Name: Minshuku Goyomon
Address: 939-1915 Toyama, Nanto, Aikura 438, Japan, Tonami, Tonami, Tonami, 939-1915, Japan
Rating: 9

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Minshuku Goyomon

Tonami

Located in the small mountain village of Ainokura, this beautiful gassho has taken us back several decades. The owner, although she only spoke very little English (sufficient to welcome us) was very kind. These are very simple people who live mainly from their cultures, the traditional dishes were good, varied and well taken care of. The common bathroom and toilets are clean and in good condition. A real bowl of fresh air for our last night in this magnificent area.

A journey through time

You're in the middle of the Japanese Alps in a place out of time and you've spent the day with the flow of tourists you'll enjoy the incredible, timeless atmosphere of the place the pattern is adorable and the food is excellent enjoy the sweetness of the place

A place out of time

From the warm welcome given to us when we arrived to the wonderful food served, Goyomon stood out as the highlight of our Japan trip. I came knowing exactly what we were getting into: the walls were thin, and we could hear our neighbour's snores. Our host barely knew Japanese. But again, this was all expected and what we were used to, so everything above and beyond was a good surprise!

The village is absolutely lovely and quiet, perfect for an hour or two of exploration. I liked it much more than busy Shirakawago. Our meals were so satisfying and the tempura was probably the best I've ever had.

Just be warned that the bus drops you off at the bus stop at the side of the road and from there, it was a steep 5-10 minute walk through what seemed to be the side of a cliff. I can only imagine how difficult it would be to navigate this path during winter when snow can reach inches deep.

The highlight of my trip!

We so wanted to like this place! 
Went out of our way to visit and probably expected too much!
This Gassho-style house is authentic enough but quite uncomfortable and in March, it is very, very  cold. 
The traditional bedroom is spacious but has nothing charming about it, and the single, thin futon placed on the cold floor was absolutely freezing in spite of the hot water bottle and the gaz heater, not strong enough to warm up such a big room. 
I had to place some cushions under our futons to make the cold bearable.
The walls are paper thin, and you are separated from other rooms by sliding wall panels, so you can hear everything in the bedroom next to  you: we had a young family as neighbours, so we had to listen to the kids crying, and the father snoring all night long...
The shared bathroom is large, with a huge tub, but again not inviting as it is cold and humid.
The whole thing is also very impersonnal: you arrive, are told to go take a walk in the village (very pretty indeed) and to be back in an hour for dinner. 
Yes the food is plentiful and decent, but communication is minimal. 
In the morning, you get another plentiful tray for breakfast, including gluten gluey donuts, and off you go!
So our stay was downright unpleasant, and we regretted not staying in Shirakawa-go which has so much more to offer.

LIKE CAMPING, BUT WORSE

We were greeted last fall by a wonderful surprise while arriving to Ainokura: a beautiful snowfall. From the bus stop, it's around 5 minutes walking. 

We got there a little wet from the snowfall and the owner helped us to put everything on heaters to dry. We made our reservation through japaneseguesthouses and we requested specifically a tatami room (some of the reviewers suggest this). 

Our room was very small compared to the ryokans we've been to. I kept wondering if we were the guests the other reviews talk about that are accommodated in a luggage room. It was cold though, and our small room was always warm with the heater we had, so I decided not to complain. It was a tatami room anyway, only not a big one. It was clean but the futon's sheets were not too clean, I found a few hairs and for me that unacceptable. 

Service was friendly, and dinner and breakfast were on time. The food was good, but we've had more quality in other ryokans. This is homemade food though, so it was definitely special in a great way. 

The shared bathroom was clean and comfortable. Many towels were provided. There were 2 other rooms with 2 other couples. At night, I waited awhile for the shower because there was one girl taking a long bath. In the morning, I woke up early and took a shower and it was available. I never share bathrooms or toilets in hotels, so one night wasn't a big problem. 

The traditional gassho house is very charming and super cozy, and the owners are very friendly and helpful. Winter boots were provided and there were enough for every guest (the give you your size or similar). 

The best part of the trip is the town. It looked like a winter wonderland. Truly amazing, and not to be missed. 


Lovely town 

We were here for a night and enjoyed the quiet and scenic surrounding. Making our way to our accommodation was easy. We took a train from Kanazawa to Shin-Takaoka and transfer to a world heritage bus tt brought us to the bus stop at Ainokura Village. From the bus stop, we crossed the road to the other side and followed a walking trail near a car park. There was a cosy pine wood toilet at the entrance of the car park. 
The trail was a nice short walk of about 7 min before reaching the village. Walk a little further up and u will see a restaurant cum souvenir store. Minshuju Goyomon is just beside the souvenir store! In total about 15 mins walk from the bus stop. 
Our room was nice and warm when we arrived. We were also given snacks and green tea upon arrival. Dinner was a traditional Japanese meal with sashimi and  grilled fish. Delicious and fresh. 
Although bath and toilet facilities are shared, they r clean. Thankfully there were only 4 guests in the house so we didn't have to wait at all to use the bathroom. Towels, toothbrushes, body bath and shampoo are provided for. Just remember to bring your toothpaste. 
Breakfast was traditional Japanese fare  which was delicious too. 
The only setback was that the timer for the heater kept going off in our room at night so it woke us up a few times. Other than that, it was a pleasant stay. 

Lovely cosy farm stay

Tucked away in the quaint, quiet and breathtakingly beautiful gassho-zukuri village of Ainokura, Goyomon is the home away from home you never thought you needed. Located along the main thoroughfare, right next to the village's main convenience store-cum-souvenir shop-cum-restaurant, it's hard to miss - and even harder to resist. Beautifully preserved on the outside, made infinitely welcoming on the inside, it just emanates warmth - and I'm not talking just about the old-style open brazier in the common area. The owner, a sprightly woman who never seems to stop working, is absolutely amazing. She cooks, cleans, carries your bags, dries out your coat, lends you umbrellas if it's raining/snowing; she even takes selfies with you on request, and keeps everything spotless, organised and in perfect order. The tatami rooms are comfortable, and the futons were a blessing especially on the cold, cold autumn night we arrived on - she also kept everything heated, and kept returning with hot water so we didn't get a chill! The highlight, IMHO, was the two meals we had (dinner and breakfast). Our Japanese not being very good, she nevertheless tried to explain what each dish was (and there were MANY), mostly consisting of local seasonal catch and vegetables, traditionally cooked and served with loads of love and generosity. If you want to experience staying in a gassho-zukuri, away from the crowds at Shirakawa-go, I'd heartily recommend Ainokura (and specifically Goyomon) as your go-to.

Gotta Go to Goyomon

Home in English with what is needed to understand each other. Rare enough in Japan to be reported. Tea is immediately served with the caterpillars. Room with futon. SDB common with an onsen bathtub.

Out of the way

Beautiful location. Nice dining around the fireplace with the background of frog grating. Typical Japanese dinner and breakfast, very good carp sashimi. The owner (who lives upstairs) is kind and very available. Common bathrooms are very clean and complete with everything necessary (including the indispensable yukata). The rooms in rent are 2 and both are spacious and air conditioned.

Family stay

It must be said, that day (and this week too) didn't spare us the weather level. After having been hit by a storm in Takayama, we boarded the bus to Shirakawago with little hope of seeing the sun. After a bus change from Shirakawago to Ainokura Station or is the inn, we had to walk a few 500 meters to finally lay a wet foot, and a wet bottom, in paradise. A smiling lady welcomed us into her home. After removing our serpentries that used to be our vet, we were able to enter a wonderful world based on a perfectly integrated chaami, a small cheminee, 8,000 gray sake, and sake soup! then you are looking for a place that has a nice, unforgettable and unforgettable flavour, and if you remember the price, you can't add a few 400 yen if you have a good time and you're proud of the Japanese!

Minshuku Goyomon

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