Wanosato Ryokan

Wanosato is a rustic, beautiful and peaceful Ryokan, where you fall asleep listening to the soft gushing sounds of the river flowing right next to you, Waking up to the view of the beautiful river right in front of you is so surreal. The villa is not old or dated. The whole place is meant to look rustic and au naturel, a place for one to detox and recharge, away from city life. We booked our accommodation with half board, which I highly recommend as Chef Kakuta Yamato prepares exquisite and delicious breakfast and dinners that not only taste excellent but also look aesthetically pleasing to the eyes. Our waitress-host Aoki Rin, who is always cheerful, joyful and attentive, makes us feel so welcomed and all our meals taste even better. The fireplace at the reception is so warm and calming, and warm sake was served by an elderly staff, who also showed us some magic tricks. We sat by the fire, sipping our warm sake and chatting with strangers-turn-friends. Last but not least, the Ryokan has a beautiful onsen, which we can book privately for about an hour each day, relaxing after a whole day of walking and sight-seeing. Overall, the stay at Wanosato is one of the best experiences my husband and I have experienced. Kudos to the staff and management at Wanosato!

Everything is perfect

Absolutely amazing. Our stay at this Ryokan was the highlight of our trip. Perfect for a couple looking to have an authentic Japanese cultural experience. The location was stunning- especially with the fall colors. My husband and I sat and watched the leaves fall for hours. The rooms are spacious. The bed mats are more comfortable and cozy than you'd think. The sound of the river next to the room was so peaceful. The food was absolute perfection - exotic for an American but delicious and so fun. Enjoy the local sake with dinner - we wish we bought some bottles to bring home. The service was so personal. We hope to return one day in the future. This experience was so special it still makes my eyes water. My heart is so full. (For reference, the room we stayed in was Kuraiyama)

Nothing. Everything was wonderful.

We had the annexe, it's a lovely very rustic house, that almost feels like it takes you back in time. There is a lovely open fireplace with a kettle over it, but we did not use it as it was summer. The half board catering was amazing, the presentation and flavour was above my expectation. They provide a shuttle into Takayama town. The staff were very friendly and helpful. There is sake tasting in the afternoon, and private onsen in the evenings. The views of the stream from the annexe makes it very relaxing, but there did not seem to be any possibility to go into the stream itself.

One small gripe, the air conditioning was only in the sleeping area, and although a fan was provided in the sitting room, it can get a bit warm in the afternoon in places not within reach of the air conditioning.

Wanosato was a magical experience, from the private onsen to the kaiseki dinner to after hours sake and magic tricks by the hearth, which the owner kindly treated us to (a hilarious and wonderful experience, transcending our limited ability to communicate in Japanese/English). We stayed here for one night while we were traveling from Kyoto to Kamokochi in the Japanese Alps. It was a prefect, restorative place to visit en route. The staff was lovely and the authentic ryokan decor made you feel transported back in time. The private natural onsen hot springs were incredible. We were able to try both of them—one the afternoon we arrived, and the other the morning before we left. As for the town of Takayama, we were only there for a few hours during lunch time (get a Hida burger and beer at the Americana-themed Center4Hambugers, if you're looking to mix it up) and a bit of walking around before the free shuttle picked us up to bring us to the ryokan. It also dropped us off at the train in the late morning the following day.

Nothing. It was great. I would absolutely stay again when passing through the area the next time I am in Japan.

The place is a one of a kind accomodation. We were travelling with our children three weeks in Japan and wanosato is a special place. Entering the accomodation there is a authentic entree with a (smell of) fire, pots and pans and a hans and grettle atmosphere but in a sense of style kind of way. The staff was more than amazing in making us feel home and comfortable. The onsen, we had seen many after two weeks of travel but this one is beautiful. There is a private time lock for the family to share men and women in a real cave. Beautiful and very relaxed. The food was amazing. After many ryokan stays, this food was remarkable refined Japanese food and at the same time accessible. This place is definitely worth a visit.

Nothing. The place was beyond expectations

Immersive experience of traditional Japanese Onsen hotel! We love the traditional buildings, welcome tea/pastry, spacious room, incredible snowy forest & creek view, Kaiseki meals included, and most importantly the onsen. Appreciate it that there's private bath time schedule for each room for the public Onsen. Temperature of Onsen is great that one can stay long enough in the water. Skin condition seemed to improve after several rounds of relaxation in Onsen.

This traditional inn was incredible. It was easily the most beautiful part of our trip. The staff were very attentive and while english is limited, they will make sure you get what you need. Our room was in the main building, and I recommend this because the direct river views are unbeatable. The dinner and breakfast were the best we had. The private onsen was a lovely touch. We woke up to snow (even in April). It is a remote inn with a free shuttle bus. I wouldn't recommend leaving during your stay anyway. One night here is plenty of time if you get the early bus and check out at the latest time and take in Takayama sites afterwards.

Wanosato had atmosphere to spare, featuring a marvelous blend of traditional architectural elements and modern comforts. The meals were not only delicious but beautifully plated on yakimono of various shapes and colors. The baths were very pleasant (and totally empty of other guests!). Best of all was the unbeatable location, next to a murmuring forest stream blanketed in snow. We could not have asked for better Christmas weather, as we were treated to gentle snowfalls during the entirety of our stay.

This is not a complaint so much as a suggestion -- the baths, though gorgeous, would benefit from the addition of a rotenburo (open-air bath) to drink in all that gorgeous forest scenery while bathing. And though the staff was in general very hospitable and welcoming, the front desk receptionist's demeanor was surprisingly chilly (perhaps because she was stuck manning a very chilly entrance room?).

This was our best stay during our 4 weeks holiday. What did we like… everything from the well appointed suites to the food and the onsen and the evening around the fire with hot saki and wonderful stories about the area. o yes did I mention the views from the suite they where amazing

what we did not like and that was that we stayed only 1 night this was way to short the ideal stay would have been 2 nights, which we will do the next holiday.

Wanosato was a lovely place to stay! The staff, especially the manager, were so friendly, attentive and efficient. The attention to detail was incredible, from the personalized slippers to my luggage mysteriously appearing in my room and to the set up of my private onsen time. The food was delicious and a truly authentic Japanese dining experience. I highly recommend Wanosato to anyone who wants a peace ryokan experience surrounded by nature.