I had a lovely conversation with some of the other guests. Each of our tatami-covered rooms had a little veranda area where we could sit, drink tea, and gaze out at the village. The room itself is very simple, with just a coffee table in the middle that’s pushed to the side at night to make room for the futon. I slept very comfortably on it. Even though it was late June, I did not feel hot at all with the fan set to low. The rooms are divided by sliding paper doors, which, while traditional, also means there is no sound-proofing. I accepted that as a facet of the experience. I was a little worried about a communal bathroom, but I had no problems. Bathrooms are divided into men & women, with two stalls each. Bathing is basically showering and then a dip in the “onsen,” which is more like a soaking tub. The village is crowded with day-trippers from Kanazawa, but you get to have it to yourself after they leave in the late afternoon, and it truly transforms. The stars were beautiful, and walking through the village early morning was unparalleled. I would love to return in winter and experience that as well.

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