Ootaya (Ota-ya in Japanese, written “Otaya” on the tourism association’s English page) is a gassho-style farmhouse minshuku in Ogimachi, the World Heritage village of Shirakawa-go in Gifu. The house is more than 100 years old and has five Japanese-style rooms. Before you book, three things matter: check-in closes at 17:00; the doors close at 21:00; and dinner is eaten with the other guests around the irori hearth.
Ootaya (Ota-ya) at a glance
| Item | Official information |
|---|---|
| Address | 1807 Ogimachi, Shirakawa-mura, Ono-gun, Gifu 501-5627 |
| Type | Gassho-style minshuku, built more than 100 years ago |
| Rooms | 5 Japanese-style rooms, all on the 1st floor |
| Check-in / out | 15:00–17:00 / by 9:30 |
| Doors close | 21:00 |
| Meals | Dinner and breakfast included; dinner at the shared irori hearth |
| Prices | From 20,900 yen per person (2026, two adults sharing, tax incl.) |
| Parking / Wi-Fi | Free parking; free Wi-Fi |
| Phone | +81-5769-6-1425 |
From the official pages, read October 15, 2026.
Where is Ootaya in Shirakawago, and how do I get there?
The tourism association page describes the inn as sitting beside a mountain stream, right below the Shiroyama viewpoint, and as the closest gassho-style minshuku to the bus terminal. It is a few minutes on foot from the Shirakawa-go bus terminal. The official pages do not mention a pickup service. If you drive, parking is free.
The inn’s own site lists the village year: Harukoma on January 1, the winter light-up on set days in January and February, roof re-thatching around April, the Doburoku Festival from October 14 to 19, and rice-cake pounding in late December, including at the minshuku.
What are the rooms like at Ootaya?
| Room | Guests (booking page) |
|---|---|
| Japanese room, 6 tatami mats | 1 or 2 |
| Japanese room, 8 tatami mats | 2 or 3 |
| Japanese room, 10 tatami mats | 2 to 4 |
The rooms are on the 1st floor, with legless chairs, according to the tourism association. The booking page lists bath towels, towels, yukata, a hanten (padded jacket), toothbrushes, a hair dryer, shampoo, conditioner and body soap. Luggage can be left before check-in and after checkout at any time, though the inn notes it may not always be able to.
Is there an onsen at Ootaya?
What bath does the inn have?
Ootaya is not a hot-spring inn. Its own site and its booking page describe the in-house bath and the toilets differently, so ask the inn what to expect before you book.
Where can I take a hot-spring bath?
The booking page points guests to Shirakawa-go no Yu, a paid hot-spring facility within a five-minute walk. It is closed on Thursdays and on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays, so plan around those days.
Can I bathe with a tattoo?
The official pages of Ootaya do not mention tattoos, and the rules of Shirakawa-go no Yu are its own. Ask before you go; our tattoo and onsen guide explains what to ask.
What is dinner like at Ootaya?
What is served around the irori?
Meals are eaten in the irori room, together with the other guests. The rice is grown by the family, and the menu follows the seasons. A sample dinner on the inn’s site: Hida beef cooked on a ceramic plate, tofu steak, grilled iwana (river fish), mountain-vegetable tempura and pickles. Iwana bone sake can be ordered separately.
What about breakfast and dietary needs?
Breakfast is included, but the official pages do not describe it. They also say nothing about allergies or vegetarian meals, so write to the inn before you book if you need either.
Prices, children, cancellation and payment at Ootaya
How much does a night cost?
Plans include dinner and breakfast. For 2026, the official booking page starts at 20,900 yen per person when two adults share a room, tax included; plans for January and February 2027 start at 22,000 yen. The inn’s site says prices change in busy seasons and before holidays. Online booking closes at 12:00, two days before your stay.
What do children cost?
Elementary school children are 18,700 yen and count as guests in the room; preschool children who take a meal and a futon pay the same. Preschool children with no meal and no futon stay free. A futon for a child sharing a bed costs 2,200 yen, paid in cash at the inn.
What is the cancellation policy?
The Japanese booking page lists 20 percent from 15 to 8 days before, 50 percent from 7 to 2 days before, 70 percent the day before, and 100 percent on the day or for a no-show. See our hotel cancellation guide for how these fees work in Japan.
How do I pay?
The official pages do not list payment methods, apart from the child futon fee in cash. Ask the inn when you book.
What foreign guests should know before staying at Ootaya in Shirakawago
- Check in by 17:00, and contact the inn if you will be later. The Japanese booking page says that if you arrive after 20:00, dinner cannot be served and the stay is canceled, with no refund. Our late arrival guide has tips.
- The doors close at 21:00, so finish evening walks before then.
- Dinner is shared with other guests at the hearth.
- The inn’s own site is in Japanese only; prices, plans and rules in English are on the English booking page.
- Checkout is by 9:30 in the morning.
Frequently asked questions
What time is check-in at Ootaya?
Does Ootaya have an onsen?
What is the cancellation policy at Ootaya?
How much does a stay at Ootaya cost?
How far is Ootaya from the Shirakawa-go bus terminal?
Bottom line (2026): Ootaya is a century-old gassho-style minshuku a few minutes from the Shirakawa-go bus terminal, with five Japanese rooms and a shared irori dinner of Hida beef and river fish. Arrive by 17:00, be back by 21:00, ask the inn about its bath, and book on the official English booking page.
Sources
Every fact on this page is from Ootaya’s official pages: home (Japanese), facilities (Japanese) and events (Japanese); the Shirakawa-go Tourist Association page in Japanese and English; and the official booking page in Japanese and English. All were read on October 15, 2026. Prices and rules change; check the official site before you book.
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