We don't speak Japanese at all. Will this be a problem for the host family?Unfortunately there are quite a lot of frictions between foreign tourists and the people of Shirakawago. But these are more often caused by bad manners than by the language barrier. If you study the rules of how to behave properly in a Japanese house and if you behave considerate towards other guests and private property and realize that you will be staying in a simple farm house without the amenities of a Western hotel, there should be no problems despite the language barrier.
After all, most minshuku in Shirakawago accommodate a lot of foreigners who do not speak Japanese and are used to it.
Is the use of chopsticks mandatory or can I use fingers / cultery?
It depends on the food. But a lot of dishes can only be eaten properly with chopsticks. Eating with the fingers is only rarely acceptable. Cultery is usually not provided, but you can ask for them.
Our bus back to Takayama is at 6.45 am - is that an impolite time to leave the Minshuku or is it accepted?
You will miss breakfast. But if you pay in advance and let your hosts know about your early departure time, it should not pose any major problem. If possible, I strongly recommend to leave after breakfast.
We will regretfully have the whole afternoon and a night only at Shirakawa. Is that too short or can we at least get some idea of the place in that short time?
An afternoon is enough time to get an idea of the place. It is relatively small. But note the early time of the sunsets in winter.
