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Hakuba Onsen Ryokan Shirouma-so

Hakuba Onsen Ryokan Shirouma-so (白馬八方温泉「しろうま荘」）is a hot spring ryokan (inn) at the base of the Hakuba Happoone Winter Resort in Nagano, Japan. In 2012, it was the first Japanese hotel to win the World Luxury Hotel Awards, ranking it among the top luxury ski hotels in the world, according to a new definition of luxury: "(luxury)'s increasingly about discretion and simplicity, facilities and service excellence, exceptional food, attention to detail, effective management.”(ref site)

Shirouma-so has grown organically from its beginnings as a traditional farm house that took in local visitors to the mountains, officially opening its doors as a ryokan in 1942, incorporating in 1988, and is now one of the oldest ski ryokans in Hakuba. Its name derives from Mount Shirouma, which is the traditional name for Hakuba, Nagano. Both mean "white horse" (白馬), but with different readings for the same characters.

The district of Hakuba called Hakuba Hosono is called the birthplace of the minshuku (民宿), or traditional Japanese inn (nearly synonymous with ryokan 旅館）. In 1937, people began staying at the homes of eight local mountain guides who were looking to supplement their farming incomes, and five years later Shirouma-so, which was then a noka (farm house), began providing accomodations for skiers. At the time 16 homes received permission to operate as inns, and the tradition of the Japanese minshuku was born.

Prior to the 1998 Winter Olympics held in Nagano, Shirouma-so was renovated, choosing modern Japanese (和 Wa) style design over the Western-style design prevalent at the time. 200-year-old pillars and beams from the original home were incorporated into the remodeled entrance lobby, creating a unique mix of modern and traditional.

Shirouma-so is a small-scale family business. There are 18 guest rooms, and the hot spring water (onsen 温泉) is drawn directly from the source spring at Hakuba Happo Onsen.

In 2008 with the number of foreign guests visiting the area increasing, Shirouma-so experienced a sudden rise in popularity, and at the recommendation of a committee member who stayed at Shirouma-so, was nominated for entry into the World Luxury Hotel Awards in 2012.